2021 Honda CR-V vs. 2021 Toyota RAV4 Comparison

The 2021 Honda CR-V and 2021 Toyota RAV4 are among the best and most popular compact SUVs on the market today. Here’s how they match up.

2021 Honda CR-V

2021 Honda CR-V  starting price $26,120 (est.) |  Price Yours or View listings near you

Above Average: Spacious interior and cargo accommodations; Honda Sensing safety suite; Honda’s stellar reliability and resale value.

Below Average: Entry-level model lacks basics like Apple CarPlay; limited options in each trim level offer few ways to personalize; low 1,500-pound towing.

Consensus:   Unchanged for 2021, the Honda CR-V offers legendary Honda reliability and resale value, efficient driving manners, and one of the segment’s roomiest interiors.

2021 Toyota RAV4

2021 Toyota RAV4 starting price $27,225  |  Price Yours or View listings near you.

Above Average: Toyota reliability and quality; off-road capability in Adventure and TRD trims; available hybrid and PHEV; tows up to 3,500 pounds.

Below Average: No nav available in lower trims; no leather option; can get pricey.

Consensus: A major player in the compact crossover field, the new Toyota RAV4 is as rugged as it looks. It also offers excellent safety ratings, plenty of interior space, and generous standard equipment. New for this year is a plug-in hybrid model.

CR-V vs. RAV4: Compact SUVs for the masses 

Honda CR-V

The Honda CR-V is filled with only the best. This Honda delivers with a choice of conventional or hybrid powertrains and the CR-V’s stellar reliability and excellent resale value. The standard CR-V derives power from a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine with either front- or all-wheel drive and a smooth CVT. The 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with a 2-motor hybrid system combines to make 212 horsepower and offers up to 40 mpg in a package costing only $1,200 more than the conventional powertrain.

Toyota RAV4

We still struggle with Toyota’s “Transformer” looks on the new RAV4, but you can’t knock its quality, reliability, and resale value. The RAV4’s car-like ride continues to impress. So too, the power from its 2.5-liter inline-4 engine and 8-speed automatic transmission. The Adventure model pushes the limits of the RAV4 even further with larger tires and wheels and torque-vectoring that sends up to 50 percent of the power to the rear wheels. If that’s not enough, check out the RAV4’s TRD package, which puts it head-to-head with the Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk. The RAV4’s hybrid lineup also expands with a new plug-in variant called the Prime. It offers an electric range of 42 miles.

Similarities

Pricing; available AWD; hybrid options; roomy 5-passenger cabins.

Honda CR-V Advantages

Reputation for quality; high resale value; Honda Sensing suite of driver-assists.

Toyota RAV4 Advantages

An 8-speed automatic rather than a CVT; capable off-road TRD version.

Final Recommendation

Both the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4 are solid performers with great reputations for reliability and value. If you’re more serious about taking your crossover offroad, the RAV4 TRD version is a great bet, but if you’re just going to use your vehicle as a grocery-getter, the CR-V would be our choice.

 Ready to buy a Honda CR-V or Ford Escape? Shop now for one on sale near you.