Compare the2022 Honda CR-VVS 2022 Subaru Crosstrek

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the CR-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 CR-V’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.

Compared to metal, the CR-V’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 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, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

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 is safer than the Subaru Crosstrek:

	CR-V	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 is safer than the Subaru Crosstrek:

	CR-V	Crosstrek
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	71	138
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.7 inches
Abdominal Force	142 lbs.	196 lbs.
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
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	13 inches
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’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’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 38 more horsepower (190 vs. 152) and 34 lbs.-ft. more torque (179 vs. 145) than the Crosstrek’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The CR-V’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 8 more horsepower (190 vs. 182) and 3 lbs.-ft. more torque (179 vs. 176) than the Crosstrek Sport/Limited’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

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

	CR-V	Crosstrek 2.0	Crosstrek Sport/Limited
Zero to 30 MPH	2.8 sec	3.4 sec	n/a
Zero to 60 MPH	7.5 sec	9 sec	7.8 sec
Zero to 80 MPH	12.6 sec	15.2 sec	n/a
Passing 45 to 65 MPH	3.7 sec	4.4 sec	n/a
Quarter Mile	15.8 sec	16.9 sec	16 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	89 MPH	80.8 MPH	87.7 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the CR-V FWD gets better fuel mileage than the Crosstrek 2.0 DOHC flat-4 6 speed Manual (28 city/34 hwy vs. 22 city/29 hwy).

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 Crosstrek doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

The Honda CR-V 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’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Crosstrek:

	CR-V	Crosstrek
Front Rotors	12.3 inches	11.6 inches
Rear Rotors	12.2 inches	10.8 inches

The CR-V stops much shorter than the Crosstrek:

	CR-V	Crosstrek
70 to 0 MPH	165 feet	169 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	119 feet	131 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

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

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CR-V Touring has standard 19-inch wheels. The Crosstrek’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

Suspension and Handling

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the CR-V is 2 inches wider in the front and 2.4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Crosstrek.

The CR-V Touring handles at .85 G’s, while the Crosstrek Limited 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 Crosstrek Limited (27.3 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

Chassis

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 Crosstrek 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 Crosstrek doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The CR-V has 5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Crosstrek (105.9 vs. 100.9).

The CR-V has .3 inches more front headroom, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.2 inches more rear headroom and 3.9 inches more rear legroom than the Crosstrek.

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

Cargo Capacity

The CR-V has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Crosstrek with its rear seat up (39.2 vs. 20.8 cubic feet). The CR-V has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Crosstrek with its rear seat folded (75.8 vs. 55.3 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 Crosstrek’s liftover is 30.9 inches.

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

	CR-V	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’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 EX-L/Touring has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or on the CR-V Touring, by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Servicing Ease

The CR-V has a maintenance free battery for long life without checking the battery’s water level. The Crosstrek doesn’t have a maintenance free battery, so the water level in the battery’s cells must be checked often to prevent damage.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the CR-V EX-L/Touring, 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 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’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 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’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 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.

The CR-V 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.

On extremely cold winter days, the CR-V 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 SE/EX/EX-L/Touring’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 and the Crosstrek offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the CR-V 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 Touring has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Model Availability

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

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the CR-V is less expensive to operate than the Crosstrek because it costs $509 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost less on the CR-V than the Crosstrek, including $116 less for a water pump, $22 less for front brake pads, $141 less for front struts and $156 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

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

	CR-V	Crosstrek
Consumer Reports® Recommends	TRUE	TRUE
Car Book “Best Bet”	TRUE	FALSE

The CR-V was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Five/10Best Trucks” for 3 of the last 21 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.

The Honda CR-V outsold the Subaru Crosstrek by almost three to one during the 2021 model year.