We have a 2017 Touring CRV and a 2018 Accord EX-L (1,5T) in our family.

Both are great vehicles.. the best in each model that Honda has produced to date.

I assess the CRV to be tops for cargo space and general utility overall. Driver and Passenger space is outstanding for a Compact SUV.

I assess the Accord to have superior cabin refinements and features compared to the CRV. The head unit in the Accord is far superior to the one in the CRV. I expect this represents Honda finally getting their @#$% together on head unit design.

The Accord 1.5T is a bit peppier than in the CRV.. and handles better... this is due to slightly different tuning, and the fact that the Accord, as a sedan is better handling over all compared to a compact SUV like the CRV.

The downside to the Accord is it is even lower profile than prior generations, and as such it can be a pain to get into and out of. This is where the CRV shines and differentiates. That said... one refinement Honda added for the Accord (those with power drivers seats) is when you open the door the drivers seat automatically moves back all the way, making it much easier to get into, and when you close the door the seat automatically adjusts to the setting programmed for the keyfob of the driver. It is even smart enough to know the difference between the driver and the passenger... if both are carrying a fob for the same vehicle.

Honestly, in my view.. the 2.0T is a waste in the Accord, but different owners have different expectations in this regard. the technology of both the 1.5T and the 2.0T are very similar.... which is to be expected from Honda.

What is stunning about the Accord though is in a market segment where most manufacturers are seeing double digit sales declines year over year (due to the surge of buyers into CUVs and SUVs)... Honda has done such a fine job with the current generation Accord that they are seeing no real sales declines, and as such are actually growing market share in the midsize sedan market segment as other companies flounder or exit the class. This speaks volumes about where Honda engineering and design is as of 2018 when the new Accord was introduced.

Ultimately... the choice comes down to you and your wife's personal needs and wants. Tough choice between the two in my view.. and we are glad to have one of each in our garage.

 

We have a 2017 Touring CRV and a 2018 Accord EX-L (1,5T) in our family.

Both are great vehicles.. the best in each model that Honda has produced to date.

I assess the CRV to be tops for cargo space and general utility overall. Driver and Passenger space is outstanding for a Compact SUV.

I assess the Accord to have superior cabin refinements and features compared to the CRV. The head unit in the Accord is far superior to the one in the CRV. I expect this represents Honda finally getting their @#$% together on head unit design.

The Accord 1.5T is a bit peppier than in the CRV.. and handles better... this is due to slightly different tuning, and the fact that the Accord, as a sedan is better handling over all compared to a compact SUV like the CRV.

The downside to the Accord is it is even lower profile than prior generations, and as such it can be a pain to get into and out of. This is where the CRV shines and differentiates. That said... one refinement Honda added for the Accord (those with power drivers seats) is when you open the door the drivers seat automatically moves back all the way, making it much easier to get into, and when you close the door the seat automatically adjusts to the setting programmed for the keyfob of the driver. It is even smart enough to know the difference between the driver and the passenger... if both are carrying a fob for the same vehicle.

Honestly, in my view.. the 2.0T is a waste in the Accord, but different owners have different expectations in this regard. the technology of both the 1.5T and the 2.0T are very similar.... which is to be expected from Honda.

What is stunning about the Accord though is in a market segment where most manufacturers are seeing double digit sales declines year over year (due to the surge of buyers into CUVs and SUVs)... Honda has done such a fine job with the current generation Accord that they are seeing no real sales declines, and as such are actually growing market share in the midsize sedan market segment as other companies flounder or exit the class. This speaks volumes about where Honda engineering and design is as of 2018 when the new Accord was introduced.

Ultimately... the choice comes down to you and your wife's personal needs and wants. Tough choice between the two in my view.. and we are glad to have one of each in our garage.

I also have both and I echo your comments. Only additionals is that the accord suspension is better and far quieter at higher speeds.

 

do you like technology and cabin refinement, then accord is probably going to make you happier. to me the accord cabin feels more upscale even in the sport trim than the crv touring - crv has lots of hard plastic. also accord has - if you choose to go higher in the trim - a better list of available tech like a proper HUD.

the crv infotainment was old feeling back when we got it in 18 so assuming you're getting the 2020 crv it's only going to age even more by the time you've had it for a couple of years. something you may want to keep in mind are kids - if you're going to have them it's much easier to deal with a child seat and stroller/etc. in a crv than an accord.

