2026 CarExpert Choice winner: Best Affordable Mid-Size SUV

The Honda CR-V has taken the win as Australia’s best affordable mid-size SUV in the second annual CarExpert Choice Awards.

It beat out the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage, both of which have been announced as finalists.

Competing in Australia’s largest vehicle segment by volume, the CR-V has an enormous array of competitors with which to do battle. That makes its win all the more impressive.

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It's not the cheapest model in its segment, with newer Chinese competitors undercutting it on price, but the CR-V is an extremely polished all-rounder.

The interior is high-quality, spacious and versatile, while its turbo-petrol and hybrid powertrains are responsive and refined, and the ride and handling balance is superb for this segment.

Previously, the CR-V was only available with a hybrid powertrain in top-spec e:HEV RS guise, and only with front-wheel drive. For 2026, however, there are now four hybrid variants: more affordable front-wheel drive e:HEV X and e:HEV L grades, plus the all-wheel drive e:HEV LX and e:HEV RS.

We still wish you could combine hybrid power with a seven-seat configuration, but the CR-V's availability of a third row of seating is already rare in this segment.

Another key change for 2026 is the introduction of Google Built-in, further improving the in-car tech experience. The base price may have crept up with the discontinuation of the entry-level petrol-powered variant, but the new range-opening e:HEV X also undercuts all of its entry-level hybrid rivals bar those from Chinese brands.

Beyond its list price, the CR-V is also affordable to run thanks to Honda Australia's capped-price servicing program, and it also offers competitive fuel economy figures and, crucially, requires only 91-octane regular unleaded petrol.

After launching the sixth-generation CR-V here in 2023, Honda Australia hasn't been satisfied with standing still. The latest updates further burnish an excellent mid-size SUV.

2026 CarExpert Choice: Best Affordable Mid-Size SUV

• Winner – Honda CR-V
• Finalist – Hyundai Tucson
• Finalist – Kia Sportage

To see all the CarExpert Choice winners, click here.

MORE: Explore the Honda CR-V showroom