1998 Honda CR-V

The Honda CR-V is a five-seat compact crossover SUV that has been sold in the US continuously since the 1997 model year. One of the best-selling SUVs in the country for much of its life, it helped define the car-based compact crossover class and remains a benchmark against rivals like the Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5, and Nissan Rogue. Across six generations it has kept a consistent formula: unibody construction, efficient four-cylinder power, available all-wheel drive, and one of the roomiest cargo areas in its segment.

The CR-V's reputation rests on practicality, a comfortable ride, strong resale value, and a long record of reliability, making it a perennial recommendation for small families, commuters, and first-time SUV buyers. Because it has sold in high volumes for nearly three decades, the used market offers examples at almost every price point. Shoppers comparing model years will find steady evolution rather than dramatic swings: newer generations add turbocharged and hybrid powertrains, more interior space, and standard driver-assistance features while keeping the same basic character.

The 1998 model: The original CR-V arrived in the US for 1997 as Honda's first in-house-designed SUV, built on a Civic-derived unibody platform with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder (126 hp initially, 146 hp from 1999) and available Real Time 4WD. Its upright, boxy body featured a side-hinged tailgate with an externally mounted spare tire and a fold-out picnic table stored under the cargo floor. It established the CR-V template: car-like driving manners with unusually generous interior and cargo space for its footprint.