2012 & 2011 Honda SUV Reviews & Ratings

Honda first entered the sports utility vehicle market in the mid-1990s, a time when many other automakers were doing the same as these SUVs became popular in the American market. Though Honda has never been particularly known for its SUVs; its sedans and minivans have always been at the forefront of sales. However, models like the Honda Pilot and the Honda Crosstour deliver to a variety of consumer needs across the market, and they have helped the brand become successful. For the 2012 model year, Honda is offering the Honda CR-V and the Honda Pilot. The 2011 Honda Element is also still available.

The Honda Pilot first made its debut in 2003 and was Honda's first entry (and one the first in the auto market in general) into the mid-size crossover SUV market. Known for its great fuel economy, its seven-to-eight passenger seating, and its comfortable driving dynamics, the Pilot is still one of the best midsize crossovers on the market. This year's Honda Pilot has a starting price of $28,470 and achieves 18 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. The Pilot comes in four trims this year: the base LX, the midsize EX, and the more luxurious EX-L and Touring trims. The Touring trim has a starting price of $39,220.

The Honda Pilot comes with several changes this year, including a refreshed exterior (including a redesigned front fascia, grille, and headlights), improved interior materials and noise insulation, more standard features, a new center layout, better fuel economy, an upgraded navigation system, and powertrain improvements. The 2012 Pilot SUV competes with the Chevy Traverse, the Mazda CX-9, and the Ford Flex.

The original Honda CR-V made its debut in the late 1990s with the purpose of adding more mid-size and full-size SUVs to its lineup. The CR-V has a car-like design and a sedan-like ride and became an instant hit at its inception. It still holds this popularity to this day and has a large loyalty base. The 2012 Honda CR-V SUV has a starting price from $22,295 and achieves 23 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. It features lots of cargo and cabin space, excellent fuel economy ratings, user-friendly and family-friendly features, and lots of new gadgets. For the 2012 year, the CR-V comes in the base LX trim, the EX trim, and the luxurious EX-L trim. It received a full redesign for this model year, highlights of which include more standard features, a better-equipped and more comfortable cabin, better fuel economy ratings, and restyled sheet metal. The 2012 CR-V competes with such vehicles as the Kia Sorento, the Chevrolet Equinox, the Surbaru Forester and the Toyota RAV4.

The 2011 sporty Honda Element SUV is also still available. A versatile vehicle with a roomy interior, available 4WD, and a optional Dog-Friendly Package, the Element is a compact SUV with a lot of character and style. The 2011 Element has an MSRP of $20,825 and comes in LX and EX trims.