2021 Lexus RX vs 2020 Honda CR-V

The 2020 Honda CR-V, part of Honda’s fifth generation of compact crossovers, had a familiar and fun design. Its exterior featured curvy, car-like lines with a family resemblance to Honda’s sedan lineup. The CR-V leaned more towards a station wagon look than an SUV, making it a modern family transportation staple. Inside, the CR-V’s interior was a mix of textures and materials. While pricier models boasted wood-look trim and leather upholstery, these upscale touches clashed with some low-quality plastics, reminding drivers that even the expensive versions were upgrades of a commodity car.

In contrast, the 2021 Lexus RX showcased the modern design aesthetic of Lexus with its large grille, angular headlamps, shapely body, and floating roof. The interior was luxurious, featuring sumptuous seating and perforated leather upholstery. However, the center console design was bland. Lexus offered the RX in five variants, including the performance-focused RX F Sport and the extended-body RXL with a third row of seating. The RX’s exterior upgrades included 20-inch split five-spoke wheels and triple-beam LED headlights, while the F Sport Appearance package added unique styling elements and performance dampers.

The 2020 Honda CR-V featured a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine producing 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). This powertrain provided a quick and responsive driving experience, especially in Sport mode. The CR-V’s car-like demeanor extended to its road manners, offering nimble handling and a firm yet comfortable ride. With a curb weight of just 3,337 pounds for the FWD LX model, the CR-V boasted excellent fuel economy, with FWD models rated at 30 mpg combined and AWD models at 29 mpg.

The 2021 Lexus RX, RXL, and RX F-Sport were powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine delivering 295 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The RX Hybrid and RXL Hybrid models combined a 3.5-liter V6 with three electric motors, producing 308 horsepower and managed by an electronic continuously variable transmission (e-CVT). The RX’s fuel economy varied, with the FWD RX 350 rated at 23 mpg combined and the AWD RXL at 21 mpg combined. The RX Hybrid models achieved up to 31 mpg in the city. The RX offered a comfortable and dynamic driving experience, with the F Sport Handling package adding adaptive variable suspension and sportier features.

The 2020 Honda CR-V excelled in interior space and clever storage solutions. Its cabin was roomy, with excellent head- and legroom for both front and rear passengers. The cargo compartment offered 75.8 cubic feet of space with the rear seats folded. The CR-V’s center console featured a deep well with a sliding cover, and the rear had a two-position load floor for maximizing cargo space. Even the door pockets were spacious, making the CR-V highly practical for everyday use.

The 2021 Lexus RX provided a functional and spacious interior, especially in the two-row models. The RX 350, RX F-Sport, and RX 450h seated five, while the three-row RXL and RXL Hybrid seated six or seven. Front and second-row seating were comfortable, but the third row was tight. The RX’s cargo space was limited compared to traditional SUVs, with 18.4 cubic feet behind the second row and 56.3 cubic feet with the seats folded. The three-row versions offered even less cargo space. A power liftgate was standard, with a hands-free liftgate available.

The 2020 Honda CR-V’s infotainment system showed its age. The base LX trim had a 5-inch screen with limited features, while higher trims had a 7-inch touchscreen that felt small compared to competitors. The system lacked hard buttons, making it challenging to operate. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available only with the larger screen. However, the CR-V offered plenty of USB ports, with two in the front and two high-powered ports in the backseat. The Touring trim added a wireless phone charger.

The 2021 Lexus RX came standard with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless entry, and a nine-speaker sound system. Upgrades included a 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless charging, and a 15-speaker Mark Levinson surround-sound system. The touch aspect of the screen worked well, but the Lexus infotainment system was not the easiest to use. The Remote Touch controller took up valuable center console space and was less refined than competitors. The RX lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which might be a drawback for some buyers.

The 2020 Honda CR-V came standard with the “Honda Sensing” system, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, road-departure mitigation, and adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assist. EX trims and above added blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic monitoring. The CR-V earned five stars from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS, with the Touring model’s LED headlights improving nighttime visibility.

The 2021 Lexus RX received a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS and four out of five stars from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included a rearview camera, 10 airbags, blind-spot monitoring, and the Lexus Safety System+ 2.0 suite, which offered forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and road sign assist. The RX had two complete sets of LATCH connectors in the rear outboard seats.