Drivers love compact crossover SUVs, and there’s no doubt that the Toyota RAV4 and the Honda CR-V are among the most popular. These two compact crossovers came in at fourth and fifth in overall sales for 2021. The only vehicles ahead of them were the Big Three full-size trucks, which continue to be the most popular vehicles in America. Let’s take a look at how the Toyota RAV4 vs Honda CR-V stack up against each other.
Price and Value
Pricing for the new 2022 Honda CR-V starts around $26,400 and can go up to $37,400 with top trims and options. In the middle of that range is the $31,610 price for the CR-V Hybrid. All CR-V trims have the option of AWD or FWD, except for the top Touring trim that offers standard AWD. The CR-V offers basic connected services, but the features are not as advanced as the RAV4.
The 2022 RAV4 starts at almost the same price as the CR-V at $26,525, but it goes quite a bit higher up to $43,125. At the lower end of this price range is the $29,075 for the RAV4 Hybrid, which is less than the CR-V. The first three trims of the RAV4 have a choice of FWD and AWD, but the upper trims are all standard AWD. Connected features are more plentiful on the RAV4 versus the Honda CR-V as well.
Reliability and Quality
The warranties on both the Toyota RAV4 vs Honda CR-V are pretty much the same with the following coverages:
• Standard warranty: 3 years or 36,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty: 5 years or 60,000 miles
• Hybrid system warranty 8 years or 100,000 miles
However, the RAV4 beats the CR-V with two other coverage categories:
• Hybrid battery warranty: RAV4 10 years or 150,000 miles vs CR-V 8 years or 100,000 miles
• Roadside assistance: RAV4 2 years and unlimited miles vs CR-V 3 years or 36,000 miles
At the brand level, Toyota outranks Honda in terms of dependability and quality.
Performance and Efficiency
Most buyers who decide on the Honda CR-V opt for the regular gas engine in a 1.5-liter four-cylinder variety. This engine makes a respectable 190 horsepower and comes standard with a CVT. The regular version of the CR-V gets 30 MPG combined with FWD and 29 MPG combined with AWD. The hybrid CR-V is rated at 38 MPG, but independent testing has found that it often fails to get that.
The standard non-hybrid RAV-4 comes with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that makes a stronger 203 horsepower and is paired with an automatic transmission. This allows it to tow up to 3,500 pounds, which is over twice what the CR-V can tow. The standard gas engine makes 30 MPG combined with FWD and 28-30 MPG with AWD. The RAV4 Hybrid is rated at 38 MPG combined, but unlike the CR-V, the RAV4 Hybrid has been found to achieve this rating more often in independent tests.
Even though the Honda CR-V is one of the most popular crossovers on the market, the equally popular Toyota RAV4 offers a bit more in terms of performance, efficiency, value, and quality.
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