The 2021 Honda CR-V, a popular compact SUV, is often praised for its reliability and practicality. But when it comes to safety, how does the 2021 CR-V truly perform? This comprehensive guide dives into the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) ratings for the 2021-2022 Honda CR-V models, providing a detailed breakdown of crash test results and safety evaluations to help you make informed decisions.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Driver-Side
The small overlap front crash test assesses vehicle safety when the front corner of the car collides with another vehicle or a narrow object like a tree or pole. The 2021 Honda CR-V earned a “Good” rating in the driver-side small overlap front test, the highest rating possible.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures – Head/Neck | G |
| Driver injury measures – Chest | G |
| Driver injury measures – Hip/Thigh | G |
| Driver injury measures – Lower Leg/Foot | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
This “Good” rating signifies that the structure of the 2021 CR-V held up well in this demanding test. Crucially, measures taken from the crash test dummy indicated a low risk of significant injuries to the driver’s head, neck, chest, hip, thigh, lower leg, and foot. The restraint systems also performed optimally, effectively controlling the dummy’s movement during the crash.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Passenger-Side
Extending safety to all occupants, the passenger-side small overlap front test evaluates how well the vehicle protects the front passenger in a similar collision scenario. Like the driver-side test, the 2021 Honda CR-V achieved a “Good” rating for passenger-side protection.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Passenger injury measures – Head/Neck | G |
| Passenger injury measures – Chest | G |
| Passenger injury measures – Hip/Thigh | G |
| Passenger injury measures – Lower Leg/Foot | G |
| Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
| Driver injury measures – Head/Neck | G |
| Driver injury measures – Chest | G |
| Driver injury measures – Hip/Thigh | G |
| Driver injury measures – Lower Leg/Foot | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
The “Good” rating here reinforces the robust safety cage and effective occupant protection of the 2021 CR-V. The test results showed minimal risk of injury for both the passenger and the driver in this type of crash.
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test: Original and Updated
The moderate overlap front crash test simulates what happens in a frontal offset crash between two vehicles. The IIHS conducts two types of moderate overlap tests: the original and an updated version.
Original Moderate Overlap Front Test
In the original moderate overlap test, the 2021 Honda CR-V again earned a “Good” rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures – Head/Neck | G |
| Driver injury measures – Chest | G |
| Driver injury measures – Leg/Foot, Left | G |
| Driver injury measures – Leg/Foot, Right | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
This “Good” rating indicates that in a more common type of frontal collision, the 2021 CR-V provides excellent protection for the driver. The structural integrity was maintained, and injury measures were low across all body regions assessed.
Action shot during the moderate overlap frontal crash test, illustrating the controlled deformation of the 2021 Honda CR-V.
Dummy position after the moderate overlap test in the 2021 CR-V, demonstrating well-maintained driver survival space.
Dummy head contact with airbag and head restraint, highlighting effective occupant control in the 2021 CR-V moderate overlap test.
Minimal intrusion into the driver’s space during the moderate overlap crash test of the 2021 Honda CR-V.
Updated Moderate Overlap Front Test
The updated moderate overlap front test is more demanding, adding a rear passenger dummy to evaluate rear seat safety. In this updated test, the 2021 Honda CR-V received a “Poor” overall rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | P |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures – Head/Neck | G |
| Driver injury measures – Chest | G |
| Driver injury measures – Thigh/Hip | G |
| Driver injury measures – Leg/Foot | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Head/Neck | M |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Chest | P |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Thigh | G |
| Rear passenger restraints and dummy kinematics | A |
While the 2021 CR-V still maintained a “Good” rating for structure and driver protection in this updated test, the rear passenger protection was concerning. The rear passenger dummy showed a “Marginal” risk of head/neck injury and a “Poor” risk of chest injury. This downgrade was largely due to the shoulder belt moving too far upwards on the rear passenger dummy, compromising the restraint system’s effectiveness.
Vehicle damage and airbag deployment in the updated moderate overlap front crash test of the 2021 Honda CR-V.
Rear passenger dummy head position in the updated moderate overlap test of the 2021 Honda CR-V, demonstrating safe distance.
Rear passenger dummy injury values in the updated moderate overlap test, showing potential injury risks in the 2021 Honda CR-V.
Lap belt position on the rear passenger dummy in the updated moderate overlap test of the 2021 Honda CR-V, showing proper restraint.
Side Crash Tests: Original and Updated
Side impact crashes are another significant real-world accident type. The IIHS evaluates side crash protection through both original and updated tests.
Original Side Crash Test
In the original side crash test, the 2021 Honda CR-V earned a “Good” overall rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures – Head/Neck | G |
| Driver injury measures – Torso | G |
| Driver injury measures – Pelvis/Leg | G |
| Driver head protection | G |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Head/Neck | G |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Torso | G |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Pelvis/Leg | G |
| Rear passenger head protection | G |
This “Good” rating signifies robust side impact protection for both front and rear occupants in the 2021 CR-V. All injury measures were low, and head protection systems worked effectively.
