If you’re looking to purchase a 2020 compact crossover, you’ll find plenty. The market is flooded with these small SUVs. But two stand out for their popularity. The 2020 Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V are well-made, enjoyable to drive, fuel-efficient, and similar in price. That’s why you’ll probably need to get creative when determining which compact crossover is right for you.

One way you might decide is by looking at which vehicle sold better last year. Sales numbers show which brand and model drivers prefer. 

The 2020 Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V’s similarities

The 2020 Toyota RAV4’s biggest competition is the 2020 Honda CR-V. The vehicles are remarkably similar. The RAV4’s starting price is about $1,000 more. It averages 19 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway. The CR-V’s fuel consumption is 20 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway. Both have power steering and continuously variable transmissions. Many driver assistance features are the same in both vehicles too. You can also fit five passengers in both vehicles. The CR-V offers a little more legroom, but the RAV4 provides more shoulder room. 

According to AutoTrader, the key differences between the two are that the CR-V has a high-definition stereo, wireless charging, mirror memory, and a luggage rack, which the RAV4 lacks.

Everyone who compares the two small SUVs often struggles to decide which is the better choice. An Edmunds write-up says the 2021 models are so similar that its reviewers had to look at the little things to determine which was better.

“The RAV4 is hugely popular, and it boasts great fuel economy and rugged looks,” Edmunds says. “Toyota finally added Android Auto integration to the RAV4’s toolbox for 2020 as well. But we find the CR-V to be a better overall vehicle, especially because of its more powerful engine and more comfortable front seats.”

The sales figures don’t lie

Despite the similarities between the two vehicles, the 2020 Toyota RAV4 sold significantly better than the 2020 CR-V, Good Car Bad Car reports. Last year, Toyota sold 430,387 RAV4 units, while Honda sold 323,502 CR-V units, Good Car Bad Car shows. 

According to Car and Driver, the total number of Toyota RAV4s that consumers purchased throughout the year decreased by 2 percent, while Honda CR-V sales dropped 13 percent.

Which one should you buy?

If you’re like most drivers, your two main concerns when purchasing a vehicle are reliability and price. Because the CR-V and RAV4 have similar MSRPs, take a look at their overall reliability ratings.

In Consumer Reports‘ compact SUV rankings, the consumer site recommended the 2020 CR-V over the RAV4. It gave the 2020 Honda CR-V a score of five out of five in reliability. And the SUV earned a four out of five in owner satisfaction.

The 2020 RAV4 scored a mediocre three out of five in reliability. It also garnered a four out of five in owner satisfaction.

So, expert reviews favor the 2020 Honda CR-V. But according to last year’s sales numbers, more consumers chose the Toyota RAV4. Which will be your pick?