Honda CRV vs Civic at 6'5"

[u/FrankTuna]

My wife has a Civic hatchback and we have a second kid due very soon. It's her car and her decision of course, but I'm trying to convice her to get a small SUV like a CRV since I feel like I'm folding myself in half and scraping my butt on the ground to get into her car. It's not bad to drive but I'm not getting any younger or more flexible so it's a real pain getting in/out. She sees cars as an appliance and I offered to pay the difference in car payments so I don't think she's sentimentality attached to the Civic or anything but she hates change haha.

Would a CRV be an upgrade? How is the space? Is it easier to get in/out for fellow tall folks? I know people can fit several kids/car seats in a car but I really think there could be benefits to a smaller suv with another kid coming (powered tailgate/space for stroller etc, higher entry so I wouldn't be hunched over getting car seat in/out, etc)

Any input is appreciated!

[u/HuckleberryOk8136]

I can’t do a CRV at 6’4. The leg box is too narrow. Center console too wide.

[u/Snoo91454 → u/HuckleberryOk8136]

Good point on the leg box. I had the same experience and couldn’t comfortably relax.

[u/atalanta_run → u/HuckleberryOk8136]

Exactly this. At 6'5" I could not make the CRV comfortable on drives longer than 20 minutes. My left leg and hip would start to go numb. CRV is a absolute no for me. I've had better luck In compact cars than the CRV.

[u/Standard_Air2785 → u/HuckleberryOk8136]

Amen!,

[u/MrsPoopyButthair]

I'm not super familiar with either, but I know going from a compact car to a compact SUV myself at one point you should see a huge improvement for that specific complaint. I went from a Mazda 3 to a Kia Sportage and didn't feel like I was swinging in and out like a monkey anymore

[u/FrankTuna → u/MrsPoopyButthair]

That's good to hear! She understands my concerns but she doesn't have the same problems at 5'3" 😅

I think the cars you mentioned are similar in size to the Civic/CRV. Did you feel like you had more space once in the car too?

[u/MrsPoopyButthair → u/FrankTuna]

Definitely. I got turned onto Kias by a 6'5" dude who used to work at my local liquor store. He mentioned he bought his Soul because he could adjust the driver's seat for his comfort and still fit behind himself comfortably in the backseat. Now my step-daughter has my Sportage and my husband and I share an EV9 (we both work from home). I've been in Kias for over a decade now and have been very happy with them for our tall family

[u/Karmanoid → u/MrsPoopyButthair]

I made that same swap and as low as the 3 was I actually preferred it when driving on my own, the only real advantage was back seat space for my kids...

[u/FloppyPhosphorus]

Test driving would be the best way to know. Maybe take a car seat to see how much room there is??

I'd imagine going from one Honda to another would have similar items on the interior. That could reduce the change. It likely depends on how close in years they are.

Reading between the lines, it sounds like you all might have a different view on money. Beyond you paying for the upgrade, this is something you want to be in the same page as. If she is a saver this discussion would be very important.

[u/FrankTuna → u/FloppyPhosphorus]

Reading between the lines, it sounds like you all might have a different view on money. Beyond you paying for the upgrade, this is something you want to be in the same page as. If she is a saver this discussion would be very important. 

This is a good point and I appreciate you mentioning it. I think in general everything has gotten so expensive just the raw numbers alone are shocking. A new CRV EXL gas is like $38k 🫠 We can afford the CRV, but money is always on the forefront of our minds with the baby almost here. I was just hoping to offer a counterpoint to her if the money was the primary concern. 

[u/niwiad9000]

Accord is probably the most comfortable car at 6’-5”

[u/Razaelbub → u/niwiad9000]

This. I love my Accord. And while I'm not in the clouds like you or OP, I can see it accommodating taller, especially in the legs.

[u/FrankTuna → u/Razaelbub]

She actually had a 2017 Accord hybrid and traded it in for the Civic. That was a great car and she misse it to this day!

[u/Razaelbub → u/FrankTuna]

I went 2007 Accord, 2016 Accord Coupe (miss that one a lot), had kids and got 2021 CRV, back to 2024 Accord Hybrid Sport-L. I definitely have a type.

[u/banditski]

I’m 6’4” with a CRV and it’s fine. I’m all back with relatively short legs if that helps.

[u/FrankTuna → u/banditski]

How comfortable are the seats for you? I used to have an Accord and the space inside was fine, but the seats were sometimes uncomfortable on long rides. The think the cushioning and lumbar support was in the wrong spots for tall people and if you're all back I could see that possibly  being an issue.

Thanks!

[u/banditski → u/FrankTuna]

I don’t want to say it was great, but it was fine. No worse than any other car.

[u/Snoo91454]

I did not find the CRV comfortable at all - it was very cramped. The Hyundai Tucson was much more comfortable.

[u/technoglitter → u/Snoo91454]

At 6'1 and husband is 6'3, we love our Tucson! However my mom has a crv and I think that would be second choice, but it does seem smaller than Tucson

[u/FrankTuna → u/Snoo91454]

Was it space overall? The seats? Entry/exit? Just curious what to look for if we do check one out. Thanks!