 

I'm planning to keep my next vehicle for atleast 5 years and I might have kids during that time. We don't need a second car as my wife works in downtown and she takes public transportation. So this is going to be our only car. The interior of Accord is one step above the CRV in terms of infotainment and interior refinement.

 

Dude, you're married.................
Happy wife, happy life.............

 

I have no kids or pets.

Accord 2.0T is a lot more fun.
CRV is a lot more room and storage.

 

My neighbor (a lady), who has been a repeat Accord leaser, again and again, decided to try the CRV this time and she says the CRV is more fun to drive. Certainly more handy.

So, yeah, happy wife, happy life.

 

If I were to get the 2.0 Sport I'd be severely tempted to get the reportedly excellent manual transmission. Last of a dying breed in this country and really ups the engagement factor.

 

I heard some reviewers mention that the manual in 2.0T is not as good as manuals in other Honda models say Civic Si. Also the 10 speed AT is so fast and superior that make the car already fun to drive.

 

I began my car search looking at the CR-V/Accord and RAV4/Camry. Upgrading from a small '07 Volvo S60, wife drives a 4 dr Toyota Tacoma. Ended up choosing the '20 CR-V EX and have loved every mile I've driven it.

Biggest things for me/us and in this order:
Size-needed to be big enough for me (6'5") driving but still comfortable for other pax plus car seat in the back. CR-V was the best option out of all 4. Fwiw, when I tried to see what it was like sitting in the back seats, I was easily hitting my head on the Accord ceiling and my knees were hitting the front seat of the RAV4. Obviously not a problem for most, though. Trunk space on the CR-V is also excellent.

MPG-Obviously the Accord a little stronger, but CR-V is still good especially when factoring in the size.

That's mainly it. I work in tech and while I don't love the info system, the apple/Android integration is all I need. The engine won't "wow" you but as you can probably tell i was going for utility over flash.

If you plan to keep the car for 3-5+ years and could envision kids in that time period (as @thomasbg said) and don't have a second decent size car, then I think the CR-V is a no brainer. If not, I don't blame you for going Accord.

Oh and if you can stand to wait a little, there may be some lower financing available in the next few weeks with coronavirus.

 

Yes I'm planning to keep the car for atleast 5 years. I'm happy with Apple carplay integration as it will take care of all my needs but man, the infotainment in Accord is so much improved. The screen resolution is amazing and the half digital dash is also a good addition. Honda should have updated the 2020 CRV with Accord infotainment.

 

Ive had a loaner 18 accord and currently a 1.5t CRV and 15 civic lx 5mt sedan (work commuter).

I loved both cars. With a 4 and 1 year (almost 2) year old, as a primary family hauler and overall utility the CRV is the way to go for us as a family. My next work commuter will more than likely be a 1.5 or 2.0 accord with a 6 speed. If you think kids are a possibly go with the CRV however an accord is easily large enough to accomdate children. If you choose to go with the accord just get a second set of wheels with solid snow tires for the winter. Dont let the awd make or break the deal. I have a 30 mile commute to work in new england. I used to daily a 04 crv while my wife had a 10 exl crv. In an effort to reduce gas expenses, I went with a $9500 used 15 civic in 2018. I run snows during the winter and have had zero issues when it actually snowed.

 

Ive had a loaner 18 accord and currently a 1.5t CRV and 15 civic lx 5mt sedan (work commuter).

I loved both cars. With a 4 and 1 year (almost 2) year old, as a primary family hauler and overall utility the CRV is the way to go for us as a family. My next work commuter will more than likely be a 1.5 or 2.0 accord with a 6 speed. If you think kids are a possibly go with the CRV however an accord is easily large enough to accomdate children. If you choose to go with the accord just get a second set of wheels with solid snow tires for the winter. Dont let the awd make or break the deal. I have a 30 mile commute to work in new england. I used to daily a 04 crv while my wife had a 10 exl crv. In an effort to reduce gas expenses, I went with a $9500 used 15 civic in 2018. I run snows during the winter and have had zero issues when it actually snowed.

