This should be a five child seat SUV but it has not been thought through
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The Honda CR-V VTi 7 is a seven-seater SUV with some fantastic features for families. In this year's model, a lot of the safety features have been added as standard on all but the lowest spec model, which is good news for families. So let's have a look at what else we found when we put it through our BabyDrive testing…
The Honda CR-V makes a great family car if you are looking for a five-seater with a generous boot and good legroom with the flexibility of using the third-row seats occasionally for grandparents and after school playdates.
Starting with the seats and top tether anchorages, the Honda CR-V does fit five child seats, which would be fantastic, but there's a catch! This has not been well thought through as there are top tether anchorages for all three second-row seats situated in the ceiling above the third-row passengers' heads.
This means that the top tether straps are across the third-row passengers' faces and heads and there is no room for anyone to realistically sit back there if you have child seats in the second-row seats.
I found there is enough space for three child seats across the second-row seats.
In the third row, two child seats fit well but there is another top tether issue.
The top tether anchorages for the third row are provided for you to install yourself if you need them.
You remove the circular discs on either side of the inside edge of the boot floor and install them in each position.
This does give you the flexibility of using the third-row for child seats but what this means is the top tether straps will go across the boot space and you will lose that space too.
The top tether anchorages are what really prevents the Honda CR-V from being a practical, everyday seven-seat family SUV.
The second-row seats are split 60:40 and the 40% is on the kerb side, which is great so kids aren't getting in and out of the road side, however, to access the third-row you would need to leave that seat free or uninstall a child seat to climb through.
With five child seats installed, the legroom is compromised and only a relatively small 170cm driver would be able to fit with a rear-facing child seat behind them.
On the passenger side with a forward-facing child seat in the third row and a rear-facing child seat in the second row, a 180cm passenger could fit in the front passenger seat.
In the third row, kick-room under the second-row seats is limited and you have to move the second-row seats forward to give enough knee room, at which point a 170cm passenger would fit for both leg and headroom.
When you are only using five seats, legroom and boot space are fantastic! I really like the five-seater model Honda CR-VÂ and if you are looking for legroom and boot space and only need five seats then it is definitely worth considering.
One of my favourite features of the Honda CR-V is in the boot of this seven-seater. You can raise the panel at the back of the boot floor, which makes the boot flat for carrying dogs etc but for family life, it gives a storage area underneath which we found we used for shoes, wet or dirty things or lunch boxes.
If you are only using five seats then a large dog or twelve shopping bags fit in the boot. This is comparable to the Nissan X-Trail holding thirteen, the Mitsubishi Outlander holding fourteen and the VW Tiguan Allspace and Skoda Kodiaq both holding fifteen.
A twin or tandem pram will also fit in there too.
I found you have the flexibility with the boot to lower the shelf and fit the tandem pram there and then you have lots of space behind it to fit shopping bags and other items.
When using all seven seats, five shopping bags will fit in the boot, which is comparable to the Nissan X-Trail and VW Tiguan Allspace that both also fit five bags. Other competitors include the Mitsubishi Outlander which fits four shopping bags and the Skoda Kodiaq that fits six shopping bags.
Only a compact stroller would fit in the boot and I wouldn't put a little dog in there either it would be too small.
There is great storage throughout all three rows inside the Honda CR-V, with a very large central console box, cup holders and phone tray in the front.
Ample space in the glove box and generous door bins in both rows that will hold more than one water bottle.
There are bottle holders in the third row too.
Another favourite of mine s the conversation mirror in the glasses case in the ceiling. It's great for keeping an eye on little passengers in the back.
Another favourite feature for families is the ventilation for all three rows of seats. In the ceiling above the second and third rows is a panel of air vents. If you are carrying little passengers you do have to ensure they are well-positioned before you set out so they are not blowing down on their heads but it is great to be able to keep all three rows of passengers cool.
There are vents in the back of the central console box too and you can control the rear climate from the front as well, which is really practical when driving little passengers around.
The media system in the Honda CR-V is basic and feels a little dated but it's very simple to navigate.
It has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The reversing camera image is quite clear and fills the whole screen.
