2020 Honda CR-V vs 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe

The 2020 Honda CR-V, a familiar face in the compact crossover segment since 2017, showcased a design that was both fun and familiar. Honda's designers opted for soft, curvy lines that gave the CR-V a car-like appearance, with a family resemblance to Honda’s sedans. The exterior leaned more towards a station wagon than an SUV, setting a modern standard for family transportation. Inside, the CR-V's interior was a mix of textures and materials. While pricier models featured upscale touches like wood-look trim and leather upholstery, these clashed with some low-quality plastics, reminding drivers that even the expensive versions were upgrades of a commodity car rather than true premium products.

In contrast, the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe offered six distinct versions, each with unique styling cues. The base LS and popular LT had different grille patterns, while the sporty RST featured a blacked-out appearance and 22-inch wheels. The rugged Z71 combined a blacked-out look with off-roading enhancements, and the upscale Premier and luxurious High Country trims added chrome accents and polished wheels. The Tahoe's design was dominated by its grille, with standard LED headlights and expressive taillights. The new model's styling retained familiar themes but with more subtle forms, making it look a bit slab-sided. Larger wheels improved its appearance, and Chevy offered numerous designs up to 22 inches.

For the 2020 model year, the Honda CR-V simplified its lineup by replacing the previous base engine with a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine, producing 190 horsepower and 179 lb-ft of torque. This engine, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), provided a well-matched powertrain. Despite some CVTs' reputation for sluggishness, Honda's engineers managed to make the CR-V feel quick, especially in Sport mode. The CR-V's car-like demeanor extended to its road manners, with excellent handling and a firm yet comfortable chassis. Its low curb weight of 3,337 pounds for the FWD LX model contributed to its nimble performance and impressive fuel economy, with FWD models rated at 30 mpg combined and AWD models at 29 mpg.

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe offered three engine options. The standard 5.3-liter V8, available in all but the High Country trim, delivered 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. The High Country featured a 6.2-liter V8 with 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. A turbocharged 3.0-liter diesel inline six-cylinder, available for all trims except the Z71, provided 277 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, promising significant fuel efficiency improvements. The Tahoe's 10-speed automatic transmission powered the rear wheels, with a 4WD system optional on most trims. The Z71 trim, designed for off-roading, included a two-speed transfer case, hill descent control, and all-terrain tires. The major engineering change for the 2021 Tahoe was the adoption of an independent rear suspension, improving ride quality and interior comfort. The Z71 impressed with its smooth ride, thanks to adaptive damping and air suspension upgrades, and the 5.3-liter V8 provided ample power and a satisfying V8 rumble.

The 2020 Honda CR-V excelled in interior space and clever storage solutions. Its cabin was as roomy as the class-leading Volkswagen Tiguan, with excellent head- and legroom for both driver and passengers. The CR-V's seating position and low cowl provided excellent front visibility. The cargo compartment was spacious, with a two-position load floor allowing for 75.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded. The center console featured a deep well with a sliding cover, inspired by the Honda Odyssey minivan, and the door pockets were generously sized.

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe benefited from its new independent rear suspension, which improved passenger comfort and cargo space. The test vehicle featured heated power-adjustable front seats and a heated steering wheel. The power sliding storage console, which moved toward the rear seats, provided a large storage tray and a locking drawer for valuables. The second-row offered a choice between a 3-person bench seat or individual captain’s chairs, with the latter option proving comfortable and facing available 10.6-inch entertainment displays. The third-row seat was significantly improved, offering comfortable seating for adults. The Tahoe provided 25.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, 72.6 cubic feet with the rear seat folded, and a maximum of 122.9 cubic feet, surpassing most full-size SUVs.

The 2020 Honda CR-V's infotainment system showed its age, with a standard 5-inch screen in the LX trim that offered limited features. Higher trims featured a 7-inch touchscreen, which still felt small compared to competitors. The system lacked hard buttons, making it challenging to operate, and even Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration felt tacked on. However, the CR-V did offer plenty of USB ports in the EX trim and above, with two in the front and two high-powered ports in the backseat. The Touring trim added a wireless phone charger for 2020.

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe featured a standard 10.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with a new digital platform offering enhanced computing power, over-the-air updates, and cybersecurity protection. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, voice recognition, and Chevrolet Connected Services. Navigation and two different Bose premium audio systems were available upgrades. The infotainment system was user-friendly, though the main-menu shortcut icons were somewhat hard to use due to their recessed position. The voice-recognition system was impressive, and Bluetooth pairing was fast. The test vehicle included the Rear Seat Media system, offering versatile entertainment options for rear passengers.

The 2020 Honda CR-V came standard with the “Honda Sensing” system, which included forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, road-departure mitigation, and adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assist. Automatic high beams were also standard, while blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic monitoring were available on EX trims and above. The CR-V earned five stars in NHTSA crash tests and a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS, with the Touring trim's LED headlights improving nighttime visibility.

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe included standard safety features such as Teen Driver, a rear-seat reminder system, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, and low-speed automatic emergency braking. Higher trims or options added lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and rear pedestrian detection. Premier and High Country trims included adaptive cruise control, high-speed automatic emergency braking, and a Safety Alert Seat. The Tahoe also offered an available surround-view camera for easier maneuvering. As of the review's publication, the Tahoe had not yet been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS.