Honda CR-V Gas Mileage

33 comments ↓

#1 Tony Stevens on 02.26.08 at 5:30 pm

Have had my 2008 CRV for two months now. Don’t be fooled by the sticker. I am almost exclusively a city driver and my mileage never gets above 16 mpg. Usually around 15.7.

#2 JZLEI on 03.16.08 at 11:49 am

I have the same problem. My 2008 4wd has been driven for 1000 miles. 80% city mileage and other 20% high way mileage. The mpg is around 16. I’m very disappoint about this result.
Have you found out what cause the mpg problem?
Thanks.

#3 mpg-o-editor on 03.16.08 at 1:21 pm

Ouch. Those are big drops, but there are a number of factors that may be in play.

1. Both vehicles are brand new and are going through their break-in period. Mileage can be affected when an engine is brand new. At the first oil change, consider switching to a synthetic oil.

2. Driving style has a huge impact on mileage results. This can be significant with in-town driving.

3. Winter weather and temperatures can have a negative effect on mileage.

As it turns out, I’ll be driving a CR-V this week and will report in on the mileage results after I’ve gone through a tank or two of gas …

#4 Ghost Hunter on 03.24.08 at 3:10 pm

As a paranormal Investigator I find I am always driving to different locations for investigations and have need of an economical vehicle ($3.45 per gal as of this writing)
and so far the ‘04′ CRV has delivered well in this department and I like the room for all of my equipment and it is a fairly reliable vehicle as far as I can see..although I am not a fan of the “road noise” on the highway it is not a bad vehicle all things concidered.

#5 Sam on 03.24.08 at 6:14 pm

I got a new 2008 CRV EX 4WD. I am getting a gas mileage of 15 to 16 in city and 21 to 22 on highway. this means I am getting a mileage of 6 mpg less compared to the new EPA mileage figures of 22 / 26. My driving is very smooth, and I did not even use AC in these months. I wonder what the mileage will be in the summers!

#6 Sam on 03.24.08 at 6:17 pm

Sorry for the miscalculation above, I checked again. I am actually getting 14 / 20 instead of EPA’s 20 / 26. Even worse!

#7 Jim on 03.30.08 at 11:47 pm

I own a 2007 CR-V and my mpg is nothing close to the advertised figures. I should get 22 city & 28 highway but average 17 city & 24 highway
I have a light foot and even under the best conditions going 55 mph either on cruise or with my light foot at best get 24.8 mpg.
I also noticed that the 2008 model is exactly the same car but with lower figures, did Honda mess up the advertised figures? it seems that 2007 owners might have a reason to complain.

#8 Peder on 04.03.08 at 11:07 am

It is embarrassing to see such a low mileage car on this Web site. My 1993 Pontiac Bonneville with 125,000 miles gets 28 mpg at 70mph. Honda used to be known for high milage; what happened??

I am looking for a cross-over with 40mpg on the open road.

#9 mpg-o-editor on 04.03.08 at 11:25 am

@ Jim - Check the note above … the EPA revised their testing procedure for all vehicles for the 2008 model year.

@ Peder - There are a number of factors to consider when comparing a sedan to a SUV, most importantly: weight, aerodynamics, and AWD (if so equipped). Take a look at the specs on the engine in the current CR-V and Accord, then look at the mileage estimates.

I’ve spent a week with both the CR-V and Accord over the past month. Similar engine, vastly different MPG results.

40 MPG on the highway in a crossover is going to be tough, if not impossible to find here in the US at present. It all changes when the CR-V diesel arrives.

#10 maureen on 04.04.08 at 10:19 pm

i have the 2008 4wd XL, at 3500 miles and getting 24.4 mpg. I live on long island where the traffic is bad and usually drive 70 on the parkways, I am pretty happy with it so far.

#11 jo on 04.15.08 at 3:24 pm

I have the same 2008 as the test suv. I have drove it all up and down the east coast. 2 months old 6000 miles and I am getting ~24 city/~29 highway.

