2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid vs 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar was a stylish addition to the Range Rover lineup, positioned between the compact Evoque and the larger Range Rover. Its design was neither too sleek nor too boxy, offering a balanced aesthetic. The Velar featured a low roof and a steeply-raked windshield, giving it a unique profile compared to the traditional upright Range Rover. The front end was rounded, and the rear tapered slightly, maintaining its SUV identity with a broad and intimidating front. The Velar's short overhangs improved its off-road capabilities, and models with optional air suspension boasted up to 9.8 inches of ground clearance. The SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition added sportier touches, including larger air intakes, quad exhaust tips, and standard 21-inch wheels. Inside, the Velar's interior was luxurious, with high-quality leather and metal trim, creating a cockpit-like feel that was more suited to urban environments.

The 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, introduced as part of a mid-cycle refresh, closely resembled its gasoline counterpart in terms of dimensions and design. The hybrid model shared the same length, width, and height, as well as the 19-inch alloy wheel pattern. The interior was also a carryover, featuring the same dash, multi-function center console, and 7-inch infotainment screen. The hybrid's exterior differences were subtle, with blue-outlined Honda emblems and "Hybrid" badges. The rear bumper featured a hidden exhaust, and LED fog lights were standard on EX models and above. Inside, the gear shifter was replaced with a push-button selector, and paddle shifters adjusted brake regeneration. The instrument panel displayed driving modes, including Normal, EV, Econ, and Sport, reflecting the hybrid's focus on fuel efficiency.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar saw a performance boost with the introduction of the SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition, which featured a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 engine producing 550 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive. Land Rover claimed a 0-60 mph time of 4.3 seconds and a top speed of 177 mph for this 4,595-pound SUV. Despite its power, the Velar was not the quickest in its class, with competitors like the BMW X3 M Competition and Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S offering faster acceleration. The Dynamic Edition also included bigger brakes, retuned four-wheel drive, and an active exhaust system. The Velar's aluminum platform provided a solid and refined feel, but its size made it less agile on tight roads. The rest of the Velar's powertrain lineup remained unchanged, with a base 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine producing 247 hp, and a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 available with either 340 hp or 380 hp. The Velar also featured off-road tech, including Land Rover's Terrain Response system and All-Terrain Progress Control.

The 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid came equipped with all-wheel drive and a two-motor hybrid system powertrain. It combined a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine with an electric generator/starter motor and a propulsion motor, eliminating the need for a conventional transmission. The CR-V Hybrid's total system power was rated at 212 horsepower and 232 pound-feet of torque, compared to the gasoline model's 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid offered significantly better fuel economy, with an EPA rating of 40 mpg city, 35 highway, and 38 combined. In comparison, the AWD gas model achieved 27/32/29 mpg. The CR-V Hybrid's fuel efficiency was competitive, though it ranked third behind the Ford Escape Hybrid and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. During testing in Tucson, Arizona, the CR-V Hybrid achieved nearly 41 mpg in city driving. The hybrid's EV mode allowed for short electric-only drives, but it frequently switched back to gasoline power. The CR-V Hybrid offered a comfortable ride with good steering feel, and its on-demand torque made it more enjoyable to drive than the gasoline model.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar occupied a unique position in terms of size, being larger than small luxury SUVs like the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, but smaller than midsize counterparts like the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class. Despite its size, the Velar did not offer more interior space than its smaller competitors. The GLC had more front and rear legroom, while the X3 provided more headroom. The Velar's cargo space was competitive, with 15.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 48.9 cubic feet with them folded. The avant-garde styling, including a chopped roof, limited headroom and visibility, creating a claustrophobic feel inside. The cockpit-like front seating area was cramped, with limited legroom. The Velar's towing capacity was respectable, with the SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition and V6 models rated at 5,511 pounds, while the base four-cylinder model could tow 5,291 pounds.

The 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid shared the same dimensions as its gasoline counterpart, but the hybrid's battery pack, located beneath the cargo floor, reduced cargo capacity. The CR-V Hybrid offered 33.2 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and up to 68.7 cubic feet with them folded, compared to the non-hybrid's 39.2 and 75.8 cubic feet. Despite this reduction, the CR-V Hybrid still provided more cargo volume than the Ford Escape Hybrid. The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid offered slightly more space with the rear seats up and down. The CR-V Hybrid featured a low cargo floor for easy loading and unloading, and its 8.2 inches of ground clearance was class-competitive. The CR-V Hybrid maintained passenger comfort with more overall space than its direct competitors, offering better front headroom and rear legroom. The configurable center console bin provided additional storage, though the armrest's adjustability was too loose, sliding unexpectedly.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar featured the InControl Touch Pro Duo infotainment system, which included dual 10.0-inch touchscreens, a built-in WiFi hotspot, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility. The upper screen handled smartphone, navigation, and media functions, while the lower screen managed vehicle settings and climate control. The system's high-quality graphics and menu layout were praised, but its slow response times were a drawback. The Velar also included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a head-up display, and capacitive steering-wheel controls, though they were prone to reflecting sunlight.

The 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid came standard with Bluetooth connectivity, Pandora compatibility, and a single USB connector. Higher trims offered more tech features, with the EX trim adding a 7-inch touchscreen display, Honda Link, smartphone integration, SiriusXM and HD radio, and additional USB ports. The Touring trim included navigation, wireless device charging, and a premium audio system. The CR-V Hybrid's infotainment system was criticized for its lack of haptic feedback and complicated procedures, such as turning off the automatic beep sound. The instrument panel provided useful information but required navigating through various menus, which could be distracting while driving.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar did not have safety ratings from the IIHS or NHTSA, as low-volume luxury vehicles were a low priority for crash testing. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and front and rear parking aids. Adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring were available as part of an option package. Land Rover's offerings were less sophisticated than competitors, with only lane-keep assist available, while other automakers offered systems that actively steered the car to keep it centered in its lane.

The 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid earned a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS and a 5-Star Safety Rating from the NHTSA. It came standard with Honda Sensing, a suite of safety and driver-assistance technologies that included automatic braking, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, automatic high beams, and a multi-angle rearview camera. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available starting with the EX trim.