Compare the2022 Honda CR-VVS 2022 Lexus NX

Both the CR-V and the NX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the CR-V the rating of “Top Pick” for 2021, a rating granted to only 137 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The NX has not been tested, yet.

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’s warranty.

On the EPA test cycle the CR-V gets better mileage than the NX running its gasoline engine:

Both the CR-V and the NX have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stop lights and heavy traffic. All CR-Vs have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The NX 350h/450h+ doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda CR-V uses regular unleaded gasoline. The NX 350 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The CR-V 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 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The CR-V stops much shorter than the NX:

The CR-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 NX; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

The CR-V Touring handles at .85 G’s, while the NX 350 AWD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The CR-V Touring executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the NX 450h AWD (27.3 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the CR-V’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the NX’s (37.4 feet vs. 38 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CR-V has a greater minimum ground clearance than the NX (8.2 vs. 7.7 inches), allowing the CR-V to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Honda CR-V may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 900 pounds less than the Lexus NX.

The front grille of the CR-V 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 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

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

The CR-V has 1.8 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front legroom, 1.6 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom, 4.3 inches more rear legroom and 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the NX.

The CR-V has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the NX with its rear seat up (39.2 vs. 22.7 cubic feet). The CR-V has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the NX with its rear seat folded (75.8 vs. 46.9 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the CR-V easier. The CR-V’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 26 inches, while the NX’s liftover is 30.8 inches.

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

The CR-V’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the NX’s (1500 vs. 0 pounds).

Insurance will cost less for the CR-V owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the CR-V will cost $490 to $2070 less than the NX over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Honda CR-V will be $7683 to $10918 less than for the Lexus NX.

The Honda CR-V has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

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 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 has never been chosen.

The Honda CR-V outsold the Lexus NX by over five to one during the 2021 model year.