The True Cost of Owning a Honda CR-V

Cost example updated November 7, 2026

Start with the price you will actually pay

For a representative example, use a 2025 Honda CR-V EX-L AWD at $37,950 including destination (Honda's $35,000 EX-L sticker, plus $1,500 for all-wheel drive and the $1,450 destination charge). The EX-L is the volume sweet spot, leather, power tailgate, the equipment most CR-V buyers actually take home. The lineup starts at $31,450 for a front-wheel-drive LX with destination, so replace this starting point with a written quote for the exact trim you are considering.

The down payment does not make the CR-V cheaper; it changes how much you finance. With 10% down ($3,795), 8% APR and 60 months, this example finances $37,712 at $765 a month, and the loan costs about $8,168 in interest over five years.

Fuel: small turbo, honest numbers

The 1.5-liter turbo in AWD form is rated 28 mpg combined (26 city, 31 highway, Honda's published EPA figures), a point behind the gas RAV4's AWD rating. At 12,000 miles a year and $4.153 a gallon (the EIA national average for the week ending November 2, 2026), five years of fuel is about $8,899. Turbo engines reward a gentle right foot and punish a heavy one more than the rating suggests, so treat 28 as a good-driver number.

Depreciation: quietly strong

iSeeCars puts the CR-V's five-year depreciation at 28.9%, it holds about 71% of its value, a little behind the gas RAV4, which holds about 75% over the same span. On a $37,950 purchase that means about $26,982 after five years, or $10,968 of depreciation.

That resale figure is a planning assumption, not a forecast. Run a second scenario with resale 10% lower so the decision does not depend on an optimistic used market.

Insurance: a modest edge

Full-coverage averages for a 2025 CR-V cluster around $165–$200 a month across the major rate roundups (The Zebra's model-year figure is about $170). This example uses $180 a month, or $10,800 over five years, somewhat cheaper than insuring the RAV4 in the same roundups, though your own quote matters more than any average.

Maintenance: plan for the wear years

Honda's Service Pass covers scheduled maintenance for the first year, and CarEdge puts the CR-V's five-year maintenance and repair total near $2,425, while Kelley Blue Book's dealer-priced model runs far higher. A realistic all-in allowance has to include a set of tires (about $1,100 in the stock 18-inch size), brake service and a CVT fluid change (roughly $250–$350) inside the five years. This example allows $900 a year, or $4,500. One care note: the turbo engine wants its oil changes on schedule, it is not an engine that forgives stretched intervals.

The full five-year example

Every figure below comes from the site's own calculator math. The stated inputs are: 2025 Honda CR-V EX-L AWD, $37,950 price, 10% down ($3,795), 8% APR, 60 months, 7% sales tax, $900 in title and dealer fees, 12,000 miles per year, 28 mpg, $4.153 per gallon (EIA national average, week ending November 2, 2026), $180 per month insurance, $900 per year maintenance, $26,982 resale value after five years.

• Depreciation: $10,968 ($37,950 minus $26,982 resale)
• Insurance: $10,800 ($180 x 60 months)
• Fuel: $8,899 (12,000 / 28 x $4.153 x 5 years)
• Maintenance: $4,500 ($900 x 5 years)
• Tax, fees and interest: $11,725 ($2,657 sales tax, $900 fees, $8,168 loan interest)

That totals roughly $46,892, or about $782 a month, against a $765 payment. The gap between the two numbers is the part of ownership no window sticker shows.

Formula

The five-year total is the sum of five buckets: depreciation, insurance, fuel, maintenance, and tax, fees and interest. Depreciation is the $37,950 price minus the $26,982 resale value after five years, which is $10,968. Insurance is $180 a month times 60 months, which is $10,800. Fuel is 12,000 miles a year divided by 28 miles per gallon, times $4.153 a gallon, times 5 years, which is about $8,899. Maintenance is $900 a year times 5 years, which is $4,500. Tax, fees and interest is 7% sales tax on $37,950, which is $2,657, plus $900 in title and dealer fees, plus about $8,168 of loan interest, which is $11,725.

Added together, $10,968 plus $10,800 plus $8,899 plus $4,500 plus $11,725 equals $46,892, or about $782 a month. The amount financed is $37,712, as stated on this page. At 8% APR over 60 months, the payment on $37,712 is $765 a month, and the loan costs about $8,168 in interest over five years.

The hybrid question, in numbers

About half of CR-V sales are now hybrids (Sport, Sport-L, Sport Touring), rated 37 mpg combined in AWD form, strong, though the RAV4 Hybrid's 39–40 mpg and its segment-best value retention (iSeeCars puts its five-year depreciation at about 25%, well ahead of other hybrids in the class) make the Toyota the hybrid math winner on current data. The CR-V's hybrid case rests more on how it drives. Either way, compare all five buckets, not the sticker gap. The EV vs. gas guide shows the fuel-math method in full.

