2023 Honda CR-V vs. 2023 Toyota RAV4

SUVs continue to be one of the most well-liked vehicles because of their roomy interiors and wealth of technology features. The battle between the 2023 Honda CR-V and the 2023 Toyota RAV4 is a heated rivalry between two excellent compact SUVs. Let’s compare the 2023 CR-V and RAV4 to find an overall winner and determine the better vehicle to buy or lease.

Exterior and Dimensions

The Honda CR-V is available in four trims: EX, Sport Hybrid, EX-L, and Sport Touring Hybrid, while the RAV4 is available in three trims: Hybrid Woodland Edition, TRD Off-Road, and Hybrid XSE. Both offer several excellent exterior features.

Standard features on the CR-V include LED headlights with auto-on/off, LED taillights, active grille shutters, a hood damper, a body-colored fin-type roof-mounted antenna, and body-colored door handles. You’ll also get a roofline spoiler with integrated brake light and a one-touch power moonroof with a tilt feature, a dual chrome exhaust finish, and gloss black roof rails as standard on the Sport Hybrid and Sport Touring Hybrid trims. The wheel size starts at 18 inches.

The RAV4 offers standard exterior features such as LED daytime running lights, active grille shutters, aerodynamic underbody panels with vortex generators, front and rear wheel spats, an integrated rear spoiler, color-keyed outside door handles with front-door touch-sensor lock/unlock, LED taillights, a color-keyed roof-mounted shark-fin antenna, and 17-inch wheels.

The CR-V offers a wider stance and longer wheelbase of 106.3 inches with a total length of 184.8 inches, giving it more stability on the road. The Honda is 73.5 inches wide, and its height is 66.2 for two-wheel drive and 66.5 inches for all-wheel drive. The RAV4 offers a 105.9-inch wheelbase. Its length and width are 181.5 and 73.4 inches, and its overall height is between 67 and 68.6 inches, depending on the trim. While the RAV4 is slightly taller, both vehicles offer good ground clearance: 7.8-8.2 inches on the CR-V and 8 inches on all RAV4 trims.

Interior

The new Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 have luxurious, well-crafted seats and premium materials throughout. Both vehicles come with leather or cloth upholstery, and heated front seats are available to warm you up on chilly mornings. Single-zone climate control comes standard on the RAV4. In contrast, dual-zone automatic climate control comes standard on the CR-V, letting your front and rear passengers choose their perfect temperatures.

You can stay connected wherever you go, thanks to infotainment systems and optional technology. Both models have wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, enabling you to seamlessly connect your compatible smartphones and SiriusXM satellite radio to discover new music. A wireless phone charger is a regular feature on the top two CR-V trims, but the RAV4 only offers one as part of an add-on package.

While both vehicles have appealing touch screens and infotainment systems, the Honda SUV is better if you prefer advanced audio systems. For instance, its Bose Premium audio system powers 12 speakers, including a subwoofer.

Regarding interior dimensions, the CR-V has 40.1 and 39.2 inches of front and rear headroom, as well as 41.3 and 41.0 inches of legroom, respectively. The cargo area provides 39.3 cubic feet and up to 76.5 cubic feet when the other seats are folded flat. The RAV4 offers 41.0/37.8 inches of front/rear legroom and 37.7 inches of headroom or 39.5 inches with the sunroof. It also has 37.6 cubic feet of cargo volume. Summing up the measurements above, the CR-V is roomier than the RAV4, making it more likely to fit all your family or friends in total comfort.

Engine and Powertrain

While the 2023 Honda CR-V has an updated exterior, it also gets a tweaked transmission. It still uses the same exciting but efficient engine from the previous years in this generation: a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 190 horsepower and 179 lb-ft of torque. If you opt for a hybrid version instead, this engine is paired with dual electric motors, raising the horsepower to 204. Peak torque arrives earlier, requiring a lower RPM, and the engine and continuously variable transmission (CVT) gearbox seem more refined. This means it will accelerate more quickly than the previous generation.

The 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine of the Toyota RAV4 is coupled to a CVT transmission, producing 184 lb-ft of torque and 203 horsepower. Front-wheel drive comes standard, and some trims offer special all-wheel-drive configurations.

Fuel Efficiency

For the two-wheel-drive EX and EX-L trims, the 2023 Honda CR-V achieves 28 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway, leading to 30 mpg combined. The all-wheel-drive EX and EX-L trims have a 27 city/32 highway mpg rating, adding up to 29 mpg combined. The two-wheel drive Sport trim has a mileage rating of 28 city/34 highway mpg and 30 combined mpg, and the all-wheel drive Sport and Sport Touring trims achieve 40 city/34 highway mpg and 37 combined mpg. Hybrid versions can achieve an impressive mpg equivalent of 43 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway.

The RAV4’s naturally aspirated engine can achieve various fuel economy ratings, such as 38/35 city/highway mpg equivalent for the Hybrid Woodland edition, 25/32 city/highway mpg for the TRD Off-Road, and up to 27/35 city/highway mpg for starting models. Overall, most comparable trims of the CR-V are more efficient than the RAV4.

Safety Features

Honda and Toyota have solid reputations for producing sturdy, dependable vehicles, and safety equipment is no exception. The Advanced Compatibility Engineering platform underpins the 2023 Honda CR-V. In contrast, the Toyota New Global Architecture underpins the 2023 Toyota RAV4. Both vehicles have a unibody chassis, which offers unmatched strength and improved driving dynamics.

Both SUVs have rear cross-traffic warning, front and rear park assist, collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, steering assist, and a rearview camera as standard. However, the CR-V has better optional features, such as access to a 120-degree field-of-view radar cruise control, an ultra-wide rearview camera, a driver attention monitor, and a pedestrian detection system.

Which is more reliable: 2023 Honda CR-V or 2023 Toyota RAV4?

Although the RAV4 did update its infotainment system for the 2023 year, our comparison of the 2023 Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 reveals that the Honda offers a roomier interior and better overall value. The CR-turbo V’s engine and CVT, which produce a lively and enjoyable driving experience, also set it apart. Check out the deals on available models in our new Honda inventory, or contact us for more direct assistance.