Honda CR-V vs. Toyota RAV4: which is better?
Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4: two popular compact SUVs go head-to-head in our detailed comparison guide to determine which is best
The Honda RV-V vs. Toyota RAV4 is a fierce fight.
Every manufacturer these days is trying to get a slice of the SUV market, but Toyota and Honda have found an emerging niche.
With an emphasis on efficiency and emissions, they’re only available in their latest generations as hybrid and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models. Whether sustainability or practicality is top of your agenda, let us spell out these models’ key differences.
Our guide will answer:
Which model has the better styling?
Is the Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4 better to drive?
Does the Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4 have better tech?
Is the Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4 more reliable?
What are the Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4 dimensions?
Honda CR-V vs. Toyota RAV4: styling?
)
Although they’re both similar family SUV offerings, you’ll notice that they’re both different in terms of design. The Toyota RAV4 is the more rugged-looking of the two, with plenty of plastic trim and big proportions to give it that go-anywhere look.
It has quite a smart front end, which comprises a large multiple-part grille arrangement across a rather upright posture, giving this car a lot of road presence.
The latest Honda CR-V, introduced in 2023, has a similarly imposing upright stance, but it has a much cleaner front-end design featuring an even bigger grille.
It maintains the boxy shape of a traditional SUV, but it has fewer rugged-looking parts and more high-spec chrome and black, typical of a higher-end car that’s unlikely to get dirty on muddy tracks.
Honda CR-V vs. Toyota RAV4: which is better to drive?
)
Both are SUVs, so they’re designed with practicality and some minor off-road ability in mind.
However, because they’re both hybrid models, they’re actually more car-like to drive. That’s because the heavy batteries sit low, in turn lowering the centre of gravity and making them lean less in corners.
Neither inspires you to want to drive quickly, but they’re pleasant to drive and offer more stability than some other SUVs.
The RAV4 comes with 218hp in front-wheel drive format and 222hp in all-wheel drive format, whereas the CR-V has a lower 184hp system output and is only available as a front-wheel-drive model.
There are also plug-in hybrid variants of both – an all-wheel-drive 306hp RAV4 and a front-wheel-drive 184hp CR-V. They both have 17-18kWh batteries and ranges of 40-50 miles, which should help you to slash running costs if you do mostly short trips and have access to a home charger.
More importantly, in terms of driving, they both use CVT gearboxes. They’re different from regular automatics in that they’re tuned for efficiency – Honda and Toyota claim mpg figures in the mid-40s.
Sam Sheehan, our Motoring Editor, says: "You almost certainly won’t have to worry about the cost of running a RAV4.
This car has been designed to have a light footprint, so no matter which model you choose it should have a very light thirst."
Honda CR-V vs. Toyota RAV4: interior and tech
)
If you’re willing to look past the fact these aren’t premium models, then you’ll be in for a treat, because you can save some cash compared with more luxurious SUVs without compromising on kit.
What you get varies by model year, but as a guide, newer versions of both cars come as standard with keyless entry and start, a reversing camera, parking sensors and a powered boot lid.
They also have two screens each – a digital instrument cluster and a large touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support.
The Honda has a slightly more upmarket feel, and the Toyota uses more hard-wearing materials, but there’s not a lot in it and both offer well-thought-out cabins.
Even better is that, rather than cramming more seats into these to make them seven-seaters, the five seats in both are spacious enough to fit adults side-by-side, and they’re all comfortable for even longer road trips.
Honda CR-V vs. Toyota RAV4: boot space and practicality
)
Which model has the largest boot depends on whether you’re after a PHEV or not – if not, the RAV4’s 580-litre space and the CR-V’s 587-litre space are pretty similar.
If you’re going for the plug-in RAV4, then space drops to 520 litres to make room for the batteries. Honda makes room for the batteries by removing the all-wheel-drive system, so it actually has an even larger 617-litre space.
Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V: which is more reliable?
Toyota is one of the brands with the most experience building hybrid models, and there have been plenty of iterations of the hybridised RAV4, so you should be able to rely on the longevity of its technology.
Its cars used to come with five years’ warranty coverage, but in 2021, this was cut to three years – with a twist. Service it annually at an authorised garage and it can be extended to an industry-leading ten-year warranty, incentivising drivers to look after their cars even more.
With the CR-V being a newer model and Honda having less experience building hybrid systems, there is significantly less data to back up its reliability.
That’s not to say it’s an unreliable model, and Honda often performs extremely well in consumer satisfaction reports, but it’s just something to be aware of.
Honda CR-V vs. Toyota RAV4 size and dimensions
There’s no denying these cars are big, measuring well over two metres in width with the mirrors folded out.
The Honda CR-V is the larger of the two, at 4,706mm long, 1,866mm wide (plus mirrors) and 1,684mm tall. The RAVs measures 4,600mm long, 1,855mm wide and 1,685mm tall.
Used Toyota RAV4 vs. used Honda CR-V: which should you buy?
Both of these hybrid SUVs excel in their own ways, and neither would be a bad pick, but if you’re after more power and maybe slightly more off-road ability, then the RAV4 could be for you.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a more premium and spacious interior, plus a bit of exclusivity (because there aren’t as many of these on the roads), then the CR-V is well worth your time (and money).
Sam says: "The only thing that may get in the way is of the CR-V is its rather hefty price tag.
Once you’ve realised just how much you get for the money, it’s a pill easier to swallow."