2022 Subaru Ascent vs 2021 Honda CR-V

The 2021 Honda CR-V had a design that blended into the crowded compact crossover market. Its exterior styling was nearly identical to its competitors, with only minor details like the grille and some chromed plastic features setting it apart. The CR-V was available in eight colors, but most were shades of gray, black, or white, with vibrant options like Aegean Blue Metallic and Radiant Red Metallic being rare and limited to higher trims. Inside, the CR-V offered black, gray, and ivory cloth or leather, with higher trims featuring wood panels and more chrome for a modern look. However, competitors like the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson offered more distinctive styling, especially at mid-tier trims.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent introduced the Onyx Edition trim, which featured a blacked-out exterior trim, black 20-inch aluminum wheels, and a unique grille design. This trim level aimed to give the Ascent a sporty appearance. Inside, the Onyx Edition had water-repellant StarTex synthetic leather seats in a gray two-tone scheme with light gray stitching. While the interior color was appealing, the StarTex material tended to trap sweat, making it uncomfortable on hot days. The Ascent's interior also featured metallic trim on the dashboard and door panels, creating a suitable mood. Overall, the Ascent's styling was more distinctive than the CR-V's, especially with the Onyx Edition's sporty look.

The 2021 Honda CR-V was not designed for high-performance driving but offered smooth and steady acceleration for highway merging and predictable cornering. All trims were equipped with a 190-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine, achieving 0-60 mph in about 7.8 seconds. The CR-V's continuously variable transmission (CVT) provided a consistent driving experience, though it lacked the engagement of conventional transmissions found in competitors like the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson. The CR-V came standard with front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive available as an option. Its suspension setup included a MacPherson strut in the front and a multi-link suspension at the rear, ensuring decent handling and ride quality.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. It came standard with a CVT and all-wheel drive. The Ascent's fuel economy was rated at 22 mpg combined, though testing showed an average of 20.5 mpg. The engine's flat-four layout contributed to a lower center of gravity, improving handling. The CVT had eight programmed ratios and manual shift control, allowing for brisk acceleration and commendable passing power. The Ascent's X-Mode off-road traction control system, hill descent control, and 8.7 inches of ground clearance provided off-roading capability. However, the advanced adaptive cruise control and lane-centering technology lacked refinement, sometimes creating an unsettled driving experience.

The 2021 Honda CR-V was designed to fit five people comfortably and carry their gear. It offered 102.9 cubic feet of passenger volume and 75.8 cubic feet of total cargo volume with the rear seats folded. The CR-V's tailgate options varied by trim, with higher trims offering power and hands-free operation. Roof rails were standard only on the top Touring trim. Overall, the CR-V provided ample space and functionality for passengers and cargo.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent could carry up to eight people with a second-row bench seat, though the third row was best suited for children. The Ascent's interior featured water-resistant seat material, triple-zone climate control, heated front seats, and heated side mirrors. Loading the second-row seat was easy, thanks to wide rear doors. The Ascent offered 17.8 cubic feet of cargo capacity behind the third row, 47.5 cubic feet behind the second row, and 86.5 cubic feet with both rows folded. The power liftgate and additional storage options made it practical for families.

The 2021 Honda CR-V's base LX trim had a 5-inch color screen with Bluetooth connectivity, while other trims featured a 7-inch high-definition touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. The audio system varied by trim, with the Touring trim offering a 300-watt system with a subwoofer. Charging ports were available throughout the cabin, with the Touring trim adding a wireless phone charger.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent's base trim came with a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, HD Radio, and satellite radio. The Premium trim added an 8-inch display with Starlink connected services, including a WiFi hotspot and remote engine starting. The system's voice recognition technology needed improvement, and the Onyx Edition's standard stereo speakers lacked sonic quality. The Touring trim offered additional features like a digital rearview mirror and a 180-degree-view front camera.

The 2021 Honda CR-V excelled in safety, earning a five-star NHTSA overall crash test rating and an IIHS Top Safety Pick award. However, it did not receive the highest Top Safety Pick+ rating due to lower scores in the headlight evaluation and updated side crash test. The CR-V's Honda Sensing system included standard safety features like a multi-angle rearview camera, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, road departure mitigation, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and auto high-beam headlamps. Blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was standard from the EX trim onwards.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent received a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS and five-star crash-test ratings from the NHTSA, except for a four-star rating in rollover resistance. The Ascent's EyeSight driver-assistance tech included advanced adaptive cruise control with lane-centering technology, though it had issues with direct sunlight and lacked refinement. Additional safety features included steering responsive LED headlights with automatic high-beam assist and a blind-spot monitoring system available from the Premium trim. Reverse automatic braking and a Starlink Safety and Security subscription plan were also available.