The Honda CR-V is a compact SUV (now called crossover in North America), manufactured since 1995 by Honda. It was loosely derived from the Honda Civic. There are discrepancies as to what "CR-V" stands for, Honda sales literature in UK reportedly made references to "Compact Recreational Vehicle", other Honda references (including the official Honda Japan CR-V Fact Book[1] and Honda Worldwide[2]) cite "Comfortable Runabout Vehicle". It is produced in both four-wheel drive and front-wheel drive, with availability differing by market.
Honda began producing the CR-V in Sayama, Japan, and Swindon, UK, for worldwide markets, adding North American manufacturing sites in East Liberty, Ohio, in 2007; El Salto, Jalisco, Mexico, in late 2007; and Alliston, Ontario, Canada, in 2012. The CR-V also is produced in Wuhan (Hubei province) for the Chinese market by the Dongfeng Honda Automobile Company, a joint venture with Dongfeng Motor Corporation.
The CR-V is Honda's smallest SUV other than the related Element sold in Canada and the United States, and the HR-V sold in Europe. In size, the CR-V slots between the Element and Pilot, but due to the Element's discontinuation during the 2011 model year, the CR-V has regained its status as Honda's entry-level SUV.