2021 Toyota Venza vs 2020 Honda CR-V

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 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. This reminded drivers that even the expensive versions were upgrades of a commodity car rather than truly premium products.

In contrast, the 2021 Toyota Venza was often compared to a Lexus due to its sleek design, which blurred the line between the brands. The Venza’s exterior, from the grille to the elongated profile, resembled the Lexus LF-1 Limitless concept more than any other Toyota SUV. Inside, the Venza took a unique approach with premium appointments in the center stack, including piano black capacitive buttons for climate and infotainment controls. The deep center console featured resizable cup holders, a traditional stick shifter, and various buttons for drive modes and seat heating/ventilation, giving it a luxurious feel, especially in the top-tier Limited trim.

For the 2020 model year, the Honda CR-V simplified its lineup by replacing the base 2.4-liter 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 responsive and fuel-efficient drive. The CR-V’s car-like demeanor translated to excellent road manners, with nimble handling and a firm yet comfortable chassis. Its low curb weight of 3,337 pounds for the FWD LX model contributed to its agility and fuel efficiency, achieving an EPA rating of 30 mpg combined for FWD models and 29 mpg for AWD models.

The 2021 Toyota Venza, on the other hand, came standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine paired with a lithium-ion battery pack and electric motors, resulting in a combined 219 horsepower and 163 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid system, with its electronically-controlled continuously-variable transmission (eCVT), provided smooth acceleration, though it was noisier than some competitors. The Venza’s handling was confident and typical of Toyota’s reliable performance. It excelled in fuel economy, achieving an EPA-estimated 40 mpg on the highway, 37 mpg in the city, and 39 mpg combined, making it one of the most fuel-efficient SUVs in its class.

The 2020 Honda CR-V was known for its masterful packaging, offering a spacious cabin with excellent head- and legroom for both front and rear passengers. Its cargo compartment was equally roomy, with a two-position load floor that allowed for a maximum of 75.8 cubic feet of cargo space. Clever storage solutions, such as a deep center console and large door pockets, made the CR-V practical for everyday use.

The 2021 Toyota Venza, while not as spacious as the CR-V, offered a unique and elegant interior. The Venza’s cabin featured premium materials and a well-designed center stack with capacitive buttons and a large infotainment screen. The seating was comfortable for both front and rear passengers, though the Venza had less cargo space than the CR-V, with a maximum of 55.1 cubic feet. Despite this, the Venza’s cargo area was easy to arrange, making it suitable for daily driving needs.

The 2020 Honda CR-V’s infotainment system showed its age, with the base LX trim featuring a small 5-inch screen that offered limited functionality. Higher trims had a 7-inch touchscreen, but it still lagged behind competitors in terms of size and usability. The system lacked hard buttons, making it challenging to operate, and even Apple CarPlay and Android Auto felt tacked on rather than integrated. However, the CR-V did offer plenty of USB ports in the EX trim and above, with a wireless phone charger available in the Touring trim.

The 2021 Toyota Venza featured an 8-inch infotainment system in the LE and XLE trims, while the Limited trim boasted a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen. The Entune system, though not the best in the industry, had improved over the years. The Venza came standard with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa, along with a Wi-Fi hotspot and a six-speaker audio system. The Limited trim offered a nine-speaker JBL premium audio system and additional connected services like Safety Connect and Remote Connect, enhancing the overall tech experience.

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 also featured blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic monitoring. The CR-V earned a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a Top Safety Pick designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), though only the Touring trim had LED headlights that performed well in tests.

The 2021 Toyota Venza was equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, which included a pre-collision warning system with pedestrian detection, lane-departure alert with steering assist, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was standard, with an upgrade to automatic braking available in the XLE and Limited trims. The Venza also featured eight airbags, a rearview camera, and hill start assist, providing comprehensive safety coverage.