Compare the2024 Honda CR-VVS 2024 Lexus NX

Both the CR-V and the NX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

Honda pays for scheduled maintenance on the CR-V for 1 year and 14,000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the NX (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’s warranty.

On the EPA test cycle the CR-V gets better mileage than the NX running its gasoline engine:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda CR-V uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended with the 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder engine for maximum performance). The NX 350 requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The CR-V 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 NX doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The CR-V stops much shorter than the NX:

The CR-V has a standard space-saver spare (not available on Hybrid) so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the NX; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

The CR-V EX-L AWD handles at .84 G’s, while the NX 450h AWD pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The CR-V EX-L AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the NX 450h AWD (27.4 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the CR-V’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the NX’s (37.3 feet vs. 38 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CR-V has a greater minimum ground clearance than the NX (8.2 vs. 7.7 inches), allowing the CR-V to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The front grille of the CR-V uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The NX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The CR-V uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The NX doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The CR-V has 1.7 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front legroom, 1.6 inches more front shoulder room, 4.9 inches more rear legroom, .1 inches more rear hip room and 1.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the NX.

The CR-V has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the NX with its rear seat up (39.3 vs. 22.7 cubic feet). The CR-V has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the NX with its rear seat folded (76.5 vs. 46.9 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the CR-V easier. The CR-V’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 28 inches, while the NX’s liftover is 30.8 inches.

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

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

The CR-V’s standard 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 NX’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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

Insurance will cost less for the CR-V owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the CR-V will cost $695 to $2245 less than the NX over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Honda CR-V will be $5730 to $15322 less than for the Lexus NX.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Honda CR-V and the Lexus NX, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The CR-V was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024 and 8 more times in the last 23 years. The NX has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

Motor Trend selected the CR-V as their 2018 Sport Utility of the Year. The NX has never been chosen.

The Honda CR-V outsold the Lexus NX by almost five to one during 2023.