Honda continues its legacy of automotive excellence, securing more 2025 Car and Driver 10Best Awards than any other brand. For the third consecutive year, Car and Driver editors have recognized Honda’s commitment to quality and innovation, honoring the Honda CR-V alongside the esteemed Honda Accord and Civic models. This year’s accolades bring Honda’s total Car and Driver trophies to an unmatched 95, solidifying its position as the most awarded brand in the award’s prestigious history.
The Honda CR-V, a popular choice for families and adventurers alike, has once again earned a place on the coveted 10Best Trucks and SUVs list. This marks the CR-V’s third consecutive win in this category, reaffirming its status as a top contender in the competitive SUV market. The recognition extends to the fuel-efficient and dynamically designed CR-V hybrid, further highlighting Honda’s dedication to providing versatile and environmentally conscious options.
Jessika Laudermilk, assistant vice president of Honda Auto Sales, emphasized the significance of these awards: “Winning three prestigious Car and Driver 10Best awards for the third year in a row speaks to the passion our Honda engineers and production associates pour into these products for our customers. We’re pleased that electrifying Civic, Accord and CR-V has been received so well because it is a promising sign as we head into the electrified future.” This sentiment underscores Honda’s strategic shift towards electrification and the positive reception of their hybrid models.
The Honda Accord, a name synonymous with reliability and longevity, achieved an unprecedented milestone this year. It secured its 39th 10Best award, an astonishing record that includes a continuous 27-year winning streak. This achievement firmly establishes the Accord as the most awarded vehicle in Car and Driver 10Best history, showcasing its enduring appeal and consistent top-tier performance across generations. The Honda Civic lineup, encompassing the Sedan, Hatchback, Si, and Type R variants, also celebrated its 3rd consecutive year of winning 10Best Cars awards. Notably, the new Civic hybrid variant received particular praise, mirroring the acclaim for the CR-V and Accord hybrid models.
The success of the Honda CR-V and its siblings in the 10Best awards is significantly attributed to Honda’s advanced two-motor hybrid system. This system, recognized with a Wards 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems award, powers the CR-V hybrid, Accord hybrid, and Civic hybrid models. Tony Quiroga, Editor-in-Chief of Car and Driver, highlighted the Civic hybrid, stating, “The new hybrid model maintains the handling and practicality all Civics enjoy, boasts the best fuel economy numbers in the lineup, and it’s as quick as the performance-oriented Si.” This praise extends to the CR-V hybrid, which offers a similar blend of fuel efficiency, performance, and practicality that resonates with today’s drivers. Currently, hybrid-electric trims constitute over 50% of both Accord and CR-V sales, with Civic hybrid models projected to reach 40% of Civic sales, demonstrating the growing consumer demand for Honda’s electrified vehicles.
For over four decades, the Car and Driver 10Best list has remained a benchmark of automotive excellence. Vehicles eligible for consideration include all-new models, previous year’s winners, vehicles not available in the prior competition, and those with substantial updates, all priced under a base cap of $110,000 and available for sale by January 31, 2024. Car and Driver editors rigorously evaluate each vehicle, driving over 80 models over two weeks and scoring them based on a comprehensive set of criteria. The tallied scores determine the prestigious 10Best Cars and 10Best Trucks and SUVs lists.
Honda’s commitment to building vehicles in North America is another point of pride. The CR-V, along with the Accord and Civic, are built* in North American plants, reflecting Honda’s dedication to producing vehicles close to its customers. Specifically, the 6th-generation CR-V is manufactured in three North American plants, including the East Liberty Auto Plant in Ohio, the Indiana Auto Plant, and Honda of Canada Mfg. Honda has produced over 6 million CR-Vs in North America, with approximately half of those being built in the United States. The two-motor hybrid system and the 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine powering the CR-V hybrid are also manufactured in Ohio, further emphasizing Honda’s significant American manufacturing footprint.
Honda’s consistent recognition in the Car and Driver 10Best Awards, particularly for models like the CR-V, Accord, and Civic, underscores its unwavering commitment to producing high-quality, reliable, and innovative vehicles. As Honda moves towards an increasingly electrified future, the accolades for the CR-V and other hybrid models signal a promising trajectory and continued leadership in the automotive industry.
* using domestic and globally-sourced parts
Learn more about the Honda CR-V lineup including CR-V hybrid variants here.
