Honda CR-V Touring: a car with grace and composure

Think of the venerable Honda CR-V, now in its fifth generation and last fully redesigned in 2017, as a small SUV that’s built for living large. This compact crossover’s sizable impact starts with its 1.5-liter, turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, which is now standard across the model lineup. Its 190 horsepower gives the CR-V lively performance on par with the best of its competitors, with power to spare for freeway merges and passing. Better still, it does so while delivering above-average EPA fuel-economy numbers.

The nicely tuned suspension does a good job of smoothing out bumps and handling winding roads with grace and composure. The brakes feel strong, although the automatic emergency braking—part of a suite of standard advanced safety features—tends to overreact and engage even when there’s no real danger.

Perhaps the CR-V’s strongest suit is its spacious interior, with generous room for four grown-ups and plenty of places to stash odds and ends. There’s also abundant cargo room—a cavernous 76 cubic feet with the rear seat backs folded.

The cabin’s biggest negative is a bit nitpicky but still worth noting—an infotainment system that lacks a physical knob for radio tuning. It’s a minor shortcoming, but annoying nevertheless. New for 2020 is the CR-V Hybrid, which is EPA rated at 38 mpg in combined driving, added testament that the CR-V is a small SUV that’s a big deal.