If you’re looking for a compact crossover that’s spacious, offers good gas mileage, and is easy to drive, the Honda CR-V is a great choice. The CRV was introduced into Honda’s lineup in 1997 and still remains popular today. But what is the towing capacity of a 2012 Honda CRV?
The 2012 Honda CRV has a maximum towing capacity of 1,500 pounds.
The 2012 Honda CRV tow capacity can vary based on a few different factors such as engine size, drivetrain, trim level, and others which we’ll cover in this guide.
How Much Can The 2012 Honda CRV Tow?
The 2012 Honda CRV has a towing capacity of 1,500 pounds.
The 2012 Honda CRV tow capacity is affected by other factors like engine type, drivetrain, the weight of cargo and passengers, and whether your vehicle has a towing package equipped or not.
You can always reach out to your local Honda dealership for details to confirm how much your CRV can tow.
You can check out our guide to Honda CRV towing capacity by year if you’re looking at a different model year’s max capacity, if you want to compare different years of this vehicle, and for more information on tow hitch selection.
You can also read our guide on what makes a vehicle towing capacity to learn all the aspects that go into it.
2012 CR-V Towing Capacity By Trim Level
There are five trim levels for the 2012 CRV. Some engines and features are not available on certain configurations, so they can each have different max towing limits.
Here’s the max tow capacity broken down for each package on the 2012 Honda CRV:
| 2012 Honda CRV Trim Level | Towing Capacity |
| 2012 Honda CRV LX | 1,500 pounds |
| 2012 Honda CRV EX | 1,500 pounds |
| 2012 Honda CRV EX-L | 1,500 pounds |
Towing Capacity By Engine Size & Drivetrain
2012 Honda CRV Engine Towing Specs
There is one engine option for the 2012 CRV, which is a 2.4L I-4 that produces 185 horsepower and 163 pound-feet of torque.
2012 Honda CRV 2.4L I-4 Engine Towing Capacity: 1,500 pounds
2012 Honda CRV Drivetrain Towing Specs
The 2012 Honda CRV comes standard with front-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive is optional.
2012 Honda CR-V FWD Towing Capacity: 1,500 pounds
2012 Honda CR-V AWD Towing Capacity: 1,500 pounds
Note that these are the max towing limits for each 2012 Honda CRV engine. Your Honda CRV may have a lower towing capacity based on the drivetrain, axle ratio, and if your vehicle has a towing package installed.
2012 Honda CRV Payload Capacity
The maximum payload capacity of the 2012 Honda CRV is 1,082 pounds.
This means that the 2012 CRV can carry up to 1,082 pounds worth of passenger and cargo weight in the vehicle, which makes it great for road trips and hauling heavier items.
Note that the max payload capacity of your 2012 CRV will vary based on factors like the engine type, drivetrain and whether or not a towing package that includes other features like an engine oil cooler or transmission oil cooler is installed.
You can always contact your local dealership for extra details if you’re unsure of your vehicle’s payload capability.
2012 Honda CRV Tow Package
Honda offers an optional factory-installed towing package for the CRV.
This package includes a Class-II receiver hitch. A wiring harness is not included.
We definitely recommend getting this package and adding a wiring harness if you plan on towing anything with your 2012 CRV.
2012 Honda CR-V Towing Capacity Vs Competitors
The 2012 Honda CRV has a maximum tow rating of 1500 pounds, which makes it capable of doing some light duty towing.
The 2012 CRV’s tow capability is lower than its main competitors which are the 2012 Toyota RAV4 and the 2012 Ford Escape.
Here are some similar vehicles to the 2012 Honda CRV and their towing capacities below:
2012 Hyundai Tucson: 2,000 pounds
2012 Toyota RAV4: 3,500 pounds
2012 VW Tiguan: 2,200 pounds
2012 Ford Escape: 3,500 pounds
2012 Nissan Rogue: 1,500 pounds
2012 Honda Models Towing Capacity Chart
| 2012 Honda SUV Model | Towing Capacity |
| 2012 Honda Ridgeline | 5,000 pounds |
| 2012 Honda Pilot | 5,000 pounds |
| 2012 Honda Odyssey | 3,500 pounds |
| 2012 Honda CR-V | 1,500 pounds |
Data Accuracy
We’ve gathered all data represented here from the official 2012 Honda CRV Owner’s Manual on Honda’s site and have checked all data thoroughly for accuracy.
Having said that, we still recommend you refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual yourself before towing with a 2012 Honda CRV.