Compare the2024 Honda CR-VVS 2024 Lexus RX

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the CR-V 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’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.

Both the CR-V 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 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, 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 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’s warranty.

On the EPA test cycle the CR-V gets better mileage than the RX 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 RX 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 RX doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The CR-V stops much shorter than the RX:

The CR-V EX-L AWD handles at .84 G’s, while the RX 350 AWD pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The CR-V EX-L AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the RX 350h (27.4 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28.6 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

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

The Honda CR-V may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 700 to 850 pounds less than the Lexus RX.

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

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 RX 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 RX doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The CR-V has .5 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front legroom and 3.6 inches more rear legroom than the RX.

The CR-V 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 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).

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 RX’s liftover is 31 inches.

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

Consumer Reports rated the CR-V’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the RX’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 $1815 to $4545 less than the RX 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 $14902 to $24172 less than for the Lexus RX.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Honda CR-V and the Lexus RX, 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 RX 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 RX has never been chosen.

The Honda CR-V outsold the Lexus RX by over three to one during 2023.