The Honda CR-V is an energetic and fun-to-drive compact SUV that has been making waves in the small SUV market for many years. Its affordability makes it popular among students and young professionals working toward financial goals, so when you shop for a used Honda CR-V for sale, you can find some truly amazing prices on this well-designed model. It’s available in several trims, too, so there’s something to appeal to every type of adventure-hungry driver.
The CR-V is a versatile vehicle and has produced some popular iterations throughout the years. Today, however, I want to focus on the fifth-generation CR-V—and specifically on the most adventure-ready features. Some are standard, while others are available as add-ons or are exclusive to certain trims. If you are an adventurous individual who has plenty of camping trips and road trips in your future, we want to help make sure you purchase the best used CR-V for the journeys ahead. The following are features to look for in a fifth-generation CR-V…
Available All-Wheel Drive
In 2017, all Honda CR-V trims became available not just with all-wheel drive but specifically with real-time all-wheel drive with intelligent control. So what is this feature? While shopping for an SUV typically forces you to choose between a permanent all- or front-wheel drive model, you don’t have to with the CR-V. Real-time all-wheel drive is an AWD system that only activates when it senses a loss of traction.
This system is precisely designed to improve traction on snowy roads, when climbing uphill, and when taking turns. However, any environment in which traction loss is possible is an appropriate environment to have this feature at the ready. So, if you have a diverse slate of adventures planned, you probably can’t guarantee what sort of terrain you will typically have to tackle. From dirt roads to steep slopes, the Honda CR-V is ready to keep you in command in all of the places you want to go.
Adaptive Cruise Control
For the 2017 model year, Honda made adaptive cruise control a standard feature across its lineup. This is naturally a terrific feature for road trippers and explorers because you probably spend a good deal of time on freeways and highways. Traditional cruise control is already great for these conditions, but adaptive cruise control takes it to the next level.
Not only does this updated tool honor your desired speed, but it can also make speed adjustments to maintain a preset safe following distance. So, if you are getting too close to the vehicle in front of you, the system will automatically slow down and speed up again when it is safe to do so. If you spend hours on the road every day on cross-country road trips and multi-day excursions, you’ll love being able to rest your lead foot and utilize this feature.
Driver Attention Monitor
With the addition of adaptive cruise control, a driver attention monitor was the natural next step. This feature became available in 2017 as well. It monitors your behaviors to ensure you are alert enough to be behind the wheel. It does this by scrutinizing steering inputs and checking for frequent corrections to maintain your lane.
If the system detects too many corrections, it will begin emitting a series of alerts to encourage you to pull over and take a break. These alerts will begin as visual and audible, and they will progress to a steering wheel vibration if you do not respond.
Long days behind the wheel can make anyone tired, but alertness is critical to safe driving. If you plan on using adaptive cruise control, it is important that you do not use that as a replacement for paying attention to the road. The driver attention monitor will ensure that you don’t.
Smartphone Compatibility
In 2017, smartphone compatibility became available on the CR-V. This is an invaluable feature for road trippers because it means you can control your smartphone apps on your touchscreen. It’s no secret that road trips require some serious navigation. Before smartphone compatibility, you might have asked your co-pilot to open an app on their phone and dictate instructions to you; it was not just a nuisance to your passenger but might not have always resulted in the clearest of directions.
With smartphone compatibility, you can project the turn-by-turn directions from your navigation app onto the touchscreen. So you can relieve your co-pilot of the navigator job and clearly see the next turn on the infotainment touchscreen. You can also use it for other road trip-worthy activities, like streaming music, audiobooks, and podcasts.
Hands-Free Power Tailgate
Adventures call for a lot of stuff. From coolers full of snacks to backpacks full of hiking gear and maybe even four-legged companions, there are all sorts of things you’re constantly loading in and out of the trunk as you move from one destination to the next. So you might appreciate the available hands-free access power tailgate that became available in 2017.
When your hands are too full to open the tailgate manually, you can kick your foot under the rear bumper, and the trunk will open for you. So there’s no need to put your things down to open the trunk or holler for a friend or stranger to come over and help you out.
Wireless Smartphone Charging
The year 2020 saw the introduction of several great new features for the CR-V, one of which is wireless smartphone charging. If you’re already utilizing the smartphone compatibility, then you probably go through a bit of phone battery. So, what happens when you forget to pack your USB cord? Nothing, so long as you have the Touring trim of the 2020 CR-V or later iterations! It has a wireless charging pad. However, if you do want to use your USB cords, you’ll find that the USB ports have been relocated for convenience onto the redesigned center console.
A Hybrid Powertrain
This was big news in 2020: Honda released a hybrid CR-V with a two-motor system that would go on to win awards. For serious sojourners, fuel economy is a major priority. Frequent fuel stops can ruin the fun. Plus, sometimes there’s just no gas station to be found for miles.
With the hybrid CR-V, you don’t have to rely entirely on fuel to get where you’re going, so you’ll see better fuel economy and longer stretches without stopping. You don’t sacrifice any of the fun behind-the-wheel experience or powers of the CR-V by going the hybrid route, either, so you can cut down on fuel costs without cutting out anything else.
Consider a Used Honda CR-V for Your Adventures
As you can see, the fifth generation was an exciting one for the CR-V. Honda made improvements to powertrain options, technology, comfort and convenience. The result was a refined adventure machine packed with perks that make long days on the road more enjoyable. The CR-V is known for carrying a low price tag when brand-new, so just imagine the deals you can find if you shop it pre-owned! Many generations are worth checking out, but for modern perks combined with a low price tag, consider a CR-V from this model’s fifth generation.