#12 sun on 05.03.08 at 5:50 pm

I am using the CRV for local traffic and am getting 16 mpg. This is very bad and don’t know why Honda is not looking at the customer feedback. FYI: This is after break-in period (after 6000 miles).

#13 Islander on 05.05.08 at 8:28 am

I bought a CRV 06 . . & was told by the dealers i would get 21 mpg city & 26 mpg highway ..
i am from canada and we buy our gas in Liters at 1.25 a liter .. for a FULL tank i only got 320 km,s ( when the gas light came on ) and 150 of that was high way at 100 km,s an hour with cruise ( as they said that would be my BEST milege) anyways i am angry & disappointed .. i used to get 700-800 km,s a tank with my older vehicle .. i wish i wouldn,t have bought the CRV and Honda Is not standing behind their word At all . . . i now feel that i cant afford to even go for a drive or vacation this summer ..

#14 Fred Appel on 05.15.08 at 4:44 pm

I drive a 1998 CR-V all wheel drive, I average 25 miles per gallon city, and anywhere from 27 to 36 mpg on the highway. Three years ago my mechanic recommended nitrogen in all my tires. Boy, that really made a difference. I never got more than 22 to 23 mpg highway, but after the switch to nitrogen it to 27 to 36 mpg.Before the nitrogen city mileage was a paltry 19 to 21. With nitrogen I am saving 2 to 3 gallons of gas daily depending on the mileage driven.

#15 Bob Hamme on 05.16.08 at 4:06 pm

I have a 2007 AWD EX. If I drive it like a very old man I can manage 20 MPG in the city. Add another 4 MPG on the HWY. I have only ever used 93 octane fuel in the vehicle, and that goes a long way to explain why I get better mileage than some of the other people out there.

This is my third CRV. I also had a 1998 LX and a supercharged 1999 LX. I can’t wait for the turbo diesel to come to the US in 2009. That car will be a blast to say the least. Great fuel economy and torque beyond belief !!

I hear you can even chip the motor and still get 50 MPG. Count me in !!

#16 Mike Droll on 05.28.08 at 3:54 pm

We are looking for a roomy, comfortable SUV that gets good gas mileage and has the option of being driven in 2 wheel or 4 wheel drive depending on the weather. Among the affordable SUV’s, what do you recommend? Also, in research we’ve done, a lot of manufacturers seem to be offering 2 wheel OR all wheel drive–if we are looking for better gas mileage, why offer a vehicle that has to be in 4 wheel drive all of the time? Thanks.

#17 Robson on 06.07.08 at 1:35 pm

I have a 1998 Honda CRV 5 speeds with 183,000 miles on it, and it makes 26mpg on the highway, and still running good.

#18 Maria on 06.09.08 at 11:30 am

I got my 2008 CRV AWD EX in January and am very disappointed in the mpg. It gets NO WHERE close to the EPA standards honda advertises. I drive as efficiently as possible (no lead foot here!) and average about 15-16 mpg in the city. That is horrible for a Honda! My old civic was getting over 30+. The car is just too heavy to support the small 2.4 engine, and that’s why its sucking so much fuel. At this type of mpg, they should have put in a V6, at least there would be more horsepower and better acceleration, than with this poo 166HP. Cute car, but too weak and too heavy, hence the 15mpg

#19 Jeff on 06.12.08 at 9:00 pm

I got my 1998 CR-V AWD with 100,000 miles on it. I used to get about 23/24 average city/highway mix. I changed my habits as of the last 2 tanks and have gotten an average of 31 mpg with city/highway. Also note that I am in stop and go rush hour traffic 1 hour a day, 5 times a week. It also helps that I have a manual transmission; when going down longer hills, I will put the vehicle in neutral, making sure I have good distance from the car in front of me, which is easy because I never drive faster than 62 miles per hour (except when picking up speed for a long coast, then only about 10/15 of the limit). Also turn off your car when you pull up to intersections with two busy streets and you pull up to the red just turning on. Basically any light over a minute. Also, if you want to get ridiculuous, turn off your car on those coasts, I do it coming down the hill to my house (about a quarter mile, it adds up). Accelerate like an old lady. Don’t accelerate up hill, actually lose about 10 mph on each hill and pick it up at the beginning of the decline (in the highest gear feasible).
Thats it, sounds like a lot, but I also found that I am a lot more patient on the road and only takes a couple minutes more every day.
Good Luck

