Compare the2023 Subaru CrosstrekVS 2022 Honda HR-V

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Crosstrek CVT are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The HR-V doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Subaru Crosstrek has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The HR-V doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Crosstrek has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The HR-V doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Crosstrek Limited has standard Reverse Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The HR-V doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Crosstrek. But it costs extra on the HR-V.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Crosstrek CVT’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The HR-V doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Crosstrek (except Base/Manual)’s optional rear cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The HR-V doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

The Crosstrek CVT’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The HR-V doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

The Crosstrek Premium/Sport/Limited has standard STARLINK Safety and Security, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The HR-V doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Crosstrek and the HR-V 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 crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems and 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 Subaru Crosstrek is safer than the Honda HR-V:

	Crosstrek	HR-V
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	121	481
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	122	205
Neck Stress	195 lbs.	218 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	230/427 lbs.	574/500 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 Subaru Crosstrek is safer than the Honda HR-V:

	Crosstrek	HR-V
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	138	148
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.8 inches
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	303	357
Spine Acceleration	58 G’s	59 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	201	203

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

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, with its optional vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, with its optional vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Crosstrek the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 141 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The HR-V has not been fully tested, yet.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Crosstrek’s reliability 31 points higher than the HR-V.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Honda With 4 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Subaru higher than Honda.

Engine

The Crosstrek’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 11 more horsepower (152 vs. 141) and 18 lbs.-ft. more torque (145 vs. 127) than the HR-V’s 1.8 SOHC 4-cylinder. The Crosstrek Sport/Limited’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 41 more horsepower (182 vs. 141) and 49 lbs.-ft. more torque (176 vs. 127) than the HR-V’s 1.8 SOHC 4-cylinder.

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

	Crosstrek 2.0	Crosstrek Sport/Limited	HR-V
Zero to 60 MPH	8.8 sec	7.8 sec	9.5 sec
Quarter Mile	16.7 sec	16 sec	17.3 sec

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Crosstrek lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The HR-V doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Crosstrek
AWD	Auto	2.0 DOHC flat-4	28 city/33 hwy
		2.5 DOHC flat-4	27 city/34 hwy
HR-V
AWD	Auto	LX 1.8 SOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/31 hwy
		Sport/EX/EX-L 1.8 SOHC 4-cyl.	26 city/31 hwy

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Crosstrek CVT’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The HR-V doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Crosstrek has 3.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the HR-V (16.6 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Subaru Crosstrek higher (7 out of 10) than the Honda HR-V (5). This means the Crosstrek produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the HR-V every 15,000 miles.

The EPA certifies the Subaru Crosstrek as a “Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (SULEV). The Honda HR-V is only certified to “Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (ULEV) standards.

Brakes and Stopping

The Crosstrek stops much shorter than the HR-V:

	Crosstrek	HR-V
70 to 0 MPH	169 feet	183 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	120 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	136 feet	139 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Crosstrek has larger tires than the HR-V (225/60R17 vs. 215/55R17).

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Subaru Crosstrek has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Honda HR-V has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Crosstrek has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Crosstrek flat and controlled during cornering. The HR-V 4x2 suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Crosstrek’s wheelbase is 2.1 inches longer than on the HR-V (104.9 inches vs. 102.8 inches).

The Crosstrek Limited handles at .81 G’s, while the HR-V EX-L AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Crosstrek Premium executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the HR-V EX-L AWD (27.3 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Crosstrek’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the HR-V’s (35.4 feet vs. 37.4 feet). The Crosstrek’s turning circle is 3.3 feet tighter than the HR-V Sport’s (35.4 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Crosstrek has a 2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the HR-V (8.7 vs. 6.7 inches), allowing the Crosstrek to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Crosstrek’s minimum ground clearance is 1.8 inches higher than on the HR-V Sport (8.7 vs. 6.9 inches).

Chassis

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the Crosstrek CVT (except Manual) has a liquid-filled front engine mount. The liquid helps further dampen engine harshness. The HR-V uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

Passenger Space

The Crosstrek has .3 inches more front headroom, 1.9 inches more front legroom, 2 inches more front hip room, 7.8 inches more rear hip room and 1.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the HR-V.

Cargo Capacity

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Crosstrek. The HR-V doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

The Crosstrek has a 1500 lbs. towing capacity. The HR-V has no towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Crosstrek is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the HR-V. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The Crosstrek offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The HR-V doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The power windows standard on both the Crosstrek and the HR-V have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Crosstrek is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The HR-V prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Crosstrek’s front power windows open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The HR-V’s passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Crosstrek’s available exterior PIN entry system (not available on Crosstrek Base). The HR-V doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Crosstrek’s variable intermittent wipers have an adjustable delay to allow the driver to choose a setting that best clears the windshield during light rain or mist. The HR-V LX/Sport’s standard fixed intermittent wipers only have one fixed delay setting, so the driver will have to manually switch them between slow and intermittent.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Crosstrek’s available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the HR-V’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Poor.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Crosstrek Limited has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The HR-V doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Crosstrek’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The HR-V offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Crosstrek Limited has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The HR-V doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Crosstrek owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Crosstrek with a number “5” insurance rate while the HR-V is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Crosstrek is less expensive to operate than the HR-V because typical repairs cost much less on the Crosstrek than the HR-V, including $1 less for a muffler, $98 less for a starter, $33 less for a fuel pump and $326 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Subaru Crosstrek, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Honda HR-V isn't recommended.

The Subaru Crosstrek outsold the Honda HR-V by 13% during the 2021 model year.

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