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Sometimes the most popular SUVs don’t have it all. The Toyota RAV4 is the nation’s most popular SUV for tons of excellent reasons. However, one crucial rival offers more money for the price. 

The Toyota RAV4 offers less value than the Honda CR-V 

Sorry, Toyota fans. While the Toyota RAV4 has plenty to offer, the Honda CR-V goes above and beyond by offering more value. 

iSeeCars provided a list of the best compact SUVs for the money based on a recent study. Millions of cars were analyzed to determine how long each model could last. Then it calculated the annual cost for each vehicle during its lifespan. 

To determine the best cars for the money, the purchase price is compared against the lifespan. The lower the annual cost, the better the value. 

The Honda CR-V is the compact SUV with the most value. It has an annual lifespan cost of $2,147 with an average lifespan of 219.5k miles or 16.3 years. Plus, it has a starting MSRP of $30,100. 

The 2024 Honda CR-V off-roading
2024 Honda CR-V | Honda

You’ll find the RAV4 in third place, behind the Subaru Forester. The RAV4 has an annual lifespan cost of $2,627,82 and an average lifespan of 178.4 miles or 13.2 years. It has a starting MSRP of $28,475. 

So while the RAV4 isn’t far behind in annual costs and has a lower starting price, it isn’t as reliable as the CR-V. The CR-V could provide a few extra years of service, providing more value in the long term. 

The 2024 CR-V has a reliability rating of 80 out of 100, which is average. Scores between 70 and 80 are average while scores between 81 and 90 are above average. Anything between 90 and 100 is best. 

The RAV4 has a reliability rating of 76 out of 100, so it falls four points behind the CR-V. Plus, the CR-V has a higher driving experience score and a better resale value.

Maybe it’s time that you give the CR-V a chance to benefit from its reliability, value, and performance against the more popular Toyota RAV4.

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Staff Writer

Allison Barfield

Allison Barfield joined MotorBiscuit in 2020 and covers all things trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps. Having grown up on a farm in Rock Hill, South Carolina, she’s no stranger to the “Best in Class” truck and SUV debates; people in her hometown were always gathering to help work on vehicles together, and deliberation would naturally arise.

Allison graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Media Arts. She has helped bring awareness to issues Women In Trucking face and has promoted Truckers Against Trafficking, an anti-trafficking NGO.

A fan of creatively dark literature, Allison appreciates the works of Shirley Jackson and Emily Dickenson. She lives in a mountainous area of the country and enjoys off-roading and camping. Her dog, Bruce, often joins her in testing trucks and SUVs for our site.