Updated Side Crash Test
The updated side crash test is more rigorous, using a heavier barrier and assessing a broader range of potential injuries. In this tougher test, the 2021 Honda CR-V received an “Acceptable” overall rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | A |
| Structure and safety cage | A |
| Driver injury measures – Head/Neck | G |
| Driver injury measures – Torso | G |
| Driver injury measures – Pelvis | A |
| Driver head protection | G |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Head/Neck | G |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Torso | M |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Pelvis | A |
| Rear passenger head protection | G |
While still achieving “Good” for driver head/neck and torso protection, and rear passenger head/neck protection, the 2021 CR-V’s performance dipped slightly in the updated side test. Driver and rear passenger pelvis protection were rated “Acceptable,” and rear passenger torso protection was “Marginal.” This indicates a need for improvement in side impact protection, particularly for rear passengers.
Vehicle damage after the updated side crash test of the 2021 Honda CR-V, highlighting structural integrity.
Occupant compartment damage and airbag deployment in the updated side crash test of the 2021 Honda CR-V.
Driver dummy head protection by side airbags in the updated side crash test of the 2021 Honda CR-V.
Rear passenger dummy head protection by side airbag in the updated side crash test of the 2021 Honda CR-V.
Roof Strength Test
Roof strength is critical in rollover accidents. The 2021 Honda CR-V earned a “Good” rating in the roof strength test.
| Overall evaluation | G |
|---|---|
| Strength-to-weight ratio | 5.33 |
This “Good” rating demonstrates that the 2021 CR-V’s roof is strong enough to withstand significant force in a rollover scenario, reducing the risk of roof crush and injury.
Head Restraints and Seats
Whiplash protection is a concern in rear-end collisions. The 2021 Honda CR-V’s head restraints and seats were rated “Good” for whiplash protection in rear impacts.
| Overall evaluation | G |
|---|---|
| Dynamic rating | G |
| Seat/head restraint geometry | G |
This “Good” rating indicates that the design of the 2021 CR-V’s seats and head restraints effectively minimizes the risk of whiplash injuries in rear-end crashes.
Headlights
Headlight performance is crucial for nighttime driving safety. The IIHS tested three different headlight options available on the 2021 Honda CR-V.
LED Reflector Headlights (Touring and Hybrid Touring trims): Good Rating
The LED reflector headlights found on the Touring and Hybrid Touring trims earned a “Good” overall rating. These headlights provided good visibility on straightaways and curves, with high-beam assist further enhancing visibility in various driving conditions.
LED Reflector Headlights (Hybrid EX and Hybrid EX-L trims): Acceptable Rating
The LED reflector headlights on the Hybrid EX and Hybrid EX-L trims received an “Acceptable” rating. While still performing well, these headlights had some limitations, particularly on left curves, where visibility was deemed inadequate in certain scenarios.
Halogen Projector Headlights (LX, EX, EX-L, Special Edition trims): Marginal Rating
The halogen projector headlights, standard on lower trims like LX, EX, EX-L, and Special Edition, received a “Marginal” rating. These headlights showed deficiencies in visibility, particularly on curves, and also produced some glare, which could be a concern for oncoming drivers.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle and Pedestrian
Advanced safety features play an increasingly important role in accident prevention. The 2021 Honda CR-V comes standard with a Collision Mitigation Braking System, which was evaluated for vehicle-to-vehicle and pedestrian front crash prevention.
Vehicle-to-Vehicle Front Crash Prevention: Superior Rating
The 2021 Honda CR-V’s front crash prevention system earned a “Superior” rating for vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention. The system successfully avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph tests.
Pedestrian Front Crash Prevention (Day): Superior Rating
Similarly, the system achieved a “Superior” rating for pedestrian front crash prevention (daytime). The system avoided collisions with an adult crossing in the 12 mph and 25 mph tests and with a parallel adult at 25 mph. It also significantly reduced impact speed in more challenging scenarios, such as a child crossing and a parallel adult at 37 mph.
Seat Belt Reminders
Seat belt reminders are a simple but effective safety feature. However, the 2021 Honda CR-V’s seat belt reminder system received a “Poor” rating.
| Overall evaluation | P |
|---|---|
| Front row reminder | P |
| Second row reminder | None |
The system’s audible and visual alerts for unbelted front occupants were deemed insufficient due to negligible duration and volume. Notably, there was no startup status alert for the second row.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
For families with young children, child seat anchor ease of use is important. The 2021 Honda CR-V’s LATCH system received an “Acceptable” rating.
| Overall evaluation | A |
While rated “Acceptable” overall, the LATCH system in the 2021 CR-V has some usability issues. While it has two rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware, some anchors are not easily accessible, and excessive force may be needed to attach car seats.
Conclusion: 2021 Honda CR-V Safety Performance
The 2021 Honda CR-V demonstrates strong safety performance in many key areas, achieving “Good” ratings in critical crash tests like small overlap front (driver and passenger side), original moderate overlap front, roof strength, and head restraints & seats. Its front crash prevention systems also earned “Superior” ratings.
However, the updated moderate overlap front test revealed weaknesses in rear passenger protection (“Poor” rating), and the updated side crash test resulted in an “Acceptable” rating, indicating areas for potential improvement. The “Poor” rating for seat belt reminders is also noteworthy. Headlight ratings vary by trim level, with higher trims offering “Good” or “Acceptable” LED headlights, while lower trims have “Marginal” halogen headlights.
Overall, the 2021 Honda CR-V provides a generally safe environment for occupants, but prospective buyers should be aware of the mixed performance in the updated crash tests and consider the headlight options based on their trim selection. Always prioritize using seat belts for all occupants, regardless of vehicle ratings.
