Compact SUVs are one of the most popular automotive segment in the United States. In 2021, the Toyota RAV4 was the bestselling SUV in the country, surpassing 400,000 retail and fleet sales and beating its Honda rival by a significant margin. At the end of this comparison, you'll find that the RAV4 continues to have what it takes to stay ahead of the CR-V.
Value for the Money
The RAV4 and CR-V are priced incredibly similarly, so determining value is all down to the features they offer for that price. That said, there is an exception: the hybrid models. The CR-V Hybrid starts at $31,610 while the RAV4 Hybrid starts at a much lower $29,075 - and given that the Toyota hybrid also has better fuel economy, it will continue saving you even more money over time.
As for the other models, Toyota has the value advantage there as well. Every RAV4 comes with two years or 25,000 miles of free scheduled maintenance, while the CR-V has no such perk. Every RAV4 also come with a year of connected services like live emergency assistance and roadside assistance, which costs extra on the CR-V. Several RAV4 trim levels have standard all-wheel drive, while only a single CR-V model does. If you're looking for bang for your buck, the RAV4 is your best bet.
Quality and Reliability
Toyota has long been synonymous with quality and reliability in the auto industry. Fair play to Honda - their reliability ratings are not too shabby either. However, Toyota still pulls ahead. The RAV4 was ranked in the top three compact SUVs in J.D. Power's 2021 Vehicle Dependability Study. According to Consumer Reports, the RAV4 has a better reliability record than the CR-V on average. And of course, there's that free scheduled maintenance that incentivizes Toyota owners to keep their vehicle in good running condition.
Another notch in Toyota's belt is its hybrid battery warranty. At 10 years or 150,000 miles, it's one of the best in the industry. Honda's equivalent warranty falls just short at 8 years or 100,000 miles.
Standard tech features
The 2022 Toyota RAV4 leaps ahead of the 2022 Honda CR-V when it comes to standard tech features. Every RAV4 has, at the minimum, a 7-inch touch-screen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ smartphone connectivity, satellite radio, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. The CR-V comes with only a 5-inch display and requires you to upgrade to the next trim level to get all of those connectivity features. Upgrading does get you a 7-inch display, but if you go up a higher trim on the RAV4 instead, you can get a 9-inch display. Additionally, all but the base RAV4 models have six USB ports. The CR-V is limited to four.
Performance and efficiency
In the performance and efficiency categories, the 2022 RAV4 consistently outdoes the 2022 CR-V. The base engine in the RAV4 is not only more powerful than that of the CR-V but also more efficient. Toyota's 2.5-liter four-cylinder generates 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, up from 190 horsepower and 179 lb-ft for the CR-V. While the Honda uses a continuously variable transmission, the RAV4 has a more satisfying and efficient eight-speed automatic.
According to the EPA, the most economical CR-V gets 30 mpg combined while the CR-V Hybrid gets 38 mpg combined. The RAV4 is more efficient on all fronts: 30 mpg combined for the regular, gas-only models and 40 mpg combined for the hybrid model.[1][2] The RAV4 Hybrid is also more powerful: 219 horsepower compared to 212 for the CR-V Hybrid. Additionally, the RAV4 Adventure and TRD Off-Road can tow up to 3,500 pounds. No CR-V model can tow more than 1,500 pounds.
Whether you look at efficiency, value, technology, or dependability, the Toyota RAV4 has the edge over the Honda CR-V. Check out the winner of this comparison by paying a visit to Northcutt Toyota in Enid, Oklahoma!
[1] EPA-estimated 27 city/35 highway/30 combined mpg rating for 2022 RAV4 LE FWD, XLE FWD, XLE Premium FWD and Limited FWD; EPA-estimated 27 city/34 highway/30 combined mpg rating for 2022 RAV4 LE AWD; EPA-estimated 27 city/33 highway/29 combined mpg rating for 2022 RAV4 XLE AWD and XLE Premium AWD; EPA-estimated 25 city/33 highway/28 combined mpg rating for 2022 RAV4 Adventure and Limited AWD; EPA-estimated 25 city/32 highway/28 combined mpg rating for 2022 RAV4 TRD Off-Road. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary for many reasons, including your vehicle's condition and how/where you drive. See www.fueleconomy.gov.
[2] EPA-estimated 41 city/38 highway/40 combined mpg rating for 2022 RAV4 Hybrid LE, Hybrid XLE, Hybrid XLE Premium, Hybrid SE, Hybrid XSE and Hybrid Limited. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary for many reasons, including your vehicle's condition and how/where you drive. See www.fueleconomy.gov.
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