It wasn’t until 2017 that SUVs finally outsold sedans as the most popular vehicle class in America. Before that, most crossover SUVs were still trying to find a foothold in the market and prove their worth. That said, several SUVs have had strong reputations for longevity, quality, reliability, and capability. Families learned that a crossover SUV might suit their needs better than a sedan or full-size SUV.
The 2010 automotive market featured many top-selling models. The top ten vehicles sold that year gave us two pickup trucks, seven sedans, and one crossover SUV. That crossover was the Honda CR-V, which was becoming quite popular as an affordable, family-sized crossover with good fuel mileage and capable handling. This made it a popular choice for many shoppers.
When we look back to 2010, the best-selling crossover was the Honda CR-V. This small Honda crossover was setting a tone that we still admire today. The CR-V was then and still is one of the top choices in the market. It fits families of five extremely well, provides a generous cargo hold for all the gear you need to take with you, and has safety scores and features that make it useful.
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The Honda CR-V Topped The Charts At 203,714 Units Sold
The 2010 Honda CR-V is about the midpoint of its history. The CR-V first appeared in 1997 when the SUV landscape featured mostly large truck-based models and off-road vehicles. The CUV market was only getting started, but the late 1990s saw many new models appear to begin creating a new type of SUV.
Built On Car Platforms
What’s the difference between a traditional SUV and a crossover? Most early SUVs were enclosed versions of pickup trucks. Automakers used the same platform for trucks and SUVs, but added a second or third row of seats and closed the cabin to create SUVs. This formula for building SUVs dates back to the late 1930s when the first Chevrolet Suburban models appeared.
Crossover SUVs use car platforms instead of those used for trucks. This allows crossovers to be smaller than traditional SUVs to provide these larger vehicles with many of the same benefits as the sedans they are based on. This new classification of SUVs offered shoppers good fuel mileage, useful power, smooth driving manners, and a roomier space for passengers and gear.
Top Ten Vehicles Sold 2010
The ten most popular vehicles sold in 2010 included the best-selling crossover among them. It’s pretty amazing that any crossover cracked the top ten, considering the popularity of trucks and sedans at the time. The top ten best-selling vehicles were:
- Ford F-150 – 391,219
- Toyota Camry – 313,212
- Chevrolet Silverado 1500 – 288,924
- Honda Accord – 282,530
- Honda Civic – 252,882
- Toyota Corolla – 247,032
- Nissan Altima – 222,553
- Honda CR-V – 203,714
- Ford Fusion – 198,403
- Chevrolet Malibu – 198,365
With the CR-V in the eighth position, the crossover SUV market was on its way to becoming part of the top ten vehicles sold for years to come. The top models sold in 2023 look much different from the 2010 list. Today’s top-ten list is dominated by trucks and SUVs, with very few sedans included.
The CR-V Stands Out
The best-selling crossover in 2010 did something that other crossovers didn’t do. Honda kept the CR-V small and compact while other crossovers were growing and becoming much more like midsize models. The commitment to staying small explains why this Honda SUV continues to top the compact CUV charts every year.
Taking The CR-V To The Road
The 2010 Honda CR-V has a well-integrated feeling, making it comfortable and smooth on any road. The small four-cylinder engine was ideal for daily driving and the automatic transmission shifts smoothly to ensure a comfortable and uninterrupted drive. The quietness of the cabin allows some engine noise into the area during high-demand situations, but otherwise, this SUV was relatively quiet.
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The CR-V is predictable, stable, and handles well, making it easy for parents to take their families to activities or out for dinner at night. Even when the moonroof is open, this small crossover is relatively quiet, leaving most of the road noise outside where it belongs.
2010 Honda CR-V Cabin Size
Front Headroom | 38.9 in |
Front Legroom | 41.3 in |
Rear Headroom | 38.5 in |
Rear Legroom | 38.5 in |
Cargo Capacity Behind Rear Seats | 35.7 cu-ft |
Maximum Cargo Capacity | 72.9 cu-ft |
The second-row seats tumble forward to open up more cargo room and make it easy to put larger items inside the CR-V without placing them on top of folded rear seats. The rear seats have adjustable forward and rearward positions along with reclining abilities to make taller passengers a little more comfortable.
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Three Trims Of Excellent Driving
The first two generations of the Honda CR-V proved to be reliable and useful, but were not the most fashionable crossovers to drive. By 2010, this SUV had gained some styling elements to make it more attractive to most buyers. The 2010 Honda CR-V was offered in three trims: LX, EX, and EX-L. Here’s some of what could be found on each trim.
Honda CR-V LX
- Tire-pressure monitoring system
- 17-inch wheels
- Tilt/telescoping steering wheel
- MP3/auxiliary audio input jack
- Speed-sensitive volume control
- Conversation mirror
- Retractable center tray between the front seats
Honda CR-V EX
- Folding, removable, dual-level shelf in the cargo bay
Honda CR-V EX-L
- Fixed floor-mounted console
- 10-way power driver’s seat
- Dual-zone automatic climate control
- Upgraded audio system with seven speakers and 270 watts of power
- USB inputs
Optional Features
The options available for the 2010 Honda CR-V EX-L include:
- Real-Time 4WD system
- GPS navigation system with a 6.5-inch screen
- Voice recognition
- Bluetooth
- Rearview camera
You don’t see modern safety features on the list because the 2010 Honda CR-V was offered long before many of today’s safety features were included on most vehicles. In fact, the rearview camera was an option on only the top trim, but is a standard inclusion in modern vehicles.
One Powertrain To Handle The Drive
Every CR-V trim level used the same powertrain. This could be another reason it was the best-selling crossover of 2010. Honda offered a manual transmission for CR-V models before the 2010 model year, but deleted it due to low demand for a stick shift in the CR-V. This became a common factor in the crossover SUV market.
Powertrain Specs
Engine | 2.4-liter 4-cylinder |
Transmission | 5-speed automatic |
Driveline | FWD/4WD |
Horsepower | 180 hp |
Torque | 161 lb-ft |
Fuel Efficiency | 21/28 mpg (FWD) 21/27 MPG (4WD) |
Towing Capacity | 1,500 pounds |
This small crossover SUV could pull a small trailer, making it capable enough to bring your camping equipment to your favorite camping spot. The 6.5-inch ground clearance allowed the 2010 CR-V to drive over gravel roads and dirt paths to get to that outdoor location.
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Honda CR-V Pros And Cons
The 2010 Honda CR-V was the best-selling crossover of the year, and the only crossover in the top ten vehicles sold that year. That said, every vehicle has its pros and cons. Here are some for this small Honda crossover SUV.
Pros
- Great one-size-fits-most SUV
- Spacious passenger and cargo areas
- Useful interior controls
- Desirable family-friendly features
- Agile handling
Cons
- No optional engine upgrades
- More road noise than expected
- No manual mode for the automatic transmission
- Extraordinarily little driving excitement
- The 4WD system is no match for Subaru’s system
- Honda CR-V
- Honda
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