2021 Honda CR-V MPG
EPA ratings for the 2021 Honda CR-V run from 27–28 mpg in town to 32–34 on the highway, or 29–30 combined, depending on which of its 2 gasoline versions you look at.
The most efficient pairs the 1.5-liter turbo 4-cylinder engine with a CVT and front-wheel drive, at 30 mpg combined. The thirstiest version uses the 1.5-liter turbo 4-cylinder engine with a CVT and all-wheel drive and is rated 29 mpg combined. The EPA also rated a hybrid version, the best at 38 mpg combined. That matches the best gasoline version of the 2020 model.
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CR-V Hybrid AWD | 2.0 L 4-cyl hybrid | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | All-Wheel Drive | 40 | 35 | 38 | Regular · 234 g CO₂/mi |
| CR-V FWD | 1.5 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive | 28 | 34 | 30 | Regular · 294 g CO₂/mi |
| CR-V AWD | 1.5 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | All-Wheel Drive | 27 | 32 | 29 | Regular · 305 g CO₂/mi |
2021 Honda CR-V fuel cost per year
Driving 15,000 miles a year on regular gasoline at the September 2026 U.S. average of $4.36 a gallon, the 2021 Honda CR-V costs about $2,180 a year to fuel in its most efficient form (30 mpg combined), or roughly 15 cents a mile.
The thirstiest priced version (29 mpg combined) comes to about $2,250 a year, $80 more.
This is an estimate from EPA combined mpg and the EIA national average price; your cost depends on how and where you drive and on local prices.
2021 Honda CR-V specs
2021 Honda CR-V buyers could choose between 2 engines, according to EPA records: 1.5 L 4-cyl turbo and 2.0 L 4-cyl hybrid. It came with a CVT, in all-wheel drive or front-wheel drive versions. The EPA classes it as a small sport utility vehicle.
| Engine size (L) | Cylinders | Transmissions | Drive | Versions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 L turbo | 4 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-Wheel Drive; All-Wheel Drive | 2 |
| 2.0 L hybrid | 4 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | All-Wheel Drive | 1 |
2021 Honda CR-V problems
Owners have filed 444 complaints about the 2021 Honda CR-V with NHTSA, the U.S. vehicle-safety agency, as of October 2026.
Forward collision avoidance is the most-reported area (21% of component mentions), followed by steering (19%) and engine (11%).
Spread over its time on sale, that is 73 complaints a year: more than the 2020 (62 a year) and about as many as the 2022 (69 a year).
That ranks 6th of 17 Honda CR-V model years (2008–2024), counting from the most complaints per year.
Of the 444, 19 mention a crash, 1 a fire and 15 an injury.
| Component | Mentions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Forward collision avoidance | 139 | 21% |
| Steering | 120 | 19% |
| Engine | 70 | 11% |
| Electrical system | 58 | 9% |
| Unknown or other | 51 | 8% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 43 | 7% |
| Service brakes | 33 | 5% |
| Power train | 24 | 4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 21 | 3% |
| Air bags | 19 | 3% |
| Lane departure | 17 | 3% |
| Visibility/wiper | 12 | 2% |
| Structure | 7 | 1% |
| Wheels | 5 | <1% |
| Exterior lighting | 4 | <1% |
| Gasoline fuel system | 4 | <1% |
| Seat belts | 4 | <1% |
| Suspension | 4 | <1% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | <1% |
| Back over prevention | 2 | <1% |
| Seats | 2 | <1% |
| Tires | 2 | <1% |
| Firerelated | 1 | <1% |
| Air service brakes | 1 | <1% |
| Hydraulic service brakes | 1 | <1% |
What owners told NHTSA
On the morning on 7/10/26 I was driving 30mph around a gentle turn and the brakes activated briefly. I also received a dashboard notification to brake. The weather conditions were sunny and probably around 80 degrees. …
Electronic power steering failing. Honda dealer verified. EPS keeps sticking and pulling when turning right and over sharp turns particularly more pronounce over uneven roads.
I was recently informed that my request was denied because my vehicle is currently at 160,000 miles, which exceeds the 150,000-mile threshold. …
2021 Honda CR-V recalls
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2021 Honda CR-V.
The most recent, campaign 26V332000 from May 2026, concerns air bags.
Air bags account for 2 of the 5 campaigns, more than any other area.
| Campaign | Reported | Component | CR-V years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26V332000 | May 21, 2026 | Air bags | 2017–2022 |
| 24V064000 | February 1, 2024 | Air bags | 2020–2021 |
| 23V858000 | December 18, 2023 | Gasoline fuel system | 2013–2023 |
| 23V844000 | December 13, 2023 | Electrical system | 2020–2022 |
| 21V900000 | November 18, 2021 | Seat belts | 2021–2022 |
Safety ratings
NHTSA crash-tested 3 versions of the 2021 Honda CR-V; the best overall score is 5 out of 5 stars.
| Version tested | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| HYBRID SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Crash-test photos: NHTSA (public domain). NHTSA can reuse a test for later model years of the same design.
Compared with other years
Complaints per year on sale divide each model year's NHTSA complaints by the years since it went on sale, so older and newer Honda CR-Vs can be compared fairly. Among other 2021 models in the EPA's small sport utility vehicle class, the 2021 Ford Escape (30 mpg), 2021 Toyota RAV4 (30 mpg) and 2021 Subaru Forester (29 mpg) come closest on combined fuel economy.
| Year | Best mpg | Complaints | Per year on sale | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 30 | 2,161 | 238 | 5 |
| 2019 | 30 | 1,107 | 137 | 8 |
| 2020 | 38 | 441 | 62 | 9 |
| 2021 | 38 | 444 | 73 | 5 |
| 2022 | 38 | 348 | 69 | 6 |
| 2023 | 40 | 633 | 156 | 8 |
| 2024 | 40 | 481 | 157 | 5 |
Every Honda CR-V model year compared →
Similar 2021 models
FAQ
Is the 2021 CR-V a good car?
We don't rate cars, but the official data gives a picture. The 2021 Honda CR-V has 73 NHTSA complaints per year on sale (6th most of 17 model years), 5 recall campaigns, a best overall crash rating of 5 stars and up to 38 mpg combined from the EPA.
What are common 2021 CR-V problems?
The components owners report most to NHTSA are forward collision avoidance (139), steering (120) and engine (70). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many recalls does the 2021 CR-V have?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns. To see whether a recall is still open on a specific car, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2021 CR-V get?
The EPA rates the gasoline versions at 29–30 mpg combined (27–28 city, 32–34 highway). The hybrid version reaches up to 38 mpg combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2021 CR-V per year?
About $2,180 a year for 15,000 miles in its most efficient form, up to about $2,250 for the thirstiest version, using EPA mpg and the September 2026 U.S. average regular gasoline price of $4.36 a gallon (EIA).