2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid 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, giving it a station wagon look rather than a traditional SUV appearance. Inside, the CR-V’s interior was a mix of textures and materials, with upscale touches like wood-look trim and leather upholstery in pricier models clashing with low-quality plastics. The base CR-V started at an MSRP of $26,270, with four trim levels available, each offering different features and options.

In contrast, the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Limited, priced at $42,083 with almost every option, had a tough exterior look despite its hybrid nature. The interior was stylish, functional, and practical, with a mix of impressive materials and glossy hard plastics. The test vehicle had a rattle from the license plate vibrating on the tailgate. The RAV4 Hybrid’s interior featured an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated and ventilated front cushions, and decent rear-seat legroom. The cargo area offered 37.5 cubic feet of space, expandable to 69.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

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 road manners were excellent, with a car-like demeanor, nimble handling, and minimal body roll. The FWD CR-V models had a curb weight of 3,337 pounds and achieved an EPA rating of 30 mpg combined, while AWD models managed 29 mpg. The CR-V Hybrid, introduced in 2020, offered even better fuel economy.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine with front and rear electric motors, generating a total of 219 horsepower. The hybrid powertrain provided lively acceleration, although the four-cylinder engine sounded unpleasant at high revs. The RAV4 Hybrid’s CVT operated smoothly, and the regenerative braking system was effective. The SUV’s steering was nicely weighted, and the suspension design maximized ride and handling qualities. The RAV4 Hybrid achieved an EPA rating of 40 mpg combined, and during testing, it averaged 39.7 mpg. The SUV’s ground clearance and Trail driving mode allowed for light off-road capability.

The 2020 Honda CR-V offered a spacious cabin with excellent head- and legroom for both front and rear passengers. The cargo compartment matched the Volkswagen Tiguan in volume, with a two-position load floor providing flexibility. Clever storage solutions, such as a deep center console and large door pockets, made the CR-V easy to live with. The rear seats folded flat, creating 75.8 cubic feet of cargo space.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid provided comfort with an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated and ventilated front cushions, and decent rear-seat legroom. The dashboard was well-arranged, with large climate control knobs and easy-to-use infotainment controls. Storage options included useful shelves in the dashboard, a center armrest with cupholders, and bottle holders in the door panels. The cargo area offered 37.5 cubic feet of space, expandable to 69.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2020 Honda CR-V’s infotainment system showed its age, with a 5-inch screen in the base LX trim and a 7-inch touchscreen in higher trims. The system lacked hard buttons, making it challenging to operate. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available only with the larger screen. The CR-V offered plenty of USB ports in the EX trim and above, with a wireless phone charger added to the Touring trim.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid offered several infotainment systems, with either a 7-inch or 8-inch touchscreen display. The top-shelf system included an 11-speaker JBL premium audio system, dynamic navigation, and voice recognition. The 8-inch display was flanked by shortcut buttons and stereo knobs, making it easy to use. The RAV4 Hybrid also featured impressive camera-based technology, including a 360-degree surround-view camera system and a rearview camera mirror.

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. The CR-V earned five stars in NHTSA crash tests and a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS, with caveats for trims below Touring due to halogen headlights.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid included Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0) as standard, featuring adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and lane-centering assist. The RAV4 Hybrid earned five stars in NHTSA crash tests and top marks from the IIHS, except for its headlights.