2020 Honda CR-V 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 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 front end and short overhangs for better off-road capability. The SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition added sportier touches, including larger air intakes and quad exhaust tips, enhancing its aggressive look.

Inside, the Velar's interior was a departure from its 1969 predecessor, featuring high-quality leather upholstery and metal trim. The cabin was designed with a cockpit-like feel, with a tall, sloping instrument panel and door panels. The seating position was more in the vehicle than on top of it, providing a unique driving experience. The Velar's interior was luxurious, but its avant-garde styling limited headroom and visibility, creating a somewhat claustrophobic feel.

The 2020 Honda CR-V, in its fifth generation, was a familiar and fun compact crossover. Its design was soft and curvy, resembling Honda's sedan lineup, with a station wagon-like appearance. The CR-V's exterior was modern and family-friendly, but its interior was a mix of textures and materials. While pricier models featured wood-look trim and leather upholstery, they clashed with low-quality plastics, reminding drivers of its commodity car roots. The CR-V offered four trim levels, with a starting MSRP of $26,270 for the base LX trim. All-wheel drive was available for an additional $1,500 on all trims.

The CR-V's interior was spacious, with excellent head- and legroom for both driver and passengers. Its clever packaging included a deep center console and a two-position load floor in the rear, providing ample cargo space. The CR-V's interior was practical and easy to live with, offering smart storage solutions and a comfortable seating position. Despite its compact size, the CR-V matched the Volkswagen Tiguan in cargo volume, making it a versatile choice for families.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar saw a performance boost with the introduction of the SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition, featuring a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 engine producing 550 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive, the Velar could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds, with a top speed of 177 mph. Despite its power, the Velar's performance was not class-leading, with competitors like the BMW X3 M Competition and Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S offering quicker acceleration. The Velar's aluminum platform provided a solid and refined feel, but its chassis lacked the sharpness of other performance SUVs.

The Velar's powertrain lineup included a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine with 247 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque, and a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 with either 340 hp or 380 hp. All engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive. The Velar also featured off-road technology, including Land Rover's Terrain Response system and All-Terrain Progress Control, but its single-speed transfer case limited its off-road capabilities.

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. Mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), the CR-V's powertrain was well-suited for its compact crossover design. The CVT provided a smooth driving experience, with a Sport drive mode enhancing responsiveness. The CR-V's car-like demeanor translated to excellent road manners, with nimble handling and minimal body roll. Its low curb weight of 3,337 pounds contributed to its agility and fuel efficiency.

The CR-V's fuel economy was impressive, with front-wheel-drive models achieving 30 miles per gallon combined, and all-wheel-drive models managing 29 mpg. These figures placed the CR-V at the top of its class, matching the Subaru Forester and outperforming the Ford Escape and Toyota RAV4. For those seeking even higher fuel efficiency, Honda introduced a hybrid version of the CR-V for 2020.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar was positioned between small and midsize luxury SUVs, offering a unique size that felt larger on the road but didn't translate to more interior space. The Velar's avant-garde styling, with its chopped roof, limited headroom and side glass, creating a claustrophobic feel inside. The tall hood and limited visibility were challenges, even with a 360-degree camera system. The Velar's cargo space was competitive, with 15.7 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 48.9 cubic feet with the seats folded. The rear bench seat had a 40/20/40 split-fold design. 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 excelled in interior space and packaging, offering a roomy cabin comparable to the Volkswagen Tiguan. The CR-V's seating position and low cowl provided excellent front visibility, while the cargo compartment matched the Tiguan in volume despite the CR-V's shorter length. The CR-V featured clever storage solutions, including a deep center console with a sliding cover and a two-position load floor in the rear. With the rear seats folded, the CR-V offered 75.8 cubic feet of cargo space. The door pockets were spacious, providing ample room for storing items. The CR-V's interior was practical and user-friendly, making it easy to live with.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar featured the InControl Touch Pro Duo infotainment system, with 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 offered high-quality graphics but suffered from slow responses. The Velar also included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a head-up display, and capacitive steering-wheel controls, fitting the minimalist cabin design.

The 2020 Honda CR-V's infotainment system showed its age, with a standard 5-inch screen in the LX trim offering limited features. Higher trims featured a 7-inch touchscreen, but it lacked the sophistication of competitors' systems. The CR-V's infotainment was challenging to operate, with no hard buttons and a cumbersome interface. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available with the larger screen, but they felt tacked on. The CR-V offered plenty of USB ports in the EX trim and above, with two in the front and two high-powered ports in the backseat. The Touring trim added a wireless phone charger for 2020.

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 driver-assist tech offerings were less sophisticated than competitors, with only lane-keep assist available.

The 2020 Honda CR-V included the "Honda Sensing" system as standard, offering forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, road-departure mitigation, and adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assist. Automatic high beams were standard, while EX trims and above added blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic monitoring. The CR-V earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS, with the Touring trim's LED headlights improving nighttime visibility. A safety recall for a possible rear subframe failure affected only 358 vehicles.