Compare the2023 Honda CR-V HybridVS 2023 Lexus RX

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 CR-V Hybrid are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The RX doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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 RX’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The CR-V Hybrid has standard Low-Speed Braking Control that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The RX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The CR-V Hybrid’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 RX doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the CR-V Hybrid and the RX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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, available all wheel drive and rear parking sensors.

Honda pays for scheduled maintenance on the CR-V Hybrid for 1 year and 14,000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the RX (2/24,000 vs. 1/10,000).

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.

The CR-V Hybrid’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 14 lbs.-ft. more torque (247 vs. 233) than the RX 350h’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

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

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

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda CR-V Hybrid uses regular unleaded gasoline. The RX 350 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 RX doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

For greater off-road capability the CR-V Hybrid has a greater minimum ground clearance than the RX 350 (8.2 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the CR-V Hybrid to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Honda CR-V Hybrid may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 800 pounds less than the Lexus RX.

The CR-V Hybrid is 7.7 inches shorter than the RX, making the CR-V Hybrid easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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 RX 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 RX doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The CR-V Hybrid has .2 inches more front legroom and 3 inches more rear legroom than the RX.

The CR-V Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the RX with its rear seat up (39.3 vs. 29.6 cubic feet). The CR-V Hybrid has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the RX with its rear seat folded (76.5 vs. 46.2 cubic feet).

The CR-V Hybrid’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the RX’s (1000 vs. 0 pounds).

The CR-V Hybrid has a standard 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 RX doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the CR-V Hybrid has a standard rear wiper. The RX doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The CR-V was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Five/10Best Trucks” for 3 of the last 21 years. The RX 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 RX has never been chosen.

The Honda CR-V outsold the Lexus RX by over two to one during the 2022 model year.