Toyota RAV4 Hybrid vs Honda CR-V Hybrid

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid had undergone a significant transformation since its redesign in 2019. Shedding its softer, more typical crossover styling, it embraced a robust and blocky appearance. The trapezoidal grille, borrowed from Toyota's truck lineup, added heft, while the beveled and angled bodywork framed the headlights, giving it a distinctive look. This redesign had set the stage for similar approaches from other carmakers, including the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-50. Inside, the angular theme continued with a multi-tiered dashboard featuring beveled cutouts. This added visual interest to an otherwise plain surface. The basic layout followed the era's norms, featuring an infotainment touchscreen mounted atop the dash and an array of physical buttons and knobs for primary feature control. The materials quality was about average for its class and price. While there were numerous hard plastics, most surfaces prone to regular contact were lightly padded. Notably, both the base model and the new Woodland trim skipped a leather-wrapped steering wheel in favor of a more budget-friendly urethane option. Unfortunately, this felt rubbery and cheap in the hands, detracting from the overall experience, though most other trims offered leather covering. The build quality was solid, with no detectable creaks or squeaks over rough pavement. In contrast, the 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid boasted conservative styling with a technical face that resembled an angry robot. Its black 18-inch wheels and blacked-out exterior trim gave it a sporty look. However, the SUV carried a bit too much visual weight over its front wheels. The Sport Touring trim featured tusks framing the lower air intake, detracting slightly from its aesthetics. The rear quarter view was its best angle, showcasing Volvo-esque taillights and tidy design elements that lent an upscale appearance. The exclusive 19-inch gloss black wheels on the Sport Touring added shine, though they were less noticeable with darker paint colors. Inside, the Honda CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid exuded a sense of quality. Leather seats with orange contrast stitching, a soft-touch upper dashboard pad, metal mesh hiding the dashboard air vents, and knurled metallic trim on the knobs added to the sophisticated ambiance.

Powering the 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid was a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor/generator, all mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) driving the front wheels. Additionally, a second electric motor provided all-wheel drive (AWD). Together, these produced a respectable 219 horsepower, enabling the RAV4 to accelerate to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds. This made the RAV4 Hybrid about half a second quicker than the standard RAV4, while the plug-in hybrid RAV4 Prime could sprint to 60 mph in an impressive 5.5 seconds. In comparison, the Kia Sportage Hybrid was marginally quicker, and the Honda CR-V Hybrid clocked in at around 8 seconds. The braking system was straightforward, with regenerative braking kicking in during initial pedal strokes to charge the hybrid battery. More aggressive stops engaged the physical brakes, but the transition was seamless. The suspension smoothed out moderate bumps and potholes while providing confident cornering. Though it wasn't sporty, it handled fundamentals well, appealing to most drivers. It offered calm and effortless driving dynamics, similar to its rivals. On the other hand, the 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid featured a fourth-generation two-motor hybrid drive system. This setup combined an Atkinson-cycle 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors, one for propulsion and the other for generation/starter duties. Depending on the situation, the gasoline engine either operated as an onboard generator or directly powered the hybrid SUV. The CR-V Hybrid delivered 204 horsepower to the front or all four wheels, achieving a combined fuel economy rating of 37 mpg according to the EPA. However, real-world testing on a mountainous route returned around 32.4 mpg, significantly lower than the EPA estimate. The CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid offered a relatively quiet ride, predictable handling, and impressive grip. The brakes withstood heavy use during a test drive, though the steering felt unusually heavy even in Normal driving mode.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid featured spacious front seats accommodating larger passengers, and the rear seats easily accommodated average-sized adults. Although it offered slightly more rear headroom than the Honda CR-V and Kia Sportage on paper, it fell slightly short in rear legroom, although the practical differences were minor. However, placing a rear-facing infant seat in the back required scooting the front seat forward. The rear seat cushions were set a bit low, potentially leaving taller passengers desiring more thigh support on long trips. Cargo capacity stood at an impressive 37.5 cubic feet, just a tenth of a cubic foot smaller than the non-hybrid RAV4. Unlike some hybrids, the battery pack didn't compromise cargo space. Against its competitors, the Honda CR-V offered 39.5 cubic feet, and the Kia Sportage had 39.3 cubic feet, making the differences negligible. The rear seatbacks folded flat with the cargo floor, although shorter owners might find it challenging to reach them. The RAV4 excelled in interior storage. The front passenger had access to a wide dashboard shelf, and there was a phone tray in front of the center console. While a wireless charging pad was supposedly an optional feature, it wasn't available on Toyota's online configurator at the time of writing, likely due to a chip shortage. The vehicle offered large cupholders capable of accommodating oversized cups and a spacious center armrest bin. The door pockets were of average size. In contrast, the 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid excelled in form and function. It featured quality materials, an intuitive control layout, and comfortable seats with ample cargo space. The CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid came equipped with a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat offering excellent support, cradling like a baseball mitt. The front passenger seat had a similar design but offered less adjustment range. Sport Hybrid trims added power operation for the passenger seat. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel improved comfort on chilly days, and all hybrid models featured dual-zone climate control. Entering and exiting the CR-V was a breeze, especially in the back, where the doors opened nearly 90 degrees. This wide entry, coupled with the roominess of the rear seats, made it ideal for new parents installing child safety seats. Honda also offered a window shade accessory to block most sunlight. Adults found the CR-V's rear seats comfortable, with a high bottom cushion for excellent leg support and adjustable backrest angles. Rear legroom was generous, and the front seatbacks were padded for added comfort. The test vehicle featured air conditioning vents and USB-C charging ports for rear passengers. The CR-V provided ample storage space, though the glove compartment was smaller than expected, and Honda's exclusion of a front seatback pocket on the driver's side was peculiar. The hands-free power rear liftgate of the Sport Touring model revealed a 34.7 cubic foot cargo area, the smallest among CR-V variants. Sport and Sport-L trims offered 36.3 cubic feet, approaching midsize SUV territory. With the rear seats folded down, all CR-V Hybrid models provided a maximum of 76.5 cubic feet, making it one of the most commodious in its class.

