The 2003 Honda CR-V is one of the best deals on the used car market, with some drivers reporting more than 300,000 miles on the original hardware. Efficient and fun to drive with a comfortable interior, the 2003 Honda CR-V still outperforms a lot of new SUVs.
Is the 2003 Honda CR-V a Good Used SUV?
- Overall Rating 8/10 – One of the best new vehicles of 2003 is one of the best used vehicles twenty years later.
- Interior, Comfort & Cargo 8/10 – A bit tight in the back row, but otherwise one of the most spacious, comfortable vehicles in its class.
- Reliability 9/10 – One of the most likely vehicles on the market to hit 300,000 miles on the original powertrain.
- Safety 7/10 – Safety tech may be dated, but it was top-line for 2003, and crash test scores are solid.
- Gas Mileage 8/10 – At 22/26 miles to the gallon, city/highway, the CR-V comes up a couple miles short of the RAV4, but at a tradeoff of 12 horsepower.
- Value 9/10 – Almost any model year, new or used, the CR-V is going to be one of the best deals on the market, and the 2003 edition is no exception.
Positive Owner Reviews
Negative Owner Reviews
What Do Critics Say About the 2003 Honda CR-V?
Consumer Reports were impressed with the roomy interior and solid build quality. Additional praise went to the crash test scores and overall value. CR’s one mark against the SUV was for excessive road noise.
Kelley Blue Book users give the CR-V a 95% recommendation, with one driver reporting that they recently hit 305,000 miles on the odometer. Drivers are impressed by the SUV’s efficiency and longevity. Road noise again lost the CR-V a point here.
Edmunds found the SUV to be roomy, versatile, and comfortable. They loved the smooth ride and stable handling. The one criticism they had for the CR-V was for its limited off-road ability.
What Common Problems Does the 2003 Honda CR-V Have?
Airbags have been the 2003 Honda CR-V’s biggest issue with 129 complaints on file. Drivers report the airbags failing to deploy in the event of an accident, and being stuck on waiting lists for replacement parts. There have been 9 airbag recalls issued in total, with the last in 2019.
There are 85 complaints on file for engine and engine cooling issues, with the most worrying complaints being for engine fires. The issue typically stems from problems with the A/C compressor, with one driver reporting that their A/C blew up, and another reporting melted clutch wires.
Powertrain issues are scarce, but they will pop up now and then in a twenty year old vehicle. One driver reports transmission jerking in first gear, while others report the check engine light going on and off. As long as you change your transmission fluid every 90,000 miles and catch problems early, you should have few major issues.
In total, the 2003 CR-V has just 488 complaints on file and 14 recalls. 14 recalls is average for a 2003 vehicle, but a bit high for a Honda, even one that’s this old, because it took them 9 recalls to get that airbag problems under control.
How Long Will the 2003 Honda CR-V Last?
A 2003 Honda CR-V could last 300,000 miles or more, but realistically you should expect a minimum of 200,000 miles, and an average of 250,000. If the previous owner took great care of the SUV, and if you take great care of it too, you could shoot right past 300,000. But you don’t always know what your car has been through.
According to RepairPal, you should expect to spend around $349 a year maintaining an older CR-V. The most expensive common fix is a new trailing arm (the part that connects the axle to the chassis) starting at $695.
As this car is so old, it of course has problems, but it has been very reliable throughout its life.
We have found the car to be incredibly reliable since 2003. As long as you are capable of minor upkeep the vehicle should give little to no problems
I don't have any problem at this time. I do regular maintenance to keep it running smooth. Recently got a brake job.
How Is the Technology?
Entertainment technology is good for 2003. Entry level CR-Vs come with a tape player and a CD player, back when that wasn’t always a given, and the top-tier trim gets a CD-changer and six speakers. Hardly ahead of their time, but not falling behind, either.
Safety tech was state-of-the-art the year the 2003 CR-V came out. Anti-lock brakes, full airbags with occupant sensors, childproof door locks. A bit dated today, but combined with the excellent crash test numbers the CR-V is still a very safe vehicle.
Is the 2003 Honda CR-V a Good Value?
The 2003 CR-V is a very good value, with fair market prices on an entry-level LX at $4,548, and typical listing prices at $5,048. There are cheaper SUVs out there, but none of them are as likely to hit 300,000 miles on the original powertrain as the Honda CR-V.
