2019 Honda CR-V

July 2019

Cover Page

2019 Honda CR-V
Car & Driver’s Compact SUV Head-to-Head Winner (video)

The Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 have been bitter rivals for a very long time and so, it was not a surprise when the editors of Car & Driver Magazine decided to pit these fierce competitors against each other in a thorough head-to-head comparison.

The Competitors

“Spending time with all-wheel-drive versions of the 2019 Toyota RAV4 and 2019 Honda CR-V makes it clear why each has become so eminently popular. Easy to drive and easy to live with, both the RAV4 and the CR-V can easily fit a wide variety of lifestyles, thanks to their versatile interiors and user-friendly personalities.”

A Perfect Match

“It’s no coincidence that the CR-V, redesigned for 2017, and the new-for-2019 RAV4 are near mirror images of one another in terms of dimensions. Toyota and Honda have been imitating each other in this game for a while now, and although they look different enough, both stretch about 73 inches wide and 180 inches long. Both the Toyota and the Honda also feature two rows of seats and space for five people, and both can accommodate up to 10 carry-on suitcases in their cargo holds.”

The Inside View

“But the numbers can only tell you so much, and the Honda makes better use of its space than the Toyota does. Its rear seat feels more spacious both for two and three passengers, with a wider bottom cushion, more legroom, and more comfortable padding. That’s not to say that the RAV4’s back seat is cramped; it will comfortably accommodate two adults, but we found that we had more stretch-out space in the rear of the CR-V. Loading cargo also is a bit easier in the CR-V due to its load floor having a 1.2-inch lower liftover height than the RAV4’s.”

On the Road

“One significant difference between the CR-V and the RAV4 is what’s under their hoods. The RAV4 has a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter inline-four paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, whereas the CR-V is powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter four mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Despite the Toyota’s larger and more powerful engine—it produces 203 horsepower against the Honda’s 190—the CR-V outperformed it in our acceleration testing, reaching 60 mph in 7.4 seconds versus the RAV4’s 8.1-second effort (our test results are for a RAV4 Adventure model, which is mechanically identical to the Limited version we drove for this comparison).”

Closing Statement
“In this matchup, the Honda simply provides a better value and is our choice over the Toyota. While the RAV4 is slightly more distinctive in appearance and a bit more tech-forward with its sharper touchscreen interface, the CR-V makes up for its lack of style with impressive substance. The Honda provides more space, better engine performance, and plenty of features, all for less money than the Toyota. That’s a winning formula as much today as it was when the CR-V first hit the scene more than 20 years ago.”

Interested in experiencing the 2019 CR-V first-hand? Click the TEST DRIVE button below and discover for yourself how Honda’s wildly popular compact SUV was the clear winner in Car & Driver ‘s Head-to-Head competition.

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