The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime Dominates the Honda CR-V Hybrid
The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime and the 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid both rank as great SUV options to buy. But which one is better? One list ranks the Toyota RAV4 Prime slightly ahead of the Honda CR-V Hybrid, so let’s see why.
The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime vs. the 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid
According to U.S. News, the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime is a better SUV for families than the 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid. The RAV4 Prime came in fourth place on their list, and the CR-V Hybrid landed in last place.
For the record, the 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid came in first place, and the 2021 Ford Explorer Hybrid came in last place. But those are midsize options with three rows and can unfair to options with only two rows as they fill family needs differently.
You can get started in the RAV4 Prime for about $38,100 and the Honda CR-V as an MSRP of about $25,350. In my humble option, the RAV4 Prime should be a lot better to justify spending about $12,750 to pick it over the CR-V Hybrid. But you may qualify for a $7,500 tax credit with it. Also, these prices are before the destination fees, and dealership markups have been added.
Why is the Toyota RAV4 Prime ranked ahead?
U.S. News mentioned that there is nothing not to like about the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime aside from the slightly outdated graphics. They also noted that the 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid has a laggy infotainment system and seems unintuitive.
The RAV4 Prime has an electric range of 42 miles on a single charge, giving it the best range in the plug-in hybrid market. It also is expected to get an EPA estimated 94 MPGe. It should have a 600-mile range between fill-ups. With the CR-V Hybrid, you get about 38 MPGe. But Edmunds fails to get past 32 mpg during testing.
The RAV4 Prime has a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine that’s paired with electric motors to pump out 302 hp and 179 lb-ft of torque. This little SUV can tow up to 4,500 pounds, which is impressive.
With the CR-V Hybrid, you get a 2.0-liter inline-four engine that’s paired with an electric motor to pump out 212 hp and 232 lb-ft of torque. The CR-V can tow about 1,500 lb, so go with a beefier option for your trailer.
Both of these SUVs come with standard all-wheel drive. Edmunds shared that they both have an incredibly smooth ride geared toward comfort instead of sportiness. But the Honda CR-V has a little more road and wind noise in the cabin, and the Prime has squishier brakes.
Honda CR-V Hybrid and RAV4 Prime features
The 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid has a little more cargo space and passenger room in the backseat. It has 33.2 cubic feet of space behind the rear seat and up to 68.7 cubic feet total. The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime has 33.4 cubic feet of rear space behind the rear seats and up to 63.2 cubic feet total.
Both SUVs have great interiors, but the RAV4 Prime has synthetic leather seats that may offer more comfort. The Prime has an infotainment system that’s easier and much less distracting to use.
