Another pioneer and perennial fan-favorite is the Honda CR-V, which retains a lot of its original appeal. Competition is heating up, though.

A good, practical little vehicle, the CR-V offers commendable performance and decent mileage. In the fuel economy department, Honda is riding on its reputation a bit here. While the CR-V is efficient, it’s not a stand-out in the class.

As always with Honda, interior design and materials are top notch. For bigger folks, the driver’s seat can feel a bit snug, though.

The CR-V also has a good reputation for reliability and it, too, has earned a “Top Safety Pick” award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.