Cross-shopping the RAV4? Our RAV4 cost breakdown uses the identical method, and the RAV4 vs. CR-V comparison puts the two side by side. Or run any pair through the Car Showdown. Cross-shopping a Sportage too? See what a Kia Sportage really costs over 5 years. Cross-shopping a smaller Honda too? See what a Honda HR-V really costs over 5 years. Cross-shopping a Passport too? See what a Honda Passport really costs over 5 years.

Calculation transparency

Jurisdiction. United States. Sales tax, titling, registration and insurance rules are set by your state, so your exact numbers depend on where you buy and register the car. The 7% sales tax and $900 in fees in this example are planning figures, not any one state's actual rates.

Rules and time period. Five years, 12,000 miles a year, gas at $4.153 a gallon (EIA national average, week ending November 2, 2026), 8% APR, 60 months, 10% down. The resale value is a planning assumption, not a forecast.

Scope and limitations. Educational estimate only. Insurance and maintenance are planning figures, not quotes. Get a real quote for the same trim, coverage and loan before you decide.

The CR-V's five-year value loss comes from iSeeCars' current study of cars sold from March 2025 to February 2026, which puts it at 28.9%. iSeeCars' standing model page puts it a little higher, at 29.7%, so the two readings are close; this page uses the study figure, and the resale value is derived from it.

Source links checked November 7, 2026. Figures: Edmunds 2025 Honda CR-V EX-L AWD, $36,500 MSRP plus $1,450 destination; iSeeCars 2026 value-retention study, CR-V 28.9% five-year depreciation; EPA combined fuel economy, 28 mpg; The Zebra 2025 CR-V full-coverage average, about $170 a month; CarEdge CR-V five-year maintenance and repair total, about $2,425; EIA weekly gas prices (week ending November 2, 2026).

Primary sources: Edmunds, 2025 Honda CR-V prices; iSeeCars, cars that hold their value study (2026); iSeeCars, Honda CR-V resale value; fueleconomy.gov, EPA fuel economy ratings; The Zebra, Honda CR-V car insurance; CarEdge, Honda CR-V cost of ownership; EIA, Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update. How the numbers are calculated is written down on the methodology page, and every source is listed on the sources page.

Definitions

Depreciation. The value a car loses over time. On this page, the $37,950 price minus the $26,982 resale value after five years, which is $10,968.

Resale value. What the car is worth after five years in this example, $26,982. A planning assumption, not a forecast.

APR. Annual percentage rate, the yearly interest rate on the loan. This example uses 8%.

Down payment. The cash paid up front. Here it is 10%, or $3,795.

Destination charge. The delivery fee added to the sticker price. It is $1,450 on the CR-V, included in the $37,950 price, which is $35,000 plus $1,500 for all-wheel drive before destination.

Combined mpg. The EPA city and highway ratings blended into one figure. It is 28 for the turbo in AWD form, 26 in the city and 31 on the highway. The hybrid is rated 37 mpg combined in AWD form.

Full coverage. Insurance that covers damage to your own car as well as damage to others. Published averages cluster around $165 to $200 a month; this example uses $180 a month.

Hybrid. A gas engine plus an electric motor working together. About half of CR-V sales are now hybrids, rated 37 mpg combined in AWD form.

Questions people actually ask

How much does it cost to own a Honda CR-V per month?

About $782 a month over five years in the example above, $46,892 total for a 2025 CR-V EX-L AWD. The loan payment alone is $765 a month; insurance, fuel and upkeep make up the rest.

How much does a Honda CR-V depreciate in 5 years?

About $10,968 on a $37,950 purchase, leaving a resale value of about $26,982 after five years. iSeeCars puts the CR-V's five-year depreciation at 28.9 percent. That resale figure is a planning assumption, not a forecast.

What gas mileage does a Honda CR-V get?

The 1.5-liter turbo in AWD form is rated 28 mpg combined, 26 in the city and 31 on the highway. At 12,000 miles a year and $4.153 a gallon, five years of fuel is about $8,899.

How much is insurance for a Honda CR-V?

This example uses $180 a month, or $10,800 over five years. Full-coverage averages for a 2025 CR-V cluster around $165 to $200 a month across the major rate roundups, and The Zebra puts the model-year figure at about $170 a month.

How much does it cost to maintain a Honda CR-V?

This example allows $900 a year, or $4,500 over five years. CarEdge puts the CR-V's five-year maintenance and repair total near $2,425, while Kelley Blue Book's dealer-priced model runs far higher, and a realistic allowance has to include a set of tires, brake service and a CVT fluid change inside the five years.

Related: Compare the Nissan Rogue, the Mazda CX-5 and the Hyundai Tucson, or browse all models.

Related: Compare the CR-V against two rivals at once, side by side over five years.