Compare the2022 Honda CR-V HybridVS 2021 Subaru Crosstrek

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
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 Crosstrek’s airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

The CR-V Hybrid has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Crosstrek’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the CR-V Hybrid has a standard cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Cross-path warning costs extra on the Crosstrek and isn't available on the not available.

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 Subaru Crosstrek has a metal gas tank.

Both the CR-V Hybrid and the Crosstrek 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, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras and available rear parking sensors.

The Honda CR-V Hybrid weighs 410 to 646 pounds more than the Subaru Crosstrek. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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 Subaru Crosstrek:

	CR-V Hybrid	Crosstrek
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	27%	36%
Neck Stress	175 lbs.	304 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	65/19 lbs.	252/363 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	37%	44.6%
Neck Stress	160 lbs.	195 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	276/243 lbs.	230/427 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 Subaru Crosstrek:

	CR-V Hybrid	Crosstrek
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	71	138
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.7 inches
Abdominal Force	142 G’s	196 G’s
Hip Force	310 lbs.	346 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	143	303
Spine Acceleration	50 G’s	58 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	49 G’s
Hip Force	543 lbs.	824 lbs.

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

Warranty

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 CR-V Hybrid’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 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 17th in initial quality. With 18 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is ranked 24th.

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.

Engine

The CR-V Hybrid’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 60 more horsepower (212 vs. 152) and 87 lbs.-ft. more torque (232 vs. 145) than the Crosstrek’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The CR-V Hybrid’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 30 more horsepower (212 vs. 182) and 56 lbs.-ft. more torque (232 vs. 176) than the Crosstrek Sport/Limited’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Honda CR-V Hybrid is faster than the Subaru Crosstrek (automatics tested):

	CR-V Hybrid	Crosstrek 2.0	Crosstrek Sport/Limited
Zero to 30 MPH	2.9 sec	3.4 sec	n/a
Zero to 60 MPH	7.5 sec	9 sec	7.8 sec
Zero to 80 MPH	13.4 sec	15.2 sec	n/a
Passing 45 to 65 MPH	3.9 sec	4.4 sec	n/a
Quarter Mile	16 sec	16.9 sec	16 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	86.3 MPH	80.8 MPH	87.7 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
CR-V Hybrid
		2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	40 city/35 hwy
Crosstrek
	Manual	2.0 DOHC flat-4	22 city/29 hwy
	Auto	2.0 DOHC flat-4	28 city/33 hwy
		2.5 DOHC flat-4	27 city/34 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the CR-V Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

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 Crosstrek 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 Subaru Crosstrek (6 to 7). This means the CR-V Hybrid produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Crosstrek every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The Honda CR-V Hybrid comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Crosstrek.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the CR-V Hybrid’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Crosstrek:

	CR-V Hybrid	Crosstrek
Front Rotors	12.6 inches	11.6 inches
Rear Rotors	12.2 inches	10.8 inches

The CR-V Hybrid stops much shorter than the Crosstrek:

	CR-V Hybrid	Crosstrek
60 to 0 MPH	115 feet	131 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

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

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 Crosstrek. The CR-V Hybrid Touring’s 19-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Crosstrek Limited.

Suspension and Handling

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the CR-V Hybrid is 1.9 inches wider in the front and 2.3 inches wider in the rear than on the Crosstrek.

The CR-V Hybrid Touring handles at .81 G’s, while the Crosstrek Premium pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The CR-V Hybrid Touring executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Crosstrek Limited (28 seconds @ .6 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

Chassis

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 Crosstrek 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 Crosstrek doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The CR-V Hybrid has 1.2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.1 inches more rear headroom and 3.9 inches more rear legroom than the Crosstrek.

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

Cargo Capacity

The CR-V Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Crosstrek with its rear seat up (33.2 vs. 20.8 cubic feet). The CR-V Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Crosstrek with its rear seat folded (68.7 vs. 55.3 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 Crosstrek’s liftover is 30.9 inches.

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

	CR-V Hybrid	Crosstrek
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	37.5”/71”	32.3”/64.2”
Max Width	54”	53”
Min Width	41.5”	43”
Height	41”	30”

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the CR-V Hybrid’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the CR-V Hybrid EX-L/Touring has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or on the CR-V Hybrid Touring, by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the CR-V Hybrid, the memory seats make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer memory seats.

The CR-V Hybrid EX-L/Touring’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The CR-V Hybrid’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Crosstrek 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.

If the windows are left open on the CR-V Hybrid the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Crosstrek can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 Crosstrek’s power window (except driver window) switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The CR-V Hybrid Touring’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Crosstrek’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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

The CR-V Hybrid has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. When the ignition turns off, the headlights turn off after a delay timed to allow you to securely get to your front door. The Crosstrek has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the Premium/Sport/Limited.

The CR-V Hybrid’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Subaru only offers heated mirrors on the Crosstrek Premium/Sport/Limited.

On extremely cold winter days, the CR-V Hybrid EX-L/Touring’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The CR-V Hybrid’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the CR-V Hybrid and the Crosstrek offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the CR-V Hybrid has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

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 Crosstrek doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Honda CR-V Hybrid and the Subaru Crosstrek, 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 Crosstrek 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 Crosstrek has never been chosen.