Honda CR-V review (2012 - 2018) - Reliability and Safety

As with most Japanese manufacturers, Honda has a strong reputation for building solid, reliable cars. The CR-V finished in 26th place in the 2017 Driver Power survey, a significant improvement on the 57th position in 2016. Owners praised its practicality, build quality and in-car tech, but its road handling and performance scores were very poor. Honda’s dealers performed well in the 2017 survey, finishing second with an excellent score of 90.55 per cent.

The CR-V performed well in our 2017 Driver Power Used Car Awards, taking Silver in the ‘Best Mid-Size SUV’ segment and Gold for ‘Infotainment, Connectivity and Electrics’.

The CR-V is one of the safest compact SUVs you can buy and it earned a five-star Euro NCAP rating in 2013, although newer models have undergone a tougher test, so you can't directly compare scores. Still, the Honda has six airbags, tyre pressure monitors, stability control with trailer assist and three Isofix child seat mounting points as standard.

Equipment like Xenon headlights and front and rear parking sensors are reserved for higher-spec models, though, while the company’s autonomous braking and collision warning systems are on offer as options to further improve safety. 

Warranty

The standard manufacturer’s warranty is three years or 90,000 miles, whichever comes sooner. On top of this, Honda provides five years’ worth of exhaust corrosion cover, 10 years for chassis corrosion and 12 years for structural corrosion. An extended warranty for years four and five can be purchased, costing around £460 and £850 respectively.

Servicing

Like many car companies, Honda offers fixed-price maintenance packages. For cars up to three years old, the service interval is every 12,500 miles or 12 months. Prices vary across the country, but you can expect to pay between £200 and £300 for each of the first three check-ups on petrol and diesel models.

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The first annual service is an 18-point check, in year two a 22-point inspection is carried out and year three sees 21 items serviced. Be aware that replacing a diesel fuel filter adds £100 to the price of any service.

For cars over three years old, buyers can choose from the Honda 12 or Honda 12+ packages. Honda 12 involves a 35-point inspection, and costs between £150 and £200, depending on the model. For around another £100, Honda 12+ also sees the air and pollen filters replaced, as well as the brake fluids.