If you’re reading this, play some type of music in your head to congratulate the Honda HR-V. The 2021 Honda HR-V just dethroned the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek by officially selling more units in 2021. But does the HR-V deserve to be champion? 

The 2021 Honda HR-V outsells the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek 

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek was the best small SUV for months, but the 2021 Honda HR-V just flew past it. But this might not be because people like the HR-V more. The Crosstrek had the most sales for months until July. 

Subaru is facing an inventory issue. It actually has the lowest inventory of new models out of any car brand. As of July 1, Subaru had an eight-day supply of vehicles, and it’s only continuing to dwindle. 

Subaru manded to deliver about 13,402 new Crosstrek units in July. The Honda HR-V moved 13,832 new models in July. The HR-V didn’t pass the Crosstrek by much, but it’s still the first small SUV to surpass the Crosstrek in sales. 

For most of the year, the Crosstrek has been the leader in compact SUV sales. But now, for 2021, the HR-V has sold 82,273 models, and the Crosstreck has only sold 77,616 models. But more inventory could have made a difference. 

The HR-V vs. the Crosstrek 

You can get started in a 2021 Honda HR-V for about $21,220. The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek is slightly more expensive and starts at around $22,245. These prices are the MSRPs and don’t include the dealership markups or destination fees. 

The HR-V comes with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with 141 hp and 127 lb-ft of torque. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 10.4 seconds. This is one of the slowest times in the segment. 

With the Crosstrek, you get a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 152 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque, which isn’t much faster. But you can upgrade to the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine for 182 hp and 176 lb-ft of torque. The base engine takes about 10.4 seconds to reach 60 mph, but the more powerful engine can reach 60 mph in about 8.4 seconds. 

You can equip the HV-R with all-wheel drive, but AWD is standard with the Crosstrek. That’s a difficult perk to beat. The Crosstrek has a smoother ride and quieter interior, but the HR-V has less body roll and more comfortable seats. 

Does the Crosstrek or HR-V have better tech?

The 2021 Honda HR-V features a 7.0-inch infotainment touchscreen on all trim levels but the base trim. The base trim gets a radio with a color screen. With the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek, you get a 6.5-inch infotainment screen that can be upgraded to a larger 8.0-inch unit. 

Both of these tiny SUVs come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. But the Crosstrek also offers SiriusXM satellite radio and built-in navigation. The system in the Crosstrek could be easier to use. 

The Crosstrek and HR-V both scored well in safety rating tests, but the Crosstrek is earned the Top Safety Pick+ title. You have to pay extra for safety features like automated emergency braking and lane-keeping assist with both models. 

If the Crosstrek had more inventory, then we think it might be ahead of the HR-V still. The base model of the Crosstrek seems to come with a little more than the HR-V. But going up in trim levels with the Crosstrek gets expensive pretty quickly.