A top-of-the-line EX lists for barely more than the LX, at just $5,453. These prices are for models with around 150,000 to 160,000 miles on the odometer. If we’re talking reliable, convenient daily-drivers that are big enough to seat the family, you’re simply not going to get more bang for your buck than this.
What are the Different Models of the 2003 Honda CR-V?
Honda offered just two trim levels for the CR-V in the 2003 model year, an entry-level LX, and a higher-end EX.
The entry-level LX features:
- Manual air conditioning
- Cloth/vinyl seating
- AM/FM radio with four speakers and a CD and cassette player
- Power windows with auto-up/down for the driver
- Accessory outlets in front and rear
- Cruise control
With the top-of-the-line EX you’re adding:
- Power sliding/tilting sunroof
- Remote keyless entry
- Two extra speakers and a disc-changer for the sound system
- Remote hatch release
What Engines Come In the 2003 Honda CR-V?
- The 2003 Honda CR-V comes packed with a 2.4L DOHC inline-four engine. This produces 160 horsepower and 162 lb.-ft. of torque. It’s paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission and configured in front wheel drive in the LX, and four wheel drive in the EX. Expect to average around 22/26 miles to the gallon, city/highway.
What Colors Does the 2003 Honda CR-V Come In?
How Comfortable Is the 2003 Honda CR-V?
While the CR-V isn’t one of the biggest SUVs on the market, it’s surprisingly spacious inside with decent head and leg room. Hip room maxes out at just over 53 inches, so, while the SUV is advertised to seat five, the back row may be a tight fit for three adults.
The ride is smooth, but there have been a few complaints of the suspension going out after all these years. Test drive it on some bumpy roads before you buy and make sure you’re not dropping into every pothole like a brick.
How Much Storage Space Does the 2003 Honda CR-V Have?
The 2003 CR-V stores 33.5 cubic feet with the seats up, 72 with the seats down. So it’s not quite a moving van, but it’s very spacious for an SUV that drives like a car. If you’re going furniture shopping you’ll have to call your friend with a truck to move the recliner, but you can move the nightstands and coffee tables on your own.
Inside the cabin you’ll find cup holders, pockets and slots aplenty, and even a retractable center tray table, so you won’t be stacking your books and phones and drinks on your lap, there’s a spot for everything you want to bring with you on the trip.
What Are the Differences Between Years?
The 2003 CR-V was the second iteration of the 2nd Generation for the nameplate, launching with the 2002 model year and being retired with the 2006 edition.
2002: The second-gen was a total redesign for the CR-V, based on the seventh-gen Civic platform with a new MacPherson strut suspension system.
2003: CR-Vs got a bigger center compartment bin for 2003, but there were no major changes beyond that.
2004: The front passenger door got a power door lock in 2004.
2005: This was a facelift year for the CR-V, with the wheels stretched out to 16 inches, new head and tail lightss, and a sleek new grille and front bumper.
2006: Honda added some new paint colors for 2006, but by this point they were gearing up the third-gen launch, so changes for the old model took a lower priority.
How Does the 2003 Honda CR-V Compare to the Competition?
The Toyota RAV4 delivers 148 horsepower at 25/31 miles to the gallon, city/highway, compared to 160 horsepower at 22/26 for the CR-V, so the difference is marginal, but we’re weighing efficiency vs. power here. The RAV4 typically lists at a few hundred dollars more than a comparable CR-V, but again, this is a marginal difference.
A 2003 Ford Explorer typically lists for around $1,500 less than a CR-V, and while the Explorer is dependable, you’re more likely to pass 250,000 miles in a CR-V than an Explorer. Both are an excellent value, so here the question is sticker price vs. longevity.
2003 was a great year for compact SUVs and you can’t go wrong with any of these options. CR-V wins for long term reliability, but the choice may simply come down to which one of these SUVs you can get the best deal on.
Do Owners Recommend the 2003 Honda CR-V?
Yes, it is very good. Easy to handle and drives smoothly. Very easy to see from multiple vantage points.
It’s very durable. Someone in my family has been driving this car for the past 16 years with minimal difficulty
Yes it's very reliable vehicle. It still has good gas mileage. Honda's in general has really good resale value.
