My wife has the 2020 CRV Hybrid which has the same engine as the new style 2023 CRV Hybrid and I have 2021 Rav 4 hybrid which I feel the engine is way more refined in the Rav 4 hybrid . I get 38+ mpg on rav4, the crv I’m lucky to get 35 mpg …I think it would be a mistake to trade for a crv . But it’s your choice!

 

I'm interested in why you miss the CRV and why you like it better.

 

I appreciate the many stories and perspectives that are being shared.

I'm 60 years old and a life long Honda guy -- from my first mini-bike, a Honda QA-50 and the 7 or so motorcycles that have followed over the years, to my various Honda automobiles, including a '87 Civic, a '98 Accord, '07 Accord, and '13 Accord. So I really like Honda. I have never owned a CRV, but have test ridden a few. The present Accord has funky exterior styling so is off my list.

More specifically, here's what I like about the CRV:

• Overall smoothness and refinement
• Comfort of driver seat
• Ease of getting in the vehicle (the door opens wide and driver seat automatically slides back on higher trim level to make it even easier)
• Use of tech in the center stack and the dash
• The way it handles
• Its a Honda

I like my Prime a great deal. (especially the 40-50 miles of EV range and accompanying smoothness, and the 360 camera.) But here is what I do not like about it:

• First and foremost, the driver seat is still not comfortable for me (18 months of ownership and 16,000 miles)
• I need to duck like getting into a submarine to get in the car
• Once the EV miles are done and you are in HV mode, the engine is more coarse and loud.
• The shiny black exterior trim on both bumpers and on the sides look superb when clean, but show dirt quickly.
• There's a rattle in the back when going over bumps that I have been unable to locate and remedy.

For me, it would be no contest comparing the RAV4 hybrid to CRV hybrid, the RAV4 feels more loud and coarse, less refined. The RAV4 Prime makes it harder to choose.

 

I picked up my Rav4 hybrid 3 weeks ago but was EXTREMELY close to buying a CR-V hybrid instead. I like the look of both vehicles. The Rav4 won because I wanted a blue vehicle this time and there are so few good light and medium blues left. I'm not sure why auto makers keep dropping them. The Honda blue is WAY too dark. They have a fantastic blue on their agressive, off road trimmed Passport but I didn't want that model. The second reason I chose the Rav4 is because I'm not a big fan of tiny engines with turbos to make up for the tiny engine. The third reason the Rav4 edged out the CR-V was the lack of a spare tire in the Honda. Another bonus for the Rav4 is it gets better fuel economy. As for plusses for the CR-V, it would have been about $4000 cheaper in my case. The base trim on the CR-V hybrid comes with a few options I had to go up a full trim level on the Toyota to get. Also the Honda dealer I was going to use was going to take $1500 off the MSRP and had no silly add ons. It also has more cargo space. So I paid $4000 more for a spare tire (and a place to keep it), 5 more miles per gallon and the color I wanted but I'm glad I did.

EDIT: As I backed out of this thread to see what else was new, I noticed the OP was deciding between a PRIME and the CR-V. Ugh, sorry but I think some of my comments might still apply. I wanted a Prime too but there's no way I would pay over MSRP and even at MSRP they're still too expensive for my tastes so if my only choice was a Rav4 Prime or the CR-V I'm sure in that case I would have gone with the CR-V because of the wait list and price premium for the Prime.

 

I still appreciate your comments. And agree the Canyon River Blue is way too dark on the Honda!

 

IMO the features that differentiate the Rav4 Prime from regular hybrids and also from other PHEVs are its ability to drive 42 miles (varies on driving conditions) 100% on battery and its 302hp and acceleration when in Auto or Hybrid modes.

The ability to drive 40 miles in EV mode can be HUGE if you can charge at home and your daily driving is less than that, or, if you drive more, if you can charge throughout the day, like at work. It can mean almost never having to deal with going to a gas station. That's a benefit I was willing to pay a premium for, as was the power/acceleration. I used to have to stop for gas every 4 days with a regular ICE. With a hybrid it would have been every 6 to 7 days. With the Prime I'm finding that I can usually go 2 months or more without seeing a gas station. And even then, I've never had the tank drop below 1/2 and that was after about 2 months. So if I wanted to I could probably go 3 or 4 months.

If those things hadn't been important to me I would have bought one of several other choices available. The Honda CRV hybrid would have been on my short list. However, I was in a situation in which I didn't really need a new car. I just liked what the Rav4 Prime had to offer and it was the right moment financially. If I hadn't bought the R4P I'd still be driving my Forester.

 

 

Something I liked about my Rav4 Prime that no one else here mentioned specifically: the 170 hp MG2 and 50 hp MGR motor, and the 2.5 liter ICE engine, give the vehicle more than enough power and torque to climb long, steep (6%) freeway grades without any feeling of stress or strain. On a recent road trip I made through the Mojave desert in my 2023 R4P SE, I encountered some sections of I-15 between Las Vegas and Barstow, with grades of 4% to 6% that were 15 miles of continuous climbing, in 95°F temperature. The engine coolant temp in this vehicle, normally 199°F