The Honda CR-V is an easy car to drive with a family, the interior is neat and pleasant and it's easy to manoeuvre and park. When loaded up with five child seats the visibility out of the back is very poor but the side mirrors are excellent, we actually remarked on how good the mirrors are during our week with the car.
The Honda CR-V scored a five-star ANCAP safety rating in 2017 and has six airbags as standard. There is an excellent seat belt removal visual on the driver display screen.
BabyDrive Indepth
BabyDrive Indepth - Storage
How big is the boot of the 2021 Honda CR-V?
The boot of the Honda CR-V is stepped because the third-row seats do not fold flat into the floor. There is a shelf you can insert to create a level floor, which creates a useful separate storage space underneath.
When using all seven seats, the boot space is small and will hold five shopping bags, which is comparable to the Nissan X-Trail and VW Tiguan Allspace that also both fit five bags, while the Mitsubishi Outlander fits four shopping bags and the Skoda Kodiaq fits six shopping bags.
A compact stroller fits with two shopping bags but the other full-size prams and strollers wouldn't fit.
When using five seats, the third-row seats do not fold flush with the floor so you can use the space with either a stepped surface or insert the shelf to create the level floor, making it better for dogs and emergency nappy changes.
When empty, twelve shopping bags fitted in the boot of the Honda CR-V, which is the least amongst competitors I have tested such as the Nissan X-Trail that holds thirteen, the Mitsubishi Outlander that can hold fourteen and the VW Tiguan Allspace and Skoda Kodiaq that both hold fifteen.
I found with the twin stroller I could load the raised area with seven shopping bags and the twin stroller fitted onto the lower section at the edge.
Whereas if I used the shelf and put the twin stroller in a flat position, then only one shopping bag fits.
The tandem stroller fits with six shopping bags.
The boot space and its functionality are really important. I like to have a big boot space and little side wells or areas I can divide things into. So something I don’t want to move around while I’m driving such as Tulsi’s lunch bag or her wet swimming gear can be sectioned off in a little well where it’s not going to spill or get squashed by the rest of the things in the boot.
Hooks for securing shopping bags to are also favourites of mine, I like being able to secure the bag containing more fragile things like eggs so they don’t move around on the journey.
I measure the boot space in freezer shopping bags, prams and dogs. Not because I think all there is to a mum’s life is food shopping, prams and dogs. (Although it can feel like it sometimes!!) But because these are visually mesurable items we can all associate with. For me, the car company boot measurement of litres is not an amount I can easily visualise and 400L in one car may differ in usability to that in another due to the configuration or shape of the space.
The single stroller fits with six shopping bags around it.
The compact stroller fitted with ten shopping bags around it.
Or you could fit a large size dog in the boot!
How good is storage inside the 2021 Honda CR-V?
Storage inside the cabin of the Honda CR-V is good throughout; the central console storage box is large, it has a removable shelf in the top of it and a 12V socket inside.
In front of this is are two cup holders that I found fitted my reusable coffee cup and a disposable coffee cup well, also a large refillable water bottle fits in them too. In front of those is a small rubber-lined well I found a good spot for my phone and there are two USB sockets.
The glove box would hold my wallet and iPad with the manual and there is a cushion on the side of the central console so the front passenger doesn't chafe their knee.
There is a conversation mirror which is fantastic for keeping an eye on little rear passengers, a lined glasses case in the ceiling and lit vanity mirrors in both front visors.
The front door bins are big enough to hold a large refillable water bottle and a 600ml disposable bottle at the same time and a little space for a wallet too. All the doors have storage handle wells too.
In the back, the door bins will also hold a large refillable water bottle.
There are map pockets on the back of both front seats that will hold and conceal an iPad.
In the back of the central console box are two more USB charging points.
In a fold-down armrest in the central seatback are two cup holders. They are well sized to hold a disposable coffee cup or a reusable coffee cup.
In the third row, there are bottle holders on both sides, although they are quite flimsy D-shapes of plastic that I think could get broken easily. The good news is they will hold a large refillable water bottle and behind them is a USB charging point also.
BabyDrive Indepth - Noise
How noisy is the 2021 Honda CR-V?
