By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

(August 16, 2020) Jump inside a Honda CR-V compact crossover and relish in the very comfortable interior, and then take it for a couple of spins around the block and you will understand why it has become the best-selling SUV in the country. The CR-V has been refreshed for 2020 making it even better. The biggest news is the addition of a hybrid model capable of 38 mpg. Honda has also dropped the base 2.4-liter 4-cylinder from the lineup making the more powerful 190-horsepower turbocharged 1.5-liter engine standard across the lineup.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

If you want fun-to-drive fuel-efficient sporty transportation at a very affordable price, if you enjoy carving up winding roads on the weekend, and if it's important to have a stylish expensive-looking vehicle parked in the driveway Honda has you covered. The Honda Civic Si is one of the most entertaining vehicles in showrooms for under 30 grand, and for 2020 it has been refreshened with styling tweaks, some performance tuning, and the addition of standard safety tech.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Honda introduced its HR-V small crossover in 2016 into a rapidly growing segment. It came with a thoughtful interior layout that accommodated four adult passengers and 23 cubic feet of cargo space behind the seats, as well as excellent fuel efficiency. The crossover-buying public quickly warmed up to the HR-V and it has become one of the bestselling vehicles in the segment.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

If you like the Honda Pilot crossover, but don't have a need for a third-row seat, then Honda has just the vehicle for you. It has brought the Passport name out of mothballs making the new 2019 crossover essentially a smaller Pilot with the same healthy V-6 engine, but sans the seat.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Moving forward in this age of electrification it seems the hybrid — vehicles with both an electric motor and a gas engine — are becoming the preferred method of transportation until all-electric becomes more viable for all driving conditions. The good news is there's a hybrid variant of many crossover SUVs and sedans offering all the attributes of the gas-engine models.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

A high purchase price and limited driving range have made the all-electric car a hard sell as a mainstream vehicle. But for those who want a car that can accomplish EV goals and be turned into a cross-country warrior with no range anxiety, the modern plug-in hybrid is the perfect solution.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

Not long ago the mid-sized sedan was the largest segment outside of full-sized pickup trucks. But with the exploding popularity of the crossover SUV, the typical family sedan has become an also-ran. Because sales have dramatically dropped over the past couple of years automakers are re-thinking new models. For example, Fiat Chrysler and Ford have announced the termination of many of their car-type vehicles over the next several years.

By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman

We've been fans of the Si performance version of the mainstream Honda Civic for years. With more horsepower than the standard garden variety Civic and with handling and corning credentials that put it in the extremely fun-to-drive category, what is not to love? This has been for decades the Civic to buy.