2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid vs 2020 Honda CR-V

The 2020 Honda CR-V, part of Honda's fifth generation of compact crossovers, had a design that was both familiar and enjoyable. Its exterior styling, with curvy and car-like lines, bore a family resemblance to Honda's sedan lineup, giving it a station wagon-like appearance rather than a traditional SUV look. This design approach made the CR-V a modern family transportation staple. However, the interior was a mix of textures and materials, with upscale touches like wood-look trim and leather upholstery clashing with lower-quality plastics, reminding drivers that even the pricier CR-V versions were upgrades of a commodity car rather than premium products.

In contrast, the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid presented a more rugged exterior, though it lacked the larger alloy wheels found on its non-hybrid counterpart. The RAV4 Hybrid's styling was tough for a compact SUV, but it could have benefited from bolder wheels. Inside, the RAV4 Hybrid was stylish and practical, with a mix of impressive materials and glossy hard plastics. The interior was functional, with clear instrumentation and well-placed controls, although the design was somewhat overdone with colours and graphics. The RAV4 Hybrid's interior was comfortable, with features like an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat and heated and ventilated front cushions.

The 2020 Honda CR-V was equipped with a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine standard across all trims, producing 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), this powertrain was well-suited to the CR-V. Despite the CVT's reputation for sluggishness, Honda's implementation was commendable, offering a responsive and quick driving experience, especially in Sport mode. The CR-V's road manners were excellent, with nimble handling and a firm yet comfortable chassis. Its lightweight design contributed to its agility and fuel efficiency, with FWD models rated at 7.7 litres per 100 kilometres combined and AWD models at 8.1.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid combined a 2.5-litre 4-cylinder gas engine with front and rear electric motors, generating a total of 219 horsepower. The hybrid powertrain provided instant torque, making the RAV4 Hybrid feel lively during acceleration. However, the four-cylinder engine's sound was unpleasant at high revs. The RAV4 Hybrid's fuel efficiency was impressive, with a rating of 6.0 litres per 100 kilometres combined, and it averaged 5.9 L/100 km during testing. The CVT operated smoothly, and the regenerative braking system was effective. The RAV4 Hybrid's ride and handling were enhanced by its suspension design and Active Cornering Assist system, though the tires lacked grip during spirited driving.

The 2020 Honda CR-V excelled in interior space and storage solutions. Its cabin was roomy, with excellent head- and legroom for both front and rear passengers. The CR-V's seating position and visibility were commendable, and its cargo compartment was spacious, offering up to 1,110 litres of cargo space with the rear seats folded. Clever storage solutions, like the deep centre console and two-position load floor, added to its practicality. The CR-V's door pockets were also generously sized, making it easy to store and access items.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid offered comfort and practicality, with features like an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat and heated and ventilated front cushions. Rear-seat legroom and foot space were decent, though the seat felt a bit low. The RAV4 Hybrid's dashboard was well-organized, with oversized climate control knobs and easy-to-use infotainment controls. Storage was accommodating, with useful shelves and cupholders. The cargo area provided 1,059 litres of space, expanding to 1,977 litres with the rear seats folded. However, the premium sound system's subwoofer and all-weather mat took up some space in the cargo area.

The 2020 Honda CR-V's infotainment system showed its age, with a standard 7-inch touchscreen that felt small compared to competitors. The system lacked hard buttons, making it challenging to operate, and even Apple CarPlay and Android Auto felt tacked on. However, the CR-V offered plenty of USB ports, with two in the front and two high-powered ones in the backseat. The Touring and Black Edition trims included a wireless phone charger.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid offered a choice of infotainment systems, with either a 7-inch or 8-inch touchscreen display. The larger screen included SiriusXM satellite radio and various connectivity features. The top-tier system featured an 11-speaker JBL premium audio system with dynamic navigation. The 8-inch display was user-friendly, with shortcut buttons and stereo knobs for easy operation. The RAV4 Hybrid also offered advanced camera-based technology, including a 360-degree surround-view camera system and a camera rearview mirror.

The 2020 Honda CR-V came standard with the "Honda Sensing" suite of safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. It earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS, though lower trims had marginal headlight ratings. A safety recall affected a small number of vehicles for a rear subframe issue.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid featured Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, with adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and more. It also included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The RAV4 Hybrid earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and top marks from the IIHS, except for its headlights, with only the Limited trim receiving a "Good" rating.