If you’re in the market for a new compact crossover SUV, the 2021 Honda CR-V should be one of the first vehicles you consider. This crossover has an SUV body built onto the platform of a Honda Civic, which is one of the Japanese manufacturer’s most famous compact cars. Find out about its on-board technology and safety features, power and performance, and available trims.
Trim Levels
The 2021 Honda CR-V comes in four trim levels: the LX, EX, EX-L, and Touring. The base LX trim comes with LED daytime running lights, 17-inch alloy wheels, and power side mirrors. Opting for the EX trim instead of the LX gets you dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, a 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, rear privacy glass, and LED fog lights. The benefits of privacy glass include filtering out sunlight and a slight improvement in vehicle security as a result of outsiders not being able to see any potentially valuable items left in the cargo area.
The EX-L trim provides more luxurious leather upholstery, which is an upgrade from the cloth upholstery found in the LX and EX trims. Other exterior and interior features you’ll find on the EX-L trim include a two-position memory driver’s seat, a power tailgate, and an automatic dimming rearview mirror. The Touring trim rounds things off with larger 19-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, a heated steering wheel, dual chrome exhaust finishers, and interior ambient lighting.
Power and Performance
A turbocharged four-cylinder 1.5-liter engine comes standard on all CR-V models. The power ratings for this turbocharged engine are 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque. The engine uses direct injection technology, which means the CR-V engine’s computer has precise control over the amount of fuel during the intake stroke. In layperson’s terms, the direct injection technology enables better fuel efficiency and improves the driving experience. You can expect to get 28 mpg on city roads and 34 mpg on the highway for a combined EPA-estimated 30 mpg.
All trim levels have their engines paired with a continuously variable-speed automatic transmission. Honda’s real-time all-wheel-drive system uses an array of sensors to precisely calculate how much torque to send to the wheels during different driving conditions. Honda’s attention to detail in focusing attention on one really good engine-powertrain combination and doing it well pays dividends in several ways. Rapid acceleration, impressive handling, and excellent fuel economy combine to make the 2021 Honda CR-V a stellar choice if power and performance are important considerations.
Safety Suite
The Advanced Compatibility Engineering structure on all CR-V models is a Honda-exclusive design that uses a network of front frame structures to absorb and deflect the energy from a frontal collision, which improves safety for all occupants. Moving on to specific safety features, all trim levels come with Honda Sensing, which is a suite of safety and driver-assistance technologies.
Getting into the details of Honda Sensing reveals a truly impressive range of standard safety features that provide even more value for your money. In fact, Honda’s slogan for the Sensing suite is that you get advanced safety features standard. It’s rare to get this level of safety with a base level trim from any manufacturer.
Honda Sensing includes features such as a collision mitigation braking system, adaptive cruise control, and a road departure mitigation system. The collision mitigation braking system brings your vehicle to a stop automatically when it detects an inevitable forward collision. Another slick feature to note is the seamless low-speed follow system, which automatically maintains or decelerates your vehicle speed to keep your vehicle at a safe following distance from the car ahead.
Technology
You’ve already probably noted Honda’s impressive technological focus in terms of standard safety features; however, the CR-V’s impressive technology stack does not end there. On the EX trim level and above, you get a 7-inch color touch screen with Display Audio. The benefit of Display Audio is that from a single screen, you get a gateway to the CR-V’s main audio systems while simultaneously being able to access important smartphone features.
To access smartphone features from the touch screen, you can use the included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionalities. You can choose to connect your smartphone using the USB slot, or you can connect via Bluetooth. The smartphone features you can access include music and messaging. The system also works with voice command technology, such as Siri or Google, for hands-free infotainment.
With the HondaLink smartphone app, you can get reminders about service appointments at your local Honda dealership. The vehicle’s touch screen works similarly to a mobile phone in how it lets you touch, pinch, and swipe your way through the navigation.
Choosing higher trims ramps up the technology features to the next level. For example, with the EX-L trim, your audio system improves to a 180-watt audio system with eight speakers positioned intelligently throughout the interior for optimum acoustics. The 2021 Honda CR-V Touring trim goes even more high-tech with the audio system by giving you a 330-watt premium stereo with nine speakers.
Some additional technology features on the Touring trim worth knowing about include a Honda Satellite-Linked navigation system and a wireless phone charger. The wireless charger works with phones that have Qi charging standards, so check your smartphone manufacturer’s specifications to see if your phone is compatible. The navigation system uses GPS technology and an impressive database to find new destinations, get turn-by-turn directions, and even show you the way back home with a simple voice command.
Contact Rydell Honda of Grand Forks
That rounds up all the main features of the 2021 Honda CR-V. Providing the enviable combination of a stellar driving experience, great fuel economy, a slew of safety systems almost unheard of for base trim levels, and tons of technology features, the CR-V ticks several important boxes for a compact crossover SUV. Contact us today to discuss our range of sleek new Honda cars and SUVs.
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