2026 Toyota RAV4 Vs. 2026 Honda CR-V: 5 Major Differences originally appeared on Autoblog.
The compact crossover war is about to heat up
The immensely popular compact crossover segment has seen a lot of action in recent months. Toyota unveiled the all-new RAV4 and Mazda finally showed us the all-new CX-5. We’ve already compared these two, but the RAV4’s biggest competitor on the sales charts doesn’t come from Mazda—it comes from Honda with the CR-V. Ahead of the RAV4’s arrival, let’s take a look at the most significant differences between it and the CR-V.
Related: 2026 Toyota RAV4 Vs. 2026 Mazda CX-5: 5 Major Differences
1. Honda Plays It Safe, Toyota Looks Sharper
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The CR-V has never been an excitingly styled crossover, not that it needs to be. Many buyers appreciate neat, inoffensive styling, and the latest CR-V looks good without being polarizing in any way. Models like the Sport Hybrid and TrailSport Hybrid do appeal more with their larger wheels and sportier details, though.
Toyota has taken a bolder approach with the RAV4. Its wraparound headlights and tall hood look aggressive, while options like a black roof and more visual distinction between the trims work well. The GR Sport, for instance, gets a functional Matrix grille and front/rear wing-type spoilers.
At 184.8 inches in length, the CR-V is longer than the RAV4 (up to 181.8 inches), although the top RAV4 trims are marginally wider and most are taller than the Honda.
Both these SUVs look good, but we’d give the edge to the newer RAV4.
2. RAV4 Goes Hybrid-Only, Honda Still Offers Gas-Only Power
Perhaps the biggest difference between the two is that the CR-V still comes with a non-hybrid powertrain as standard. It’s a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 190 horsepower and 179 lb-ft of torque, and it directs power to the front or all four wheels. Above this is a CR-V Hybrid with 204 hp combined and an EPA rating of up to 40 mpg combined.
The RAV4 range now starts with a conventional hybrid using a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. It produces 226 hp with FWD or 236 hp with AWD, so it’s comfortably more powerful than the base CR-V. The big news is the upgraded plug-in hybrid RAV4, which also uses a 2.5-liter four-pot but now makes 320 hp.
Not only is the RAV4 PHEV quicker than any CR-V, but it can be driven for up to 50 miles on electric power alone.
In terms of performance, it looks like an easy win for the 2026 RAV4.
3. Only The CR-V Has A Plug-In Hydrogen Model
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The CR-V does have one trick up its sleeve and it comes in the form of the e:FCEV derivative, or what Honda calls America’s first plug-in hydrogen fuel cell EV. This CR-V is equipped with an electric motor producing 174 hp and 229 lb-ft of torque. It has a much smaller battery than a normal EV at 17.1 kWh, but that’s because there are two hydrogen tanks, giving this CR-V a range of up to 270 miles. It also takes very little time to refill the hydrogen tanks, a distinct advantage over a normal EV.
Unfortunately, the CR-V e:FCEV is only sold in California, and while it’s a great showcase for hydrogen powertrains, it’s not available widely enough to give the CR-V range a significant advantage over the RAV4, which has no equivalent powertrain.
4. The RAV4 Can Tow More
If you need to do any serious towing, you’ll need a pickup truck or a bigger SUV. However, there’s a clear leader here in terms of towing.
The CR-V can tow up to 1,000 lbs in hybrid guise or 1,500 lbs for the non-hybrid model. For all RAV4 FWD variants and the LE AWD, the towing capacity is 1,750 lbs. On several AWD models, that rises significantly to 3,500 lbs.
Items like pop-up campers, single-horse trailers, and larger U-Haul trailers will all benefit from the superior towing capacity of the Toyota.
5. Bigger Displays In RAV4
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Few things demonstrate the gap in age between two similar vehicles as well as the infotainment interfaces. While the Honda is still competitive in this regard, the new RAV4 has already moved the game along.
In the CR-V, all models get a nine-inch touchscreen. A seven-inch TFT meter display is equipped to lower trims, while pricier ones have a 10.2-inch fully digital instrument cluster. In the new RAV4, a 10.5-inch touchscreen and 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster are standard, and you can upgrade to a larger 12.9-inch touchscreen, too.
Related: 2026 Toyota RAV4 Vs. 2026 Kia Sportage: Plug-In Hybrid Comparison
Both have wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but the base sound system in the Toyota has six speakers, as opposed to the Honda’s four. A nine-speaker JBL sound system is available for the RAV4, while the top CR-V trim has a 12-speaker sound system.
The 2026 RAV4 has Toyota’s latest Arene software, which includes a more responsive voice assistant. Honda, meanwhile, offers Google built-in, but only for the top CR-V trim.
Once we’ve driven the RAV4, we can make a final call on whether its fresh infotainment system is actually easier to use than the Honda’s.
Final Thoughts
Toyota/HondaWhile we expect the CR-V to remain popular when the RAV4 arrives later this year, the Toyota appears to have a clear edge in the powertrain department. Whether you’re after efficient electric-only driving, maximum performance, or decent towing, the RAV4 leads in all areas.
Toyota has also given the RAV4 an attractive design update, inside and out, and it includes a rugged Woodland trim to match the CR-V TrailSport. Not reflected in this on-paper comparison are the CR-V’s excellent road manners and spacious cabin, but we can only cast judgment on how they match up once the RAV4 arrives.
Pricing will also play a crucial role, but we don’t know how much the 2026 RAV4 will cost yet, and the Honda starts at $30,920.
The Honda CR-V will undoubtedly have its hands full when the new RAV4 arrives.
2026 Toyota RAV4 Vs. 2026 Honda CR-V: 5 Major Differences first appeared on Autoblog on Jul 27, 2025
This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Jul 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
