Both the CR-V and the UX 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, 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.
Compare the2025 Honda CR-VVS 2024 Lexus UX
Safety
Warranty
Honda pays for scheduled maintenance on the CR-V for 1 year and 14,000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the UX (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.
Engine
The CR-V’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 9 more horsepower (190 vs. 181) than the UX’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The CR-V Hybrid’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 23 more horsepower (204 vs. 181) than the UX’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.
As tested in Motor Trend the CR-V Hybrid 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Lexus UX:
|
CR-V |
UX |
Zero to 60 MPH |
7.6 sec |
8.3 sec |
Quarter Mile |
16.2 sec |
16.3 sec |
Fuel Economy and Range
Both the CR-V and UX have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. The CR-V (except CR-V Hybrid) has a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.
The CR-V has 3.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the UX (14 vs. 10.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.
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 UX doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.
Brakes and Stopping
For better stopping power the CR-V’s brake rotors are larger than those on the UX:
|
CR-V |
UX |
Front Rotors |
12.3 inches |
12 inches |
Rear Rotors |
12.2 inches |
11.1 inches |
The CR-V stops much shorter than the UX:
|
CR-V |
UX |
|
60 to 0 MPH |
118 feet |
128 feet |
Motor Trend |
Tires and Wheels
For better traction, the CR-V has larger tires than the UX (235/60R18 vs. 225/50R18).
For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid has standard 19-inch wheels. The UX’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.
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 UX; 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.
Suspension and Handling
For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CR-V’s wheelbase is 2.4 inches longer than on the UX (106.3 inches vs. 103.9 inches).
For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the CR-V is 2.3 inches wider in the front and 3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the UX.
The CR-V EX-L AWD handles at .84 G’s, while the UX 250h F Sport Handling AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.
The CR-V EX-L AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the UX 250h F Sport Handling AWD (27.4 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .62 average G’s).
Chassis
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 UX 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 UX doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.
Passenger Space
The CR-V has 15.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the UX (106 vs. 90.4).
The CR-V has 2.8 inches more front headroom, 1.8 inches more front hip room, 2.9 inches more front shoulder room, 1.9 inches more rear headroom, 7.9 inches more rear legroom, .3 inches more rear hip room and 3 inches more rear shoulder room than the UX.
For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the CR-V’s rear seats recline. The UX’s rear seats don’t recline.
Cargo Capacity
The CR-V has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the UX (39.3 vs. 17.1 cubic feet).
Towing
The CR-V has a 1000 lbs. towing capacity. The UX has no towing capacity.
Servicing Ease
The CR-V uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The UX uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.
Ergonomics
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 UX’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.
Economic Advantages
Insurance will cost less for the CR-V owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the CR-V will cost $855 to $2240 less than the UX 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 $1806 to $5906 less than for the Lexus UX.
Recommendations
Consumer Reports® recommends both the Honda CR-V and the Lexus UX, based on reliability, safety and performance.
The CR-V was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “5Best Trucks/10Best” for 2024 and 4 more times in the last 23 years. The UX 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 UX has never been chosen.
The Honda CR-V outsold the Lexus UX by almost 31 to one during 2023.