The Honda CR-V 2021, part of the redesigned 2017-2022 models, has undergone rigorous testing to ensure driver and passenger safety. This article provides a detailed overview of the Honda CR-V 2021 safety ratings, based on evaluations conducted by reputable safety organizations. We will delve into various crash test scenarios, including small overlap front, moderate overlap front, and side impacts, as well as assessments of roof strength, head restraints, headlights, and crash prevention technologies.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Driver-Side
The driver-side small overlap front test simulates a collision where only a small portion of the vehicle’s front end impacts an object. In this test for the Honda CR-V 2021, conducted by Honda and assessed by the Institute, the vehicle achieved a Good rating, the highest possible.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G |
| Structure and Safety Cage | G |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/Thigh | G |
| Lower Leg/Foot | G |
| Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics | G |
Technical measurements from the test indicated minimal intrusion into the occupant compartment and low risk of injury to the driver. For instance, intrusion at the lower hinge pillar was measured at 6 cm, while footrest intrusion was 9 cm. Driver injury measures were also favorable, with a Head Injury Criterion (HIC-15) of 302 and minimal forces recorded on the neck, chest, and legs.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Passenger-Side
The passenger-side small overlap front test mirrors the driver-side test but evaluates protection for the front passenger. The Honda CR-V 2021 also earned a Good rating in this challenging assessment.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G |
| Structure and Safety Cage | G |
| Passenger Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/Thigh | G |
| Lower Leg/Foot | G |
| Passenger Restraints and Dummy Kinematics | G |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/Thigh | G |
| Lower Leg/Foot | G |
| Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics | G |
Similar to the driver-side test, the passenger-side assessment showed excellent structural performance and occupant protection. Intrusion measurements were low, and injury measures for both passenger and driver dummies indicated a low risk of significant injuries.
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test: Original Test
The original moderate overlap front test evaluates vehicle safety when a significant portion of the front end impacts a barrier. The Honda CR-V 2021 received a Good rating in this test, demonstrating robust frontal crash protection.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G |
| Structure and Safety Cage | G |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Leg/Foot, Left | G |
| Leg/Foot, Right | G |
| Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics | G |
During the test, the dummy’s position relative to the steering wheel and instrument panel indicated that the driver’s survival space was well-maintained. Dummy movement was controlled, and intrusion into the driver’s space was minimal. Technical measurements confirmed low injury measures for the driver.
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test: Updated Test
An updated moderate overlap front test includes a rear passenger dummy to assess rear occupant protection. In this more stringent test, the Honda CR-V 2021 received a Poor overall rating. While driver injury measures remained Good, rear passenger protection was lacking.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | P |
| Structure and Safety Cage | G |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Thigh/Hip | G |
| Leg/Foot | G |
| Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics | G |
| Rear Passenger Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | M |
| Chest | P |
| Thigh | G |
| Rear Passenger Restraints and Dummy Kinematics | A |
The test results indicated a moderate risk of head and neck injury and a likely risk of chest injury for the rear passenger. The shoulder belt moved excessively, compromising the rear restraint system’s effectiveness. Despite this, the rear passenger dummy’s head remained a safe distance from the front seatback, and the lap belt stayed in the correct position.
Side Crash Test: Original Test
In the original side crash test, the Honda CR-V 2021 achieved a Good overall rating. This test simulates a side impact from another vehicle.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G |
| Structure and Safety Cage | G |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | G |
| Torso | G |
| Pelvis/Leg | G |
| Driver Head Protection | G |
| Rear Passenger Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | G |
| Torso | G |
| Pelvis/Leg | G |
| Rear Passenger Head Protection | G |
Technical measurements showed minimal occupant compartment intrusion and low injury risks for both driver and rear passenger dummies.
