Compare the2023 Jeep WranglerVS 2022 Honda CR-V

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 Wrangler 4-Door are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The CR-V doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive is standard on the Wrangler. But it costs extra on the CR-V.

The Wrangler (except Sport) offers optional SiriusXM Guardian, 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 CR-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 Wrangler and the CR-V have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors 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 Jeep Wrangler is safer than the Honda CR-V:

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

Jeep pays for scheduled maintenance on the Wrangler for 3 years and unlimited miles. Jeep will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance (up to 3 oil changes). Honda doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the CR-V.

There are over 2 times as many Jeep dealers as there are Honda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Wrangler’s warranty.

The Wrangler has a solid front axle with a floating power axle for durability that the CR-V AWD’s independent front suspension and exposed front driveshafts don’t offer.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Wrangler has a standard 650-amp battery (700 optional). The CR-V’s 410-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Jeep vehicles are more reliable than Honda With 29 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Jeep higher than Honda.

The Wrangler’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 80 more horsepower (270 vs. 190) and 116 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 179) than the CR-V’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Wrangler’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 95 more horsepower (285 vs. 190) and 81 lbs.-ft. more torque (260 vs. 179) than the CR-V’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Wrangler 4Xe’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 185 more horsepower (375 vs. 190) and 291 lbs.-ft. more torque (470 vs. 179) than the CR-V’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Wrangler Rubicon 392’s optional 6.4 V8 produces 280 more horsepower (470 vs. 190) and 291 lbs.-ft. more torque (470 vs. 179) than the CR-V’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

The Wrangler’s 3.0 turbo V6 diesel produces 70 more horsepower (260 vs. 190) and 263 lbs.-ft. more torque (442 vs. 179) than the CR-V’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Jeep Wrangler turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the Honda CR-V (automatics tested):

On the EPA test cycle the Wrangler 4-door running on electricity gets better mileage than the CR-V:

The Wrangler 4Xe can travel with zero emissions for 22 miles. The CR-V can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Wrangler Rubicon 392’s fuel efficiency. The CR-V doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the Wrangler 2.0 Turbo/3.6 eTorque/4Xe’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The CR-V doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Wrangler 4Xe/2-door’s standard fuel tank has 3.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the CR-V (17.5 vs. 14 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Wrangler 4-door’s standard fuel tank has 7.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the CR-V (21.5 vs. 14 gallons).

The Wrangler Rubicon 392’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The CR-V doesn’t offer launch control.

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

The Wrangler Rubicon 4xe/Rubicon 392’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the CR-V are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the Wrangler has larger standard tires than the CR-V (245/75R17 vs. 235/65R17). The Wrangler’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the CR-V (315/70R17 vs. 235/65R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Wrangler Sahara 4Xe has standard 20-inch wheels. The CR-V’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

The Wrangler has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The CR-V doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Wrangler has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the CR-V; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

The Wrangler has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The CR-V’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Wrangler Rubicon has an active front sway bar, which helps keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnects at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The CR-V doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The Wrangler has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The CR-V doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Wrangler 4-door 4x4’s wheelbase is 13.7 inches longer than on the CR-V AWD (118.4 inches vs. 104.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Wrangler is 1.8 inches wider in the front and 1.1 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the CR-V.

The Wrangler’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50.7% to 49.3%) than the CR-V’s (57.6% to 42.4%). This gives the Wrangler more stable handling and braking.

The Wrangler Rubicon 4Xe executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the CR-V Touring (27.8 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28.3 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Wrangler 2-door’s turning circle is 2.9 feet tighter than the CR-V’s (34.5 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Wrangler Sport 2-door has a 1.5 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the CR-V (9.7 vs. 8.2 inches), allowing the Wrangler to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the Wrangler Sport 4-door is quieter than the CR-V Touring (73 vs. 78 dB).

The Wrangler’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the left swing out door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The CR-V’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

The Wrangler’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the CR-V’s (2000 vs. 1500 pounds).

The Wrangler can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Wrangler can be unhitched and driven around locally. The CR-V can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Wrangler uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The CR-V doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

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

The Wrangler’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The CR-V does not have an oil pressure gauge.

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

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

The Wrangler’s speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The CR-V LX’s standard fixed intermittent wipers only have one fixed delay setting, so the driver will have to manually switch them between slow and intermittent.

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

The Wrangler (except Sport) offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The CR-V doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Jeep Wrangler JL comes in four door and soft top bodystyles; the Honda CR-V isn’t available as a soft top.

Insurance will cost less for the Wrangler owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Wrangler with a number “3” insurance rate while the CR-V is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

The Wrangler will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Wrangler will retain 70.15% to 81.11% of its original price after five years, while the CR-V only retains 54.43% to 56.41%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Wrangler is less expensive to operate than the CR-V because it costs $100 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Wrangler than the CR-V, including $22 less for a muffler, $390 less for a starter, $57 less for fuel injection, $96 less for front struts and $512 less for a power steering pump.

Motor Trend selected the Wrangler as their 2019 Sport Utility of the Year. The CR-V was Sport Utility of the Year in 2018.