The 2021 Honda CR-V still has a VERY annoying dinging alarm that sounds when you first start the car and it goes on until you plug in your seatbelt. It's a real baby-waking and nerve-fraying sound. To prevent it you have to first put your seatbelt on, then start the engine.
The media system in the 2021 Honda CR-V is quite minimal, which does make it easy to navigate.
The Honda CR-V has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The reversing camera image fills the screen and is quite clear with a couple of different view options.
The indicators are quiet in the CR-V and didn’t disturb my sleeping baby.
Becoming a parent I soon realised there are some noises and sounds I feel are unnecessary and I could happily live without if it meant my baby stayed asleep!!
That often the distraction of my screaming, distressed baby is more dangerous when driving than not having a lane departure warning for example.
If it is the lane departure warning beeping that creates distress with my baby then which is safest?
It’s where I think we need to be able to strike a balance and choose when we can mute the warnings or swap them to a vibration in the steering wheel or flashing light perhaps?
A lot of these noises come with the increase in technology and especially linked to safety features and alerts. For me these all have their place.
Another thing I have realised is I spend my time in a lot more places where small children roam, parks, beaches, play gyms, swimming lessons, daycare centre etc. I have become more aware that when I’m reversing or manouvering in the car parks I have to tripple check for small children running around behind me or being in my blind spot when reversing. For this I LOVE reversing cameras, I just don’t like their beeping sounds!!
I have become so much more aware of safety and potential accidents or hazards since having a child and so I love the peace of mind that I get from the cameras and sensors combined with my own vision from windows and mirrors as I don’t trust cameras alone.
The driver's display screen tells you your distance to empty, which is a great BabyDrive feature. As well as there being a fantastic seatbelt removal visual on this screen.
The distance to empty display becomes extra important as a mum because getting fuel with a baby is a whole new world of difficult. If they are screaming in the car you definitely do not want your journey prolonged with a fuel stop! If they are asleep the turning off of the engine, doors opening and locking and unlocking, then re-opening the doors and closing, starting the engine again, beepers going off because you haven’t got your seatbelt on when you start the car or because you blink in the wrong direction, do you take them out of the car when you go in to pay? If you do will you get them back in the seat again or will they have a complete meltdown and you’ll be stuck on the fuel station forecourt with a screaming baby!! Hopefully you are starting to gather the anxiety that what was once a simple fuel stop can be for a mum!!!!
For this reason the distance to empty display can let you know if you have enough fuel to make it home with bub and then go out and get fuel another time when you will not have to take bub with you.
The doors and windows can both be locked from the driver's door. Both the doors and windows are quiet and would not disturb small sleeping passengers when opening and closing them.
There is a knee pad on either side of the central console, which is a very considerate feature, as often my husband (who is 186cm) complains about his knee rubbing against central consoles, especially with child seats in the back, so this put a stop to that.
When on the move, the CR-V is really nice to drive, it is an absolute pleasure.
BabyDrive Indepth - Car Seats
How many child seats fit in the 2021 Honda CR-V seven-seater?
This is an area that lets the Honda CR-V down because unfortunately not so much consideration has been put into the positioning of the top tether anchorages.
There are five top tether anchorages in total. The three top tether anchorages for the second-row seats are positioned in the ceiling above the heads of the third-row passengers.
This makes it almost impossible to have passengers in the third-row seats.
In the third row, the top tether anchorages are on the edge of the floor of the boot.
They come with the car for you to install yourself. The problem with this position is the top tether straps go across the boot and then you lose your boot space.
The second row has ISOFix points in the two outer seats, which are within plastic guides behind a flap of seat leather. I found them nice and easy to connect to.
I could fit three child seats across the second row, which is fantastic. You wouldn't be able to fit three big bulky seats, so you need to consider the models you choose carefully.
Two child seats fit in the third row of the CR-V, although you need to be selective of the height and depth of child seat you use as not all fit.
You can fit five child seats into the seven-seater 2021 Honda CR-V BUT you can't really use them all because the top tether anchorage straps of the second-row seats go across the third-row passengers' faces.
and in order to access the third-row seats, you do need to remove a second-row child seat.
With child seats installed in all three rows, only a relatively small 170cm driver could sit in front.
