2020 Honda CR-V vs 2021 Toyota Highlander

The 2020 Honda CR-V, part of Honda’s fifth generation of compact crossovers, had a design that was both familiar and fun. Its exterior featured curvy, car-like lines with a family resemblance to Honda’s sedan lineup, giving it a station wagon vibe rather than a traditional SUV look. 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 Toyota Highlander stood out in a crowd with its bold design. Its front end, though less dramatic than the 2021 Sienna minivan, made a statement with wide headlights, a long hood, and an assertive grille. The side profile featured a character line reminiscent of the Supra sports car, and the rear taillights had a Lexus-like appearance. The Highlander looked longer and lower than its predecessor without sacrificing size. The new XSE trim added a sportier look with a restyled front end, 20-inch wheels, and a more aggressive appearance package, though it didn’t significantly enhance performance.

The 2020 Honda CR-V simplified its lineup by replacing the previous base engine with a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine, producing 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet 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 this one responsive and efficient. The CR-V’s car-like demeanor extended to its road manners, offering nimble handling and a firm yet comfortable ride. Its low curb weight of 3,337 pounds for the FWD LX model contributed to excellent fuel economy, with FWD models achieving 30 mpg combined and AWD models 29 mpg.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain offered smooth and predictable operation, making it reliable for family use. While not the fastest in its class, the Highlander’s performance was competitive, matching the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride in horsepower and torque. The Highlander’s soft suspension provided a comfortable ride, though it tended to lumber through corners. The XSE trim added sportier suspension tuning, but it didn’t transform the Highlander into a performance vehicle.

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 CR-V’s seating position and low cowl provided great front visibility. The cargo compartment was spacious, offering 75.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded. Clever storage solutions included a deep center console bin and a two-position load floor in the rear, maximizing cargo space and providing a flat floor when needed.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander offered a practical and comfortable interior. Front passengers enjoyed large shelves for storage, while second-row passengers had ample legroom with seats that moved forward and backward. The third row could accommodate adults, but only if the second-row passengers compromised on space. The Highlander’s cargo space was 16 cubic feet behind the third row, 48.4 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 84.3 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded. However, the rear-seat climate control vents were positioned on the ceiling, which could be uncomfortable for middle-row passengers.

The 2020 Honda CR-V’s infotainment system showed its age. The base LX trim featured 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, and even then, they felt tacked on. However, the CR-V offered plenty of USB ports, with two in the front and two high-powered ones in the backseat. The Touring trim added a wireless phone charger.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander offered an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims, with a 12.3-inch touchscreen available on the Limited trim and standard on the Platinum trim. Both systems were user-friendly, though the navigation system struggled with points of interest. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were standard across the lineup. The 12.3-inch screen was bright and crisp, though it only displayed certain apps on the full width. The JBL audio system sounded good but wasn’t overly impressive.

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. 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, though only the Touring trim had LED headlights that performed well in tests.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander upgraded its safety features to Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ (TSS 2.5+), which included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and intersection support. Other features included road-sign assist, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-tracing assist, and automatic high beams. The Highlander earned five stars from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS.