Compare the2022 Honda HR-VVS 2021 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the HR-V deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The HR-V’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Crosstrek Hybrid’s airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

Both the HR-V and the Crosstrek Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, crash mitigating brakes and lane departure warning systems.

There are over 68 percent more Honda dealers than there are Subaru dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the HR-V’s warranty.

The engine in the HR-V has a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engine in the Crosstrek Hybrid has dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda 19th in initial quality. With 10 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is ranked 27th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Subaru vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 3 places higher in reliability than Subaru.

The HR-V Sport’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Crosstrek Hybrid’s 55 series tires.

The HR-V has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Crosstrek Hybrid; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The HR-V has variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Crosstrek Hybrid doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Honda HR-V may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 600 to 800 pounds less than the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid.

The HR-V is 6.1 inches shorter than the Crosstrek Hybrid, making the HR-V easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The HR-V Sport/EX/EX-L uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Crosstrek Hybrid doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The HR-V has .1 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom and 2.6 inches more rear legroom than the Crosstrek Hybrid.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the HR-V’s rear seats recline. The Crosstrek Hybrid’s rear seats don’t recline.

The HR-V has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Crosstrek Hybrid with its rear seat up (24.3 vs. 15.9 cubic feet). The HR-V has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Crosstrek Hybrid with its rear seat folded (58.8 vs. 43.1 cubic feet).

The HR-V’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Crosstrek Hybrid has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

Consumer Reports rated the HR-V’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Crosstrek Hybrid’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

The HR-V is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Crosstrek Hybrid doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.