Side Crash Test: Updated Test
The updated side crash test is more demanding, using a heavier barrier and higher impact speed. In this updated evaluation, the Honda CR-V 2021 received an Acceptable overall rating.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | A |
| Structure and Safety Cage | A |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | G |
| Torso | G |
| Pelvis | A |
| Driver Head Protection | G |
| Rear Passenger Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | G |
| Torso | M |
| Pelvis | A |
| Rear Passenger Head Protection | G |
While driver head and torso protection remained Good, pelvis protection was rated Acceptable. For rear passengers, head protection was Good, but torso and pelvis protection were rated Marginal and Acceptable, respectively. Measurements of occupant compartment intrusion were minimal, and grease paint on the dummies indicated good head protection from the side airbags.
Roof Strength Test
The roof strength test assesses the roof’s ability to withstand forces in a rollover crash. The Honda CR-V 2021 earned a Good rating, with a strength-to-weight ratio of 5.33. This indicates that the roof can withstand over five times the vehicle’s weight.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G |
| Curb Weight | 3,396 lbs |
| Peak Force | 18,094 lbs |
| Strength-to-Weight Ratio | 5.33 |
Head Restraints & Seats
Evaluations of head restraints and seats are crucial for preventing whiplash injuries in rear-end collisions. The Honda CR-V 2021 with manual cloth seats received a Good overall rating in this category, both for dynamic rating and seat/head restraint geometry.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G |
| Dynamic Rating | G |
| Seat/Head Restraint Geometry | G |
Headlights
Headlight performance is evaluated based on visibility and glare. The Honda CR-V 2021 has three headlight variations tested, with ratings ranging from Good to Marginal depending on the trim level.
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Touring and Hybrid Touring trims (LED reflector): Good overall rating. These headlights provided good visibility on straightaways and curves with minimal glare.
-
Hybrid EX and Hybrid EX-L trims (LED reflector): Acceptable overall rating. These also offered good straightaway visibility but had some limitations on curves.
-
LX, EX, EX-L, and Special Edition trims (Halogen projector): Marginal overall rating. These halogen headlights had fair to inadequate visibility on curves and created some glare.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle & Pedestrian
The Honda CR-V 2021 is equipped with a standard Collision Mitigation Braking System, which has been rated Superior in both vehicle-to-vehicle and pedestrian front crash prevention tests.
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Vehicle-to-Vehicle: The system successfully avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph tests.
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Pedestrian (Day): The system showed superior performance, avoiding collisions with an adult crossing and parallel adult scenarios in lower speed tests, and significantly reducing speed in higher speed tests and child crossing scenarios.
Seat Belt Reminders
Seat belt reminders are essential safety features. For the 2021-2022 models, the Honda CR-V received a Poor rating for seat belt reminders. While the front row unbelted occupant alert is present, the initiation time and duration are negligible (under 8 seconds), and there is no startup status alert for the second row.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | P |
| Front Row | |
| Unbelted Occupant Alert (Audible & Visual) | |
| Initiation Time | |
| Duration | Negligible (under 8 seconds) |
| Volume | |
| Audio Frequency | |
| Second Row | |
| Startup Status Alert (Visual) | None |
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
Child seat anchor ease of use is critical for child passenger safety. The Honda CR-V 2021 received an Acceptable rating for LATCH system ease of use. It has two rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware and an additional position with a tether anchor and the ability to borrow lower anchors. However, some anchors were noted as being too deep in the seat and requiring too much force to attach to.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | A |
| Vehicle Trim | LX |
| Seat Type | Cloth |
Conclusion
The Honda CR-V 2021 demonstrates strong safety performance in many crash tests, achieving Good ratings in small overlap front, original moderate overlap front, side (original test), roof strength, head restraints, and vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention. However, it received a Poor rating in the updated moderate overlap front test due to rear passenger protection issues and an Acceptable rating in the updated side crash test. Headlight ratings vary by trim, and seat belt reminders and LATCH ease of use are areas needing improvement. Overall, the Honda CR-V 2021 offers a solid level of safety, but potential buyers should be aware of the mixed performance in certain updated crash tests and specific feature ratings.
