The exterior color of a vehicle may not seem like an important aspect, but it very much is to many owners. A car is a significant investment for most of us, so you should like what you’re buying. Additionally, the vehicle color is also a factor in resale values.

So, with that in mind, if you’re shopping for a great SUV like the 2022 Toyota RAV4 or the 2022 Honda CR-V, which has more to offer in terms of color options?

The Toyota RAV4 beats the Honda CR-V in many ways

While the latest Honda CR-V offers slightly more interior space, that’s where its advantages over the RAV4 end. 

You can get a 2022 Honda CR-V as a gas-powered model or a hybrid. Its base engine is a 1.5-liter, four-cylinder engine with a power output of 190 horsepower and 179 lb-ft of torque. Meanwhile, the hybrid models have an overall power output of 212 horsepower. On gas mileage, it gets an overall 30 mpg with the gas engine and 38 mpg for the hybrid powertrain.

The 2022 Toyota RAV4 offers gas-powered, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid models. Its base engine is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 203 horsepower and 219 lb-ft of torque. The RAV4 Prime PHEV ups the ante with a total power output of 308 horsepower. As for fuel economy, the RAV4 gets an estimated overall 30 mpg for the gas-powered model and 40 mpg for the hybrid.

Both SUVs have good safety features, including Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth connectivity, and wireless device charging. However, the RAV4 has a bigger touch screen with a standard 7-inch and more speakers, compared to the standard 5-inch touchscreen of the CR-V ( with a 7-inch version available). Additionally, the RAV4 adds automatic high-beam headlights and a road sign recognition system.

The Toyota RAV4 also has more color options

Taking a look at the Honda CR-V colors for its 2022 model year, it offers eight exterior colors. You can get the exterior in Aegean Blue Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl, Lunar Silver Metallic, Modern Steel Metallic, Obsidian Blue Pearl, Platinum White Pearl, Radiant Red Metallic, and Sonic Gray Pearl.

There are 16 total exterior colors offered for the 2022 Toyota RAV4. It has nine single-tone paint color options, including Blizzard Pearl, Blueprint, Calvary Blue, Lunar Rock, Magnetic Gray Metallic, Midnight Black Metallic, Ruby Flare Pearl, Silver Sky Metallic, and White. Furthermore, it has seven additional two-tone paint color options, which add a roof with a different/contrasting color to the vehicle’s body.

The price and availability of the RAV4 and CR-V

Availability in the auto industry has been reduced due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that began in 2020. The labor and parts shortages that have happened since then, particularly the semiconductor chip shortages, have taken their toll on automakers across the board.

According to Automotive News, Toyota is just now running into a shortfall in production numbers because of current circumstances. Up until now, the company had stayed pretty strong. On the other hand, Honda has been dealing with shortages for a while now, and its new models can be hard to come by.

The two popular SUVs have comparable price ranges. The 2022 Honda CR-V runs from $25,750 to $36,750. The 2022 Toyota RAV4 runs from $27,740 to $39,800 for the RAV Prime. Yet, if you factor in a federal tax credit of as much as $7,500, that brings the price of Toyota’s PHEV down quite a bit.   

The 2022 Toyota RAV4 offers better value. It provides a better selection of exterior colors and superior gas mileage, performance, safety, and tech. Meanwhile, the Honda CR-V offers slightly more interior space than RAV4 but not nearly enough to make it a better choice in this matchup.