Compare the2022 Honda CR-V HybridVS 2021 Lexus NX Series

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CR-V Hybrid. But it costs extra on the NX Series.

Compared to metal, the CR-V Hybrid’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Lexus NX Series has a metal gas tank.

Both the CR-V Hybrid and the NX Series 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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available rear parking sensors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Honda CR-V Hybrid is safer than the Lexus NX Series:

	CR-V Hybrid	NX Series
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	141	209
Neck Injury Risk	27%	46%
Neck Stress	175 lbs.	509 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	65/19 lbs.	480/609 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	309	355
Neck Injury Risk	37%	42%
Neck Stress	160 lbs.	295 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	276/243 lbs.	442/307 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Honda CR-V Hybrid is safer than the Lexus NX Series:

	CR-V Hybrid	NX Series
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	71	192
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.6 inches
Abdominal Force	142 G’s	148 G’s
Hip Force	310 lbs.	352 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	143	317
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	15 inches
HIC	386	542
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	38 G’s
Hip Force	543 lbs.	828 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

There are over 4 times as many Honda dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the CR-V Hybrid’s warranty.

Engine

The CR-V Hybrid’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 18 more horsepower (212 vs. 194) and 33 lbs.-ft. more torque (232 vs. 199) than the NX 300h’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Honda CR-V Hybrid is faster than the NX 300h :

	CR-V Hybrid	NX Series
Zero to 60 MPH	7.5 sec	8.3 sec
Quarter Mile	16 sec	16.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	86.3 MPH	84.5 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the CR-V Hybrid gets better mileage than the NX Series:

			MPG
CR-V Hybrid
		2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	40 city/35 hwy
NX Series
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/28 hwy
	AWD	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	33 city/30 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/28 hwy
		F Sport 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/27 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda CR-V Hybrid uses regular unleaded gasoline. The NX 300 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The CR-V Hybrid has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The NX Series doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Honda CR-V Hybrid higher (7 out of 10) than the Lexus NX Series (3 to 7). This means the CR-V Hybrid produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the NX Series every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

The CR-V Hybrid stops much shorter than the NX Series:

	CR-V Hybrid	NX Series
70 to 0 MPH	173 feet	183 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	115 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	138 feet	142 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the CR-V Hybrid has larger tires than the NX Series (235/60R18 vs. 225/65R17).

The CR-V Hybrid EX/EX-L’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the NX Series’ standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CR-V Hybrid EX/EX-L has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the NX Series. The CR-V Hybrid Touring’s 19-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels optional on the NX Series.

Suspension and Handling

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the CR-V Hybrid is .9 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the NX Series.

The CR-V Hybrid Touring handles at .80 G’s, while the NX 300 F Sport AWD pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the CR-V Hybrid has a 1.5 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the NX 300h (8.2 vs. 6.7 inches), allowing the CR-V Hybrid to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The CR-V Hybrid’s minimum ground clearance is 1.3 inches higher than on the NX 300 (8.2 vs. 6.9 inches).

Chassis

The Honda CR-V Hybrid may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 400 pounds less than the Lexus NX Series.

The front grille of the CR-V Hybrid uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The NX Series doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The CR-V Hybrid uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The NX Series doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The CR-V Hybrid has 31.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the NX Series (102.9 vs. 71.6).

The CR-V Hybrid has .6 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom, 4.3 inches more rear legroom and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the NX Series.

Cargo Capacity

The CR-V Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the NX Series with its rear seat up (33.2 vs. 17.7 cubic feet). The CR-V Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the NX Series with its rear seat folded (68.7 vs. 54.6 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the CR-V Hybrid easier. The CR-V Hybrid’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 26 inches, while the NX Series’ liftover is 31.2 inches.

The CR-V Hybrid’s cargo area is larger than the NX Series’ in almost every dimension:

	CR-V Hybrid	NX Series
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	37.5”/71”	36”/71.5”
Max Width	54”	53”
Min Width	41.5”	44.3”
Height	41”	27”

Ergonomics

The CR-V Hybrid’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The NX Series’ power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Honda CR-V Hybrid Touring has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The NX Series doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Honda CR-V Hybrid and the Lexus NX Series, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The CR-V was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Five/10Best Trucks” for 3 of the last 20 years. The NX Series has never been a Car and Driver “Top Five/10Best Truck” pick.

Motor Trend selected the CR-V as their 2018 Sport Utility of the Year. The NX Series has never been chosen.