In terms of technology, the 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid received a new infotainment system for 2023, representing a significant improvement over previous iterations. The touchscreen graphics were modern and sharp, with logically arranged menus. The screen placement on top of the dashboard helped reduce driver distraction. Most trim levels came with an 8.0-inch display, while higher trims featured a 10.5-inch touchscreen. However, the base display's on-screen buttons were small and required precision to operate. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard across all RAV4 models, but a wireless charging pad was an optional feature. Without it, users were stuck with a cable to keep their devices charged. The infotainment system supported over-the-air software updates, ensuring features stayed current. Connectivity features included a Wi-Fi hotspot along with remote vehicle monitoring and control. The top RAV4 Hybrid trim also boasted a fully digital instrument panel. The standard six-speaker audio system delivered decent clarity and power, while the top Limited trim offered an upgraded 11-speaker JBL system for enhanced audio. On the 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid, the standard technology package included a 7-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Neither were particularly impressive, with the available 9-inch display offering only a slight size increase. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging, and a decent sound system were reserved for the Sport-L and Sport Touring trims. Subscription-based connected services, including access to a Wi-Fi hotspot, were limited to the Sport Touring trim. Pairing an iPhone with the test vehicle's Bluetooth was quick and easy, making wirelessly running Apple CarPlay seamless. The Sport Touring trim included navigation and paired with a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system, producing impressive sound quality. However, the voice recognition system was basic. While it responded to prompts on the display when the talk button on the steering wheel was pressed, it struggled with conversational commands similar to those used with smartphone digital assistants. Other notable tech features included the CR-V Hybrid's walk-away automatic locking system, providing peace of mind by locking the SUV's doors as the driver walked away with the key fob.

In terms of safety, the 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid received high marks. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded it five out of five stars for overall and side crash protection, and four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the RAV4 its highest score of "Good" in all tests except for its new moderate overlap frontal and side-impact tests, where it achieved a second-best "Acceptable" rating. The RAV4 also earned a Top Safety Pick designation, the IIHS's second-highest honor. All 2023 RAV4 Hybrid models came standard with Toyota's Safety Sense 2.5 suite of features, including forward collision warning with pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, and a traffic sign reader. The XLE trim added a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alerts. The top Limited trim included front and rear parking proximity sensors with automatic braking when backing up, while a surround-view camera system and digital rearview mirror were optional. The latter provided visibility even when the cargo area was loaded to the roof. During testing, the RAV4's safety systems performed flawlessly, without any false alarms. The adaptive cruise control was particularly notable for its smooth throttle and brake inputs, as well as its gentle stops. The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid also came equipped with an extensive suite of safety features under the Honda Sensing banner. This package included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist, and a driver monitoring system. Standard features also included a rear-seat reminder, automatic high-beam headlights, and a blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert. The Sport-L and Sport Touring trims added front and rear parking sensors and low-speed automatic braking control. Testing Honda Sensing revealed it performed remarkably well, especially the adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist systems, which were accurate and refined. The system only faltered slightly on the curves of the 101 freeway's Conejo Grade. An inaccurate lane-departure warning was also detected due to some skid marks on the pavement. Otherwise, the system was flawless during testing on an overcast day with flat light. As of this writing, the NHTSA hadn't rated the 2024 CR-V's safety. However, the SUV earned impressive ratings from the IIHS, receiving a Top Safety Pick+ award for the 2023 calendar year. Whether it would retain that accolade in the 2024 calendar year remained to be seen.