2021 Honda CR-V Review: Vi Shot

The 2021 Honda CR-V Vi is an entry-level model in the price range of just $30,490 (Suggested Retail Price) but, crucially, it's missing a lot of things you'll likely not only need, but also may be needed.

The Vi trim is the only CR-V that lacks Honda's active safety technologies, meaning the lack of AEB, lane keeping assist, and blind spot monitoring (although no CR-V has a traditional blind spot system!). This means it won't even get four stars under the 2020 ANCAP safety requirements. 

But it's built for a price: The Vi is listed at $30,490 plus travel expenses. That's reasonable for a mid-sized family SUV like this one, and there are some decent extras for the price, including 17-inch alloy wheels, cloth seat trim, a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth phone and streaming audio, 2 USB ports, four-speaker audio system, digital instrument cluster with digital speedometer, dual-zone climate control. It has halogen headlights and LED daytime running lights, as well as LED taillights. A rear view camera is also installed there.

The Vi is also the only CR-V that didn't get a good engine in the lineup - it's not turbocharged, instead the Vi has an old-school 2.0-liter four-cylinder petrol engine with 113kW and 189Nm. Fuel consumption is 7.6 l/100 km. It is front wheel drive and CVT automatic transmission.

Ultimately, you must be on a very tight budget to consider a CR-V Vi or buy for the fleet. Even so, we advise you to pay extra and get the VTi, which adds a turbocharged engine and a suite of Honda Sensing safety technologies.