Compare the2023 Subaru Crosstrek HybridVS 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid

The Crosstrek Hybrid 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 CR-V Hybrid doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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

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

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Crosstrek Hybrid’s standard 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 CR-V Hybrid doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

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

The Crosstrek Hybrid 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 CR-V Hybrid 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 Hybrid and the CR-V Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee 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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems and rearview cameras.

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, with its optional vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Crosstrek Hybrid its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 101 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The CR-V Hybrid has not been tested, yet.

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.

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

On the EPA test cycle the Crosstrek Hybrid running on electricity gets better mileage than the CR-V Hybrid:

The Crosstrek Hybrid can travel with zero emissions for 17 miles. The CR-V Hybrid can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

The Crosstrek Hybrid’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the CR-V Hybrid’s standard 60 series tires.

For better maneuverability, the Crosstrek Hybrid’s turning circle is 1.9 feet tighter than the CR-V Hybrid’s (35.4 feet vs. 37.3 feet).

The Crosstrek Hybrid is 8.3 inches shorter than the CR-V Hybrid, making the Crosstrek Hybrid easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Crosstrek Hybrid has 1.6 inches more front headroom, 1.8 inches more front legroom and 4.5 inches more rear hip room than the CR-V Hybrid.

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

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

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Crosstrek Hybrid’s exterior PIN entry system. The CR-V Hybrid doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

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

On extremely cold winter days, the Crosstrek Hybrid’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The CR-V Hybrid doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance.