What Is the Best Honda SUV?

According to industry ratings, the CR-V is Honda’s best SUV overall. But don’t dismiss the other Honda SUVs. Learn more here.
Written by Tiffany Leung
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
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The
CR-V
is an award-winning luxury compact SUV with generous cargo space, a comfortable cabin, and the highest safety ratings—not to mention insanely stylish. It’s no wonder it’s been crowned Honda’s best SUV.
While the CR-V is the crowd favorite, the rest of the automaker’s sport-utility lineup is just as competitive. You’re bound to find a Honda SUV that suits your needs—whether you're looking for a family car or better fuel savings. To get you started,
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car insurance
comparison app that can help lower your
Honda insurance costs
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The best Honda SUV overall: CR-V

Starting price: $28,046
Number of seats: 5
J.D. Power rating: 83
The CR-V is Honda’s overall best SUV and is even an Editors’ Choice winner for 2022 from Car and Driver. This Honda SUV is also the brand’s top-selling SUV with 361,271 units sold in the U.S. in 2021 alone.
This
compact Honda SUV
is compelling for its spiffy and spacious interior, generous storage, and amazing fuel economy—not to mention the option of getting a hybrid powertrain.
Both CR-V engine choices are extremely efficient when it comes to fuel economy. The front-drive, gas-only model is rated at 28 mpg city and 34 highway, and the all-wheel-drive models are rated at 27 mpg city and 32 highway.
If you’re looking for comfort, the interior is fitted with comfortable and roomy seats—the most spacious in the class—to greet up to five passengers. The cabin is also stylish and finished with upscale materials including faux-wood accents, chromed plastic, and brushed-satin finishes.
Very few SUVs in the same class can rival the CR-Vs voluminous cargo space. With 39.2 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and 75.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down, these numbers are hard to beat.
In terms of safety, the CR-V has scored a five-star overall
NHTSA safety rating
, as well as a Superior rating for collision avoidance features from the IIHS. These high scores are all thanks to the quality of the CR-V build and a host of safety features. These include automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, road departure mitigation, forward collision warning, and lane-keep assist.

The best Honda SUV to buy used: 2016 CR-V

Price range: $18,600 to $29,000
Number of seats:
J.D. Power rating: 81
Although the current CR-V model year checks off many desirable features, the cost of a new Honda SUV can add up quickly. Shoppers on a budget can consider a used CR-V to get the best Honda SUV without the premium price
Even though the 2016 CR-V is a few years older, it is part of the fourth generation which received higher overall scores than any other CR-V generation. The 2016 model has also been considered one of the best model years produced—and here are its awards to prove it:
  • Recognized as one of the top trucks and SUVs by Car and Driver according to its critical rating system
  • Scored second overall on the U.S. News & World Report rating system
  • Won U.S. News' 2016 Best Compact SUV for Families award
  • Ranked #2 under the U.S. News’ 2016 Affordable Compact SUVs category
  • Finalist for the U.S. New’s 2016 Best Compact SUV for the Money award
The 2016 model has many upgrades that give it better handling, ride comfort, and noise cancellation. This CR-V also posted better fuel mileage compared to previous years and has exceptional safety ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS. With so many awards and positive ratings, it’s not hard to see why the 2016 CR-V is the best used Honda SUV.

The best Honda SUV for families: Pilot

Starting price: $39,375
Number of seats: 7-8
J.D. Power rating: 82
The CR-V may be Honda’s best, but it won’t be practical for large families who are constantly on the go. Fortunately, Honda has something bigger to offer: the
Honda Pilot
, the brand’s largest three-row SUV
The Pilot comes with a sport V6 engine that provides plenty of power and is a great drive with the nine-speed automatic transmission. When this family SUV is loaded with people, the ride is relatively smooth.
The Pilot offers a spacious and practical interior that seats up to eight passengers and has the option to include an in-cabin PA system—perfect for families. Most of the models come with a second-row three-seat bench but certain
Honda Pilot configurations
can get two captain’s chairs. However, this will bring the passenger count down to seven. Keep in mind that while the Pilot's third row is spacious, it may become uncomfortable for adults on longer trips. 
The most advantageous feature of the Pilot is its cavernous cargo area—making it one of the roomiest SUVs in its class. The cargo floor is also adjustable to maximize space or create an underfloor storage compartment. Finally, a quirky yet convenient feature is the numerous useful interior cubbies and 16 cup holders throughout the cabin.

The best Honda SUV for off-roading: Passport TrailSport

Starting price: $44,265
Number of seats: 5
J.D. Power rating: 83
Most of Honda’s SUV lineup is capable of handling very light off-roading. The CR-V would likely struggle with its low ground clearance while the Pilot makes for an entry-level off-roader. However, they are better off staying on the smooth paved roads to avoid disappointment.
On the other hand, to fill the gap between the city dwellers and outdoor adventurers, Honda introduced the
Honda Passport TrailSport
. Not only does the Passport receive a style upgrade, but it also gets trail-ready with the additional off-road features.
The Passport TrailSport is outfitted with all-wheel drive, a 280-hp 3.5-liter V6 engine, and 8.1 inches of ground clearance to power through off-road terrains. It has a generous maximum cargo space of 100.8 cubic feet with all the seats folded down, allowing outdoor enthusiasts to bring all the gear they need. If you plan to bring a trailer along, the passport TrailSport has a 5,000-lb maximum towing capacity
MORE: The best old-school off-road vehicles

The best Honda SUV for fuel economy: CR-V Hybrid

Starting price: $33,255
Number of seats: 5
J.D. Power rating: N/A
The Honda CR-V Hybrid has some of the best fuel economy ratings in its class, with a combined driving fuel economy of 38 MPG. Not only is this 30% more fuel-efficient than the regular CR-V, but it also outperforms the rest of the SUVs offered by Honda.
Below are the fuel economy numbers for our other top Honda SUVs’ base engine configurations: 
  • 2022 Honda CR-V: 28 city/34 highway/30 combined mpg 
  • 2022 Honda Pilot: 20 city/27 highway/23 combined mpg
  • 2022 Honda Passport: 20 city/25 highway/22 combined mpg
If you need a bigger car to transport a larger family, Honda may debut a Pilot plug-in hybrid in a future generation—but it’s unconfirmed. Of course, there will likely be higher upfront costs before you’ll see the long-term savings.

The best way to shop for Honda insurance

With their long standing-reliability, best-in-class interior space, and off-road capabilities, you’re bound to find the perfect fit in Honda’s SUV lineup. No matter which Honda you end up with, be sure to shop for the best car insurance rates with the
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As a
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Jerry will even continue monitoring for price drops so that you’ll continue to get the best deals before your policy expires.
“I thought my previous insurance rate was the best I could get since I have a luxury SUV. After
Jerry
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