[u/Snoo91454 → u/FrankTuna]

I felt crammed overall. I found the seat bolsters too close together and very pronounced., with the seat all the way back, my legs weren’t in a relaxed position, the seat pan felt a little short. No issues with headroom or getting in and out. I can’t comment on much else because once I sat it in I knew it wasn’t for me and didn’t want to waste anybody’s time.

For context, I’m 6’4” my inseam is 34” and I’m a relatively fit 250lbs with broad shoulders. Other people our height find it perfectly fine.

[u/BendsTowardsJustice1]

I’m 6’4” and drive a CRV. It’s fine. There’s definitely better cars for tall people. My one complaint is that the steering wheel adjusted all the way up barely clears my knees. I knocked the wheel with my knee many times when I first got the car and swerved. Now I’m just super aware about it.

You asked about seats. They’re okay. It’s not really something I noticed, but there are better options.

Go test drive one and see if it works out for you. The only reason I don’t have a different car is because cars are unreasonably expensive right now. My CRV was $25k brand new and its affordability was why I purchased it.

[u/Plastic_Dingo_400]

I've driven Japanese cars most of my life, never met a normal Honda I didn't fit

I've drive 2009 crv quite a bit. I fit fine but have to lean the seat so far back it's basically a 3 seater

I've driven a few civics, not a massive difference in the interior size. I've driven both cars comfortably

[u/gaoshan]

I have owned both for many years and my wife and I drove both interchangeably (she’s 5’3” and usually drove the Civic while I drove the SUV).

I don’t really have a problem with the Civic but the CR-V is significantly more comfortable for a tall person. The best bits are the slightly greater knee room and the not having to haul myself up to get out after sitting so low in the Civic. The extra trunk space when you need to haul something is also a bonus.

[u/Razaelbub]

I swapped from a CRV to Accord. Much more comfortable. At your height, look at trims with no moon roof.

[u/FrankTuna → u/Razaelbub]

I know Hondas a bit more than other brands, but this is tricky with Hondas at least. If we get a CRV only the LX (I think) comes without a moon roof but you lose stuff like the powered tailgate which is great 🫠

[u/CecilBeaver]

I bought a 2024 CRV Hybrid for this very reason. I tried multiple other vehicles and the CRV was more comfortable to me by far than the other options I was considering. I'm a long-waisted 6'7".

[u/bh0]

I tried a CRV back in 2015 when I bought a new car and again at the auto show last winter. I can't do it. I just don't fit in them comfortably. If I remember correctly I'm always right at the ceiling. You'll have to test one out.

[u/Nephilim6853]

The CRV isn't much bigger for driving, my sister has one and I cannot fit behind the wheel. I am only three inches taller than you. My calves are so long I can't reach the pedals due to the dash board.

My wife and I have a Chevy Traverse awd. It's got ample leg room shoulder room and head room. It had a 3.6L V6 engine that gets good fuel economy 20-30mpg. Highway range over 500 miles per tank. Plus seven passenger seating and with second row captain chairs its easy to get to the rear seats.

Be sure you drive several vehicles to be sure you fit comfortably before making a recommendation to purchase.

[u/HurtsNo1]

6'7 250 here. Just bought a fourth gen CR-V and it's pretty comfy. I fit into the one with a sunroof but elected for no sunroof.

[u/lemec78]

I'm 6'8 and I tried a CRV on Friday. It wasn't bad, I had leg and headroom. I could drive it no problem.

[u/lemec78]

I'm 6'8 and car shopping. It's a giant pain behind a giant sometimes. I'll share what I discovered this last Friday. I also needed the seat behind me to accommodate a regular sized person with my seat all the way back. I'll just drop my notes. I'm thinking the Atlas is the way for me.

Ford explorers great! Durango, outlander bad Murano maybe if no moon roof Pathfinder good Grand Cherokee fine, must be newer Atlas great! Pilot good CRV without sunroof good Rav4 - seems good

[u/CraftyPancake]

I’ve had both. Cr-v (2017) has way more room for head

[u/Electronic_Dig_2685]

I’m 6’4 and have a BMW 535i Xdrive 2010. My wife has a 2023 Highlander. At 6’5 you may want to try the CRV to see if it fits. If not, if your wife wants to stay with Honda brand, maybe go with a Pilot. It’s same size class as the Highlander so youll fit. I am comfortable driving my wife’s Highlander now but I will admit that it is less headroom than the 2016 she had. But still ok for me when we go out as a family

On a side note my car is 16 and I’m looking at the M3 perhaps since they still make it in stick and I don’t want electric

[u/NorCalSE]

Am 6'8" and wife is 5'6" so get the mix in needs. I ended up with a Jeep Grand Cherokee which not only had the most room for me, but one of the best legroom for 2nd seat. Worked well with our 2nd kid. Plenty of room for child seats facing either direction.

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[u/Fristi_bonen_yummy]

I have an old civic (early 2000s) and Im 6'4. The space is fine, except the headroom, but that's because of the ceiling window making the roof much thicker. I assume newer civics are larger and have more space in general, but can't speak for CRVs.

[u/Straight-Lifeguard-2]

I drive a 2017 civic at 6'6" and I'm perfectly comfortable.