Compare the2023 Toyota Rav4 PrimeVS 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid

The Rav4 Prime has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The CR-V Hybrid doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Rav4 Prime. But it costs extra on the CR-V Hybrid.

The Rav4 Prime XSE offers an optional Bird’s Eye View Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The CR-V Hybrid only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The Rav4 Prime has standard Safety Connect™, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to get turn-by-turn driving directions, 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 Rav4 Prime and the CR-V Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

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, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Rav4 Prime its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 126 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The CR-V Hybrid has not been fully tested, yet.

There are over 16 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Honda dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Rav4 Prime’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in initial quality. With 11 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Honda is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Honda vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota first in overall reliability. Honda is ranked fifth.

The Rav4 Prime’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 98 more horsepower (302 vs. 204) than the CR-V Hybrid’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota Rav4 Prime is faster than the Honda CR-V Hybrid:

On the EPA test cycle the Rav4 Prime running on electricity gets better mileage than the CR-V Hybrid:

On the EPA test cycle the Rav4 Prime running its gasoline engine gets better fuel mileage than the CR-V Hybrid AWD (40 city/36 hwy vs. 40 city/34 hwy).

The Rav4 Prime can travel with zero emissions for 42 miles. The CR-V Hybrid can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

For better stopping power the Rav4 Prime’s brake rotors are larger than those on the CR-V Hybrid:

The Rav4 Prime’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 Hybrid are solid, not vented.

The Rav4 Prime has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the CR-V Hybrid; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Rav4 Prime’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (56% to 44%) than the CR-V Hybrid’s (58.4% to 41.6%). This gives the Rav4 Prime more stable handling and braking.

The Rav4 Prime XSE handles at .83 G’s, while the CR-V Hybrid Sport Touring AWD pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Rav4 Prime XSE executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.3 seconds quicker than the CR-V Hybrid Sport Touring AWD (27 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 29.3 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Rav4 Prime SE’s turning circle is 1.2 feet tighter than the CR-V Hybrid’s (36.1 feet vs. 37.3 feet).

The Rav4 Prime is 3.9 inches shorter than the CR-V Hybrid, making the Rav4 Prime easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Rav4 Prime has 1.3 inches more rear headroom and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the CR-V Hybrid.

The Rav4 Prime’s cargo area is larger than the CR-V Hybrid’s in almost every dimension:

The Rav4 Prime’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the CR-V Hybrid’s (2500 vs. 1000 pounds).

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Rav4 Prime uses the Vehicle 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 Hybrid doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Rav4 Prime has a much higher standard payload capacity than the CR-V Hybrid (1295 vs. 850 lbs.).

The Rav4 Prime XSE offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The CR-V Hybrid doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The power windows standard on both the Rav4 Prime and the CR-V Hybrid have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Rav4 Prime 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.

The Rav4 Prime’s front and rear power windows all 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 CR-V Hybrid’s standard rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the Rav4 Prime 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. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the CR-V Hybrid can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Rav4 Prime XSE offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The CR-V Hybrid doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Both the Rav4 Prime and the CR-V Hybrid have standard heated front seats. The Rav4 Prime also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the CR-V Hybrid.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Rav4 Prime XSE keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The CR-V Hybrid doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Rav4 Prime XSE offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The CR-V Hybrid doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota Rav4 Prime, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Toyota Rav4 outsold the Honda CR-V by 68% during 2022.