Sitting in the third-row seats was okay for someone of my height 162cm, and considering head and legroom it probably would be for anyone up to about 170cm in height.
The rear doors of the Honda CR-V open really wide so posting bub into their child seat from outside the car is really nice and easy.
Australia being a country of weather extremes; blazing sun and torrential rain, mean you may find it easier to put Bub into their seat from inside the car sometimes. If it’s hot you can get the air-con going, cool the car down and not stand out in the sun while you fasten them in or shelter from the rain and not get soaked yourself whilst you’re doing it. So it is important to test whether Bub can be easily installed from either direction!
There is plenty of room to feed bub in the back if you only have one child seat installed.
BabyDrive Indepth - Drive & Comfort
How comfortable is the 2021 Honda CR-V? And how good is the 2021 Honda CR-V to drive?
The front seats of the 2021 Honda CR-V are pretty comfortable but I could not wear a ponytail while driving!
I had spent hours styling my hair this morning to get this ponytail just right too… said no new mum ever!!!
They are black and grey woven upholstery in this VTi 7 model, so they are not so easy to wipe clean.
For a mum travelling in the back with bub, the seats are comfortable at the sides. In the central seat, you can feel the firmness of the drop-down armrest in the seat back but there is an almost flat floor so no hump to straddle and lots of kick-room in the footwell, especially if you are only using five seats. The second-row seats slide to adjust and you can easily change the angle of the backrests too.
For the first year of our babies lives when we would go out as a family, if I wasn’t driving, I would travel in the back with them so it’s important to check the back seat comfort as you may be spending a lot of time in them! They were never something I gave any thought to before but I definitely notice a good or bad back seat now!
The steering wheel was fully adjustable in/out and up/down.
The cruise controls are on the right-hand side of the steering wheel and are easy to use. The lane-keep assist is on the right side too.
There are four air-conditioning vents across the front dashboard; two central ones above the media screen and one at either end and a panel of the dashboard.
There are two on the back of the central console box for the second-row passengers that the driver can reach easily.
Also, a large panel of vents in the ceiling above the second and third-row seats are a great BabyDrive feature!
You can control the climate easily with the buttons on the dash and turn the rear aircon on and off from there too.
The rear interior lights are located centrally in the ceiling, but too far back to reach them from the driver's seat while driving!
I have found my kids don't like travelling in the dark in the car so if it gets dark whilst travelling then I reach back and turn the interior light on for her. So it’s really important for me that I can reach the rear ceiling light.
Also if I am traveling home and it is getting near to bed time and I DEFINITELY DON’T want her to fall asleep in the car as even a five-minute nap in the car means bed time is all over!!!! I lean back and pop the light on so it’s not dark and try to keep her awake!! Along with screaming/singing at the top of my voice!!!
It is also useful when there are lights situated above the doors where the handles are usually positioned. These are good for when putting baby into their child seats when visibility is poor, so you do not have to reach across them to a light situated in the ceiling centrally etc.
There are handles above the rear doors to hang a child's toy on.
Visibility in the Honda CR-V is fine with one or two child seats installed but with three or more in the back and the top tether straps coming across the ceiling, it is very hard to see out of the side and back windows. This makes manoeuvring quite hard with child seats installed.
One thing I have noticed since being a mum is I hate it when I reach a destination or get home from being out and Bub has either done really well in the car or she is screaming her head off and I have done really well to keep it together for the entire journey (usually the latter!!) and it takes 10 minutes to park the car! It can be really stressful. Usually I dread parking new cars as they take longer in our tight apartment block carpark, the Honda CR-V was a little tricky to park.
The reversing camera does help and the side mirrors are excellent.
It got an overall score of 35.76 out of 37. Getting 14.76 out of 16 for the frontal offset test, 16 out of 16 for side-impact and pedestrian protection was rated acceptable.
The CR-V comes with six airbags as standard, dual frontal, front side and side (head) curtain airbags for front and rear side passengers.
Some of these safety features are also features that drive me crazy as a mum! Like the lane departure and forward collision alert or the parking sensor beeping sound. I want all the safety technology AND to be able to mute the sound when Bub’s asleep!
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