Honda CR-V vs Ford Everest

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Honda CR-V in South Africa

Honda CR-V

2.0 Hybrid e:HEV Hybrid Automatic
ZAR 819,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 204 kW 🔧 335 Nm ⛽ 20 km/l
VS
Ford Everest in South Africa

Ford Everest

3.0TD V6 Platinum 10AT 4WD Diesel Automatic
ZAR 1,340,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 184 kW 🔧 600 Nm ⛽ 11.8 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Everest
Fuel Economy CR-V
🛡 Safety CR-V
📦 Practicality Everest
🔑 Ownership CR-V
CR-V starts ZAR 825000 cheaper CR-V from ZAR 689,900 · Everest from ZAR 825,000

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec CR-V Everest
Engine Power 204 184
Torque 335 600
Engine Size 1993 2993
Claimed Mileage 20 11.8
Ground Clearance 200 226 mm
Boot Space 497 Not Applicable
Airbags 6 Not Available
Kerb Weight 1750 2450
Seating Capacity 5 7
Warranty 3 4 years / 120 000 km

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

CR-V holds a noticeable edge over Everest, especially in key ownership areas.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Everest +14 pts
Efficiency CR-V +28 pts
Safety CR-V +83 pts
Practicality Everest +24 pts
Ownership CR-V +17 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

CR-V

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency

Everest

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

CR-V

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Everest

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec CR-V Everest
Model Introduced Year 2023 2015
Generation Built on Honda’s global SUV platform with focus on comfort and safety Currently sold Everest belongs to the latest generation with enhanced comfort and safety systems
Facelift History Latest generation introduced with improved design, features, and safety technology Major generational update in 2022 with improved safety, technology, and design
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version 2022
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style SUV SUV
Color Note White, Black, Silver, Grey, Blue, Red White, Black, Silver, Grey, Blue
Dealer Stock Note Top grade in the South Africa lineup Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status published active
Segment SUV Large SUV
Vehicle Type SUV SUV
Drivetrain Note - Drive layout derived from the official derivative naming: 3.0TD V6 Platinum 10AT 4WD
Spec CR-V Everest
Ground Clearance 200 mm 226 mm
Wheelbase 2700 mm 2900 mm
Length 4690 mm 4914 mm
Width 1860 mm 1923 mm
Height 1690 mm 1842 mm
Kerb Weight 1750 kg 2450 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight 2250 kg Not Applicable
Seating Capacity 5 7
Boot Space 497 l Not Applicable
Towing Capacity 1500 kg 3500 kg
Front Track Width Not Applicable Not Applicable
Rear Track Width Not Applicable Not Applicable
Turning Radius Not Applicable Not Applicable
Load Bed Length Not Applicable Not Applicable
Load Bed Width Not Applicable Not Applicable
Front Legroom Not Applicable Not Applicable
Rear Legroom Not Applicable Not Applicable
Front Headroom Not Applicable Not Applicable
Rear Headroom Not Applicable Not Applicable
Front Shoulder Room Not Applicable Not Applicable
Rear Shoulder Room Not Applicable Not Applicable
Boot Space Seats Folded 497 l Not Applicable
Number of Doors 5 5
Max Payload Not Applicable Not Applicable
Boot Volume 497 l Not Applicable
Doors 5 5
Seats 5 7
Fuel Tank Capacity 57 l 80 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 2250 kg Not Applicable
Ground Clearance Max 200 mm 226 mm
Ground Clearance Min 200 mm 226 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 200 mm 226 mm
Height Mm 1690 mm 1842 mm
Length Mm 4690 mm 4914 mm
Loadbox Length Mm Not Applicable Not Applicable
Loadbox Width Mm Not Applicable Not Applicable
Payload Kg Not Applicable Not Applicable
Cargo Volume 497 l Not Applicable
Tare Mass Kg 1750 kg 2450 kg
Turning Circle Not Applicable Not Applicable
Turning Circle M Not Applicable Not Applicable
Width Mm 1860 mm 1923 mm

Overall Verdict Score

Decision-grade view of the winner, score gap and category strengths.

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

CR-V leads by 17 points

CR-V holds a noticeable edge over Everest, especially in key ownership areas.

Winner 75 /100
Lead 17 points
Data 95% confidence
75
#1 Winner

CR-V

95% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Ownership 51
Performance 77
Efficiency 80
Safety 92
Practicality 68
Ownership 51
Leads by 17 points
58
#2

Everest

68% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Practicality 92 Check Safety 9
Performance 91
Efficiency 52
Safety 9
Practicality 92
Ownership 34
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance Everest +14 Efficiency CR-V +28 Safety CR-V +83 Practicality Everest +24 Ownership CR-V +17

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

CR-V

Performance 77/100
Efficiency 80/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 68/100
Ownership 51/100

Everest

Performance 91/100
Efficiency 52/100
Safety 9/100
Practicality 92/100
Ownership 34/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Honda CR-V wins with 75 pts vs 58 pts for Everest

In structured scoring, CR-V emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Everest may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the CR-V edges ahead overall. That said, the right choice depends on what you actually use the car for — the breakdown above shows exactly where each one wins and loses.

Efficiency scores: CR-V 80 vs Everest 52. In the real world, diesel variants of either car will beat the claimed figure on long highways and fall short in Joburg traffic.

Safety scores: CR-V 92, Everest 9. Check each model page for NCAP ratings and which trim levels include AEB and blind-spot monitoring — those features aren't always standard.

Long-term ownership scores: CR-V 51, Everest 34. Service intervals, parts availability in SA, and whether a service plan is bundled all factor in — check the individual variant specs for that detail.

Practicality scores: CR-V 68, Everest 92. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: CR-V 77, Everest 91. This looks at real-world pace — 0–100 kph, highway flexibility, and how either car feels when you actually need to overtake on an N-road.

Resale varies with colour, spec, and market timing, but Japanese brands — and Toyota specifically — have a strong track record in SA. Check current used prices for both on AutoTrader to see the real gap right now.

Ground clearance and 4WD availability are what matter most here. Scroll to the spec table above to compare both side by side — if either model offers a 4WD variant, that's the version worth comparing.

Fuel, insurance, and service costs are the big three. Diesel variants of both models typically save R800–R1,500/month in fuel at current SA pump prices. The CR-V edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The CR-V scores better overall, but neither car is a bad buy here. It comes down to what features matter to you — check the full spec table above to see exactly what you gain and lose at each price point.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

The comparison between CR-V and Everest in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: CR-V scores 77 vs 91.

Efficiency: CR-V scores 80 vs 52.

Safety: CR-V scores 92 vs 9.

Practicality: CR-V scores 68 vs 92.

Ownership: CR-V scores 51 vs 34.

Final structured scoring gives CR-V the advantage in this comparison.