#20 Jeff on 06.12.08 at 9:08 pm

Also, in addition to my previous post, I don’t get any better mileage with midgrade or premium. It may be better for the vehicle, but so is driving like an old lady. With more coasting, your brakes will last a lot longer, I mix in a little engine breaking too. Mine is only a 2.0 engine as well. Mines rated at 22/25. I use synthetic oil, every 4000 miles.

#21 RwA on 06.14.08 at 8:06 pm

I have a 1998 CRV EX and cn’t get better than 15 mpg on the vehicle…I do better with my full sized Ridgeline.

#22 Mark on 06.18.08 at 1:38 pm

I just completed a long mileage test on my 1999 CRV lx 4wd in which I used over 50 gallons. My average was 28.6 mpg. This was basically 50/50 highway to city miles. I drive 55 on the highway and I coast to stop signs and try to time red lights so that I never have to actually stop. For those of you who are getting only 15 mpg, either your data is incorrect (you cannot get good accuracy on only one fill up), or you drive very inefficiently. The next time you drive, pretend you do not have any brakes. This will force you to coast to stops and to stop tailgaiting. My front brake pads lasted 90,000 miles and my original rear pads are still going strong at 130,000 miles.

#23 Michael Blaue on 06.25.08 at 11:33 pm

In response to a posting earlier about the 2WD and the 4WD models. AWD or All Wheel Drive doesn’t mean that all 4 wheels are powered at the same time! It means that if the vehicle’s computers realize that you are slipping it will immediatley activate the other two wheels. Typically this is at speeds lower than 25MPH. The reason for the worse gas mileage is the added weight of an additional gear box for the AWD. Also, note that in any 4×4 or AWD vehicle the main drive gear box will operate at a slightly faster drive ratio than the less used and lighter duty gear drive. Therefore if you have the option to lock 4 wheel drive in, don’t do it on pavement! Unless you don’t mind keeping your dealer or mechanic in business.

Also, my wife has a 2004 CR-V EX and has averaged 21.83 MPG on her last two tanks. Combination hwy and city driving.

One great suggestion for ACCURATELY calculating gas mileage is to track 5 tankfulls of gasoline. Throw out the best and the worst gas mileage. Average the middle three and presto. A very scientific calculation of your gas mileage.

In regards to posting # 18 If you are having acceleration issues, then you may try to deactivate the overdrive function which will give you a lower gear, but make sure you don’t leave overdrive off!

#24 MIKE on 07.06.08 at 2:10 pm

We have a 2007 CR-V. We are in SW florida and take trips to MS and Ga often (22,000 to 25,000 miles/year). We drive conservatively and I am so impressed with the average gas milage - 26 around town and 30 on the road, that I am trding in my Honda Oyssey and getting another CRV. The only thing I wish that HONDA WOULD DO, IS TO HAVE A HYBRID CR-V. Not a Disel - the price of diesel off set and great fuel milage.

#25 Mark on 07.07.08 at 10:22 pm

I have a 2007 AWD CRV, drive it mostly on the interstate/highway. The first 1500 miles I was getting about 27 mpg on the highway/interstate, that number is now around 32 mpg. I live in a mountainous area. The 2007 has a gauge that tracks your mpg at all times, this really helps because you can see when to take your speed down a bit on hills to get better mileage, etc.

#26 Jeff S. on 07.08.08 at 8:37 pm

I just completed a 1900 mile trip from Florida to Western North Carolina with a 2008 EX-L. I drove 72mph on the interstates and got 30.5 MPG. Even with mountain driving over a 10 day period combined with 1400 miles of interstate driving the entire trip average was 29.1MPG. Additionally, I’m getting around 24MPG around town. I’m pleased with the car.

