2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, despite being in its second generation since its 2005 launch, continued to impress with its luxurious design and advanced features. The 2018 refresh, which carried over into 2021, introduced a dual-screen center console that became a hallmark of Land Rover interiors. This model offered a variety of trims, from the base SE with leather upholstery and dual-zone climate control to the high-performance SVR Carbon Edition with a powerful V8 engine and carbon fiber accents. Each trim level added layers of luxury and performance, with features like a panoramic sunroof, heated and ventilated seats, and a 19-speaker Meridian sound system available in higher trims.

The 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid, introduced with a two-motor hybrid powertrain in 2020, maintained its fresh styling and practical interior for 2021. It featured subtle hybrid-specific design elements like "Hybrid" badges and blue Honda logos. Inside, the CR-V Hybrid offered unique instrumentation to display battery and power information, with steering wheel paddles managing regenerative braking. Available in EX, EX-L, and Touring trims, the CR-V Hybrid came standard with all-wheel drive and offered features like leather upholstery, a premium sound system, and wireless smartphone charging in higher trims. The Touring trim, in particular, showcased a luxurious interior with ivory leather and a rich two-tone contrast.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered a diverse range of powertrains, starting with the base P360 mild-hybrid system, which combined a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine with a 48-volt electrical system, producing 355 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque. The HST model featured a more powerful P400 version, delivering 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The P400e plug-in hybrid variant combined a 2.0-liter turbo-four engine with electric assist, generating 398 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque. For those seeking diesel power, a 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 was available, offering 254 hp and 443 lb-ft. The HSE Dynamic and Autobiography trims boasted a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine with 518 hp and 461 lb-ft, while the SVR and SVR Carbon Edition models pushed the limits with 575 hp and 516 lb-ft. All models featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time four-wheel drive, with impressive off-road capabilities and a towing capacity of up to 7,716 pounds, except for the SVR, which could tow 6,613 pounds.

The 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid utilized Honda's two-motor hybrid technology, pairing a 2.0-liter gasoline four-cylinder engine with an electric assist motor and a generator/starter motor. This setup produced a total system output of 212 horsepower and 232 pound-feet of torque. The CR-V Hybrid offered three driving modes—EV Drive, Hybrid Drive, and Engine Drive—automatically selecting the most suitable one. Additionally, drivers could choose from Econ, Sport, and EV modes. The hybrid system added 194 pounds to the vehicle's weight, improving weight distribution and maintaining the standard CR-V's 8.2 inches of ground clearance. The CR-V Hybrid delivered a smooth and enjoyable driving experience, although it fell short of its EPA rating of 38 mpg, achieving 33.7 mpg during testing.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport provided a maximum of 63.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 31.7 cubic feet with the second row in use. An optional third row increased seating capacity to seven but reduced cargo space to 10.8 cubic feet. The first and second rows offered ample headroom and legroom, while the third row was best suited for children. The Range Rover Sport's interior combined space with luxurious appointments, making it suitable for road trips or carrying extra bags.

The 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid excelled in interior space and comfort. The front seats offered 12-way power adjustment and heated functionality, with high-quality leather upholstery available. The rear seat provided remarkable legroom, similar to the Honda Accord sedan, with air conditioning vents and quick-charge USB ports enhancing passenger comfort. The CR-V Hybrid's cargo space measured 33.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat, slightly reduced due to the battery pack, but still accommodating four full-sized suitcases. Maximum cargo space reached 68.7 cubic feet, although it was less than the standard gasoline CR-V Touring and the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured a dual-screen center console, with the lower screen handling climate controls and vehicle settings, while the upper screen housed the infotainment system. Although the system had a learning curve and some bugs in earlier models, it offered Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. The lower screen's dials controlled various functions, including fan speed, temperature, and off-road settings. Despite its complexity, the system provided a real volume button and reasonably sized icons for menu navigation.

The 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid's infotainment system, redesigned in 2017, appeared modern but performed sluggishly. The seven-inch touchscreen lacked a tuning knob, and the system took a long time to start. Voice-recognition technology was limited, making wired Apple CarPlay or Android Auto necessary for natural interaction. The navigation map display was cluttered, and HondaLink connected services were minimal. The Touring trim offered wireless smartphone charging and a nine-speaker premium audio system, but the infotainment system's overall user experience was lacking.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came with standard driver assistance features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and front-and-rear parking sensors. However, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert were optional. Additional available features included a surround-view parking camera, traffic sign recognition, driver drowsiness monitoring, and a head-up display.

The 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid was equipped with Honda Sensing, a suite of advanced driving-assistance systems. Standard features included adaptive cruise control with full-stop capability, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and Road Departure Mitigation. The CR-V Hybrid also offered blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. It earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, although it lacked automatic collision notification and SOS emergency calling.