Most Innovative SUV of the Year: 2018 Honda CR-V

It isn't just that the 2018 Honda CR-V offers advanced safety and driver assistance systems. Or how it expertly balances ride and handling in a way that's pleasing to drivers and comfortable for passengers. Or that it delivers ample low-end torque for smoothly scooting you through city streets. Nor is it the many clever storage solutions in its ample cargo space.

It's the ubiquity of the 2018 Honda CR-V's commitment to real-world usability that earns it the Edmunds CES Tech Driven Award for Most Innovative SUV of the Year.

Lane keeping assistance, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert add a layer of safety to the daily commute, while adaptive cruise control that can work at low speeds makes that commute less annoying. These features also make the CR-V a Top Safety Pick+ of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay makes phone integration truly plug-and-play, providing owners and passengers with a more familiar technology interface. The CR-V goes further by integrating these systems more deeply into the vehicle, such as the inclusion of Google Maps turn-by-turn guidance in the gauge cluster. That's something you won't find even in some pricey German luxury vehicles.

The CR-V is about the same size as its many competitors, but it's so much bigger where it counts. Not only is there plenty of room for people of all sizes, but there are clever real-world storage solutions for all their stuff. Take the deceiving simplicity of the center console, for example. Flipping up the sliding armrest reveals enough room for relatively large items, like a laptop or a tablet, which remain hidden underneath the compartment tray. Not only does that tray have a rubberized and textured top so your phone doesn't move while you drive, but it also slides back to reveal two USB ports and a 12-volt power outlet. You can also flip the tray around so it can support a purse or handbag, or just remove the tray entirely if you really need the space. It's the kind of no-duh elegance that makes you wonder why nobody else does it like this.

There are handful of compact SUVs that match the CR-V's safety features and driver aids, but none of them delivers as comprehensive a package. The CR-V's many talents represent a deep understanding of how owners and families interact with their vehicles and true innovation among its peers.

View more 2018 Edmunds CES Tech Driven Awards articles