There are many milestones that families encounter on the journey of raising kids. One of the scariest might be their 16th birthday, and the subsequent race to get a driver’s license. Parents everywhere probably have mixed feelings when it’s finally time for their little ones to spread their wings and drive. Once the anxiety dissipates, and that freshly printed license hits your teenager’s hand, the question becomes this: what vehicle should they drive?
Presumably, we want something safe, sturdy, and reliable. Enter the Honda CR-V. I checked in with a Honda CR-V dealer to better understand why this SUV is an exemplary vehicle for teens.
Honda’s Legacy
It’s no news that Honda is one of the most reliable brands for drivers. Made with quality components and by some of the world’s best engineers, Honda is notorious for vehicles that stay on the road even with hundreds of thousands of miles on the odometer. When you’re letting our youngest drivers hit the open road unsupervised, it’s comforting to know they behind the wheel of a vehicle that lasts.
Besides being reliable, Honda CR-Vs are also designed with the latest and great safety technology. These, and a handful of other CR-V features, contribute to making this an ideal vehicle to pass down to your teenage drivers when they’re ready.
What’s Important for a Teen Driver to Learn
Thankfully, there are many educational tools available to both parents and teenagers about how to practice safe driving habits. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), some of the biggest risks facing teen drivers and those around them include distracted driving, illegal substance use, and neglecting to use a seatbelt.
So, what can you do? While traffic laws vary from state to state, you can set up rules for your teen driver to adhere to in order to stay safe. The NHTSA suggests limiting nighttime driving, passengers, and using electronic devices in the car, plus educating teen drivers about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. But do your part to put them behind the wheel of a safe vehicle.
Honda CV-R Safety Features
Looking at data from the last five years, the Honda CR-V has been rated a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), earning five out of five stars. Like other Hondas, the CR-V has always been at the forefront of safety and driver assistance technologies.
Honda strives to build safe vehicles for their customers. It’s this dedication by the brand that pushes Honda to make many of their safety features standard across their entire lineup, no matter the model or trim. Recent years of the CR-V include a suite of innovative safety and driver assistance technologies that are designed with the driver and passengers in mind. These features are intuitive and highly responsive, effectively helping prevent accidents and giving owners (and their teen drivers) peace of mind.
Their catalog of safety and assistance features is referred to as The Honda Sensing Suite. When these features are activated, the CR-V’s sensors use visual and audio alerts to warn drivers of hazards and can provide steering and braking assistance when needed. Take, for example, the Collision Mitigation Braking System. This system detects when there is a risk of colliding with either a pedestrian or another vehicle in front of you and begins to automatically brake if the driver doesn’t respond in a timely manner.
Another standard safety feature is the Road Departure Mitigation System, which uses onboard sensors to detect when your CR-V drifts out of lanes without engaging a turn signal. This system is designed so that if you unintentionally cross over traffic lanes, your vehicle will assist in steering you back into the correct lane. If you allow your teenager to take a long road trip, this feature can detect sleepy driving behavior and notify them when they start to drift, making this a potentially life-saving feature for your teen—and others on the road.
Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow is an intelligent way to take advantage of cruise control technology while enjoying the added safety of vehicle distance detection. The latter ensures that you are following the car in front of you at a safe distance. Available Traffic Sign Recognition comes in handy by helping keep track of useful information such as speed limit signs, Do Not Enter signs, merge signs, and more. This feature can reduce cases of your teenage drivers speeding, preventing accidents and expensive tickets.
Other Great Features of the Honda CR-V
If you’re thinking of the perfect vehicle for your new teen driver, the Honda CR-V is one that everyone can get excited about. Not only are parents thrilled to be handing down a safe SUV, but any teen driver would be excited to get into a car with as many perks as the CR-V. Stylish on the outside, yet comfortable on the inside, this SUV is more than just a safe and reliable ride. This Honda has tons of room for all their goods, including backpacks, equipment for afterschool sports, and supplies like posters and crafts for projects.
The infotainment system is touchscreen and easy to operate, allowing teens to listen to all their favorite music and show off to their friends. The latest CR-V also comes with comfortable and easy-to-clean seats, available in cloth or leather. Depending on the trim, they may even get lucky enough to have heated and ventilated seats, a moonroof, and an available wireless phone charger—features available in the EX Hybrid and above.
Interior features are great, but let’s not forget that this Honda drives well. The 2022 Honda CR-V comes with an efficient turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It feels zippy and smooth, with seamless transmission. At 190 horsepower, it’s plenty for city and country commutes—without jeopardizing fuel economy. This model gets an EPA-estimated 28 MPG city and 34 MPG highway on the two-wheel drive configuration, or 27 MPG city and 32 MPG highway if opting for the all-wheel drive version. Thanks to the turbocharged I-4—versus the V-6 that is normally found in SUVs of this size, your teen doesn’t have to spend their entire allowance at the gas station.
Best of all, with proper care and routine maintenance, the CR-V can last your teen driver well into adulthood. They’ll thank you as they enter college life and their first job.
All-Around Family Vehicle
The Honda CR-V is an exceptional vehicle for parents and teenagers alike. It’s no surprise parents may consider this SUV for themselves, enjoy it for many years, and then pass it on when their own kids are old enough to drive. Capable of so much, the CR-V makes daily driving easy and convenient. Owning a Honda reduces the stress that comes with vehicles unexpectedly breaking down, leaving you stranded, and costing you thousands in repairs. Not only are Hondas notoriously reliable, they’re built around your safety and comfort.
Thanks to the Honda Sensing Suite of safety and driver assistance technologies, you can feel secure commuting with your loved ones. Packed with innovative technology on the exterior and the interior, there is nothing the Honda CR-V can’t achieve. It’s the SUV you can feel good about driving today, and feel great about passing down to your teenager tomorrow.