#27 Rakesh Patil on 07.11.08 at 1:24 pm

Hi, I am planning to buy a HONDA CRv 2008 model in Dubai. Will somebody let me know whats the exact averge i can get on the new CRv 2.5 Ltr Engine?Please specify the milage on Kilometers / Litre Unit.
Depending on the actual milae i can decide if to go for CRv or no cos my driving is aleast 200 Kms / Day.

If youa re already using a CRv your suggestion would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Rakesh.

#28 FrankC on 07.11.08 at 2:33 pm

I have a 2000 CRV automatic with 99,600 miles on it. Until recently I used to average from 17-24 mpg in town, 24-30 highway. The mileage was almost always lower during the summer months and I think that’s because in Houston the EPA required ’summer blended’ fuels and running the A/C is a necessity.

Now I managed to increase my in town mileage to a consistant 27-29 mpg. How? It wasn’t easy but I changed my driving habits. Now I rarely let my engine exceed 3000 RPM. If I see red lights ahead I slow down and try to time it so as not to make a full stop. I also leave plenty of distance between myself and the car in front of me. If you’re always in a hurry and always riding someone’s bumper, like I used to do, then your mileage won’t be any better than the idiot your following. Relax, take your time. Your stress level will go way down and and your mileage will go up! Before you blame your car for crappy mileage look at your driving habits under a microscope and you’ll most likely find the problem there.

#29 foxriverguy on 07.22.08 at 4:07 pm

I own a 2007 CR-V. After about 1000 miles the MPG took a big jump. At minimum around town I get 20.5 and tollway driving yields 24 to 27mpg. I am happy.

#30 jose on 07.29.08 at 12:25 pm

I have a 2008 Honda CRV AWD that I leased in NYC. You all sound like you believe what you read! I took 10 mpg off the sticker when I saw it. You think they are going to give YOU the benefit of the doubt? I just loved the car though and know that in the long run it will last…Think about how a broken car can cost you and factor that in. Of course, I am leasing so i get a new one every tow years, but still, I don’t want a car that is not well known for reliability.
To get beter gas mileage, try the cruise control function on the highway…I find the car’s computer is a much better driver than I in terms of accelerating and decelerating on hills, etc…You will be shocked…it helps increase about 5mpg - if you can maintain the cruise control. kill the A/c when possible, don’t let the gas tank get less than 1/4 tank full and fill it no more than 7/8 full.

I aslo only drive a few times a week and mostly use the subway. This car is for long weekend trips and occasional trips into Manhattan from Queens. If I were to drive everyday, I would buy a Prius…

I think you have to understand that a car is as much a tool as it is a neat thing to have. id you really care about the mpg, pick a car that makes sense for your driving needs.

You do have a choice…

#31 JOn on 08.18.08 at 3:41 pm

I get 30+ mpg on freeway and and 23 in town :).

#32 El Don on 08.19.08 at 12:31 pm

I’ve noticed a big variance in what people are getting for mpg on their CRV. One thing I have seen many comments on other forums is whether or not the dealer performed the ILP (Idle Learn Procedure) procedure on the vehicle prior to delivery. Sometimes this needs to be done after the batterry was disconeccted also. In many cases I’ve heard doing this make definite improvements in mpg. I original saw this as a Honda Pilot Tech Service Bulletin.
The Idle learn procedure from my memory is:
(make sure AC/heat and other accessories or off before step one)
1- disconnect neg batter cable for 5 minutes
2- reconnect neg battery cable
3-start vehicle (don’t touch the accelerator pedal)
4- Let the vehicle idle through two fan cycles, and after the fan shuts down after the second cycle, let it idle for 10 more minutes
5-shut off vehicle and start it back up

or have your dealer or mechanic perform this

#33 Dano on 08.24.08 at 12:03 am

I am consistently getting 25 mpg per tank with about 50% city / 50% highway driving. Stayed in San Francisco for a week doing all city driving and still got 21 per tank, and I am not shy with the gas pedal.

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