Yes I agree with your point on the winter tires. I never needed one so far as I live in south. But I have seen a lot of car reviewers recommend FWD with winter tires over FWD based AWD for snow conditions.

 

What'd you end up going with @ravimitian

 

Planning to get the 2020 CRV. Currently put the car purchase on hold due to the corona situation. Local dealerships are short of sales people to do test drives. They facilitate on-site test drive but only I get on the numbers which is something I don't want to do.

 

I purposely chose a Honda dealer which had the '18 Accord 1.5T Touring model and all CRV trims/colors in stock when I went shopping for a new car in Dec 2018. The 1.5T Touring is a pretty rare combination only available for the 2018 model year.. that combined most luxurious interior with the best bang for the buck powertrain. It was also available with significant discounts. I had my choice of buying a '18 Accord 1.5T Touring or '18 CRV EX-L for the exact same price of $27,700 + tax, tags, license. After arriving at the dealership and comparing the two vehicles side-by-side for almost an hour.. I went ahead and purchased the CRV.

While the Accord is probably more fun & luxurious to drive.. the CRV just makes more sense overall and especially for the long run:

• 30mpg combined avg
• AWD
• Resale Value
• Power Hatchback
• Towing Capability
• Significantly more cargo room even with all seats up
• Large, completely flat cargo floor with all seats down (I have literally slept in my CRV on an air mattress)
• Higher, hip point entry/exit point for easy passenger ingress/egress and cargo loading/unloading
• Upright seating position feels like sitting in a office chair vs laid back in recliner
• Higher seating position means you see farther ahead (and around other vehicles) in traffic.. also less blinding from cars in rearview mirrors with LED headlights
• Shorter vehicle overall (more space in garage when parked and easier to parallel park in major cities)

Fast forward about 18 months later.. and I definitely made the right choice. I would have had serious regrets with the Accord. Everything that makes the Accord great.. essentially only applies when the vehicle is actually in motion. Whereas the CRV is just much more useful all around.. especially so if you have a family. If you've never owned a Crossover/SUV.. once you do.. there is no going back to a sedan again. I'd honestly buy a coupe (dream sports car).. before I'd buy another sedan. The Crossover takes everything about a sedan and makes it so much more utilitarian. Now that Crossovers are pretty fuel efficient.. its really no surprise why people are running out of reasons to purchase a new sedan when car shopping.

 

Is AWD truly necessary in Seattle?

 

Rains a lot up there. Good AWD grip on wet roads doesn’t sound like a bad idea to me!

 

There is no normal situation where AWD would engage in a CR-V on dry or even wet pavement. There's four cylinders or a high boost turbo charger short. You'd have to hit sand, mud or something else seriously slippery. It's fairly lazy even in snow with good snow tires. Traction control catches the slippage before the rear wheels fully engage. Now it's a completely different ballgame with VSA off. Gen 5 may be more reactive, I have no personal experience.

 

Well of course it is the "abnormal" events where AWD comes into play. Broken up road surfaces is a common one where I live, where you don't know you have a wheel in a crumbling road surface until the wheel is actually in it. This is most common around here at intersections, probably because corners at intersections take a lot of angular torque load from vehicles exerting force at the corners as people accelerate into a turn.

In contrast to prior generation CRVs.. the gen5 CRVs do actually have much more activity from the rear wheels, even in perfect road conditions. Example: when you accelerate from a stop, even on clean perfect road... the rear wheels engage and apply notable traction until you begin to ease up on the fuel pedal. And the more you accelerate.. the more traction that is delivered to the rear wheels. Same when you turn at a corner.. the rear wheels apply active traction to insure you encounter no slippage in the turn, and is one of the reasons gen5s corner so well in driving. It is a new level of sophistication that Honda introduced with the gen5 CRV. A driver can actually observe this when they select the traction display option on their instrument panel.

I know a lot of owners still think AWD CRVs behave the same in gen5 as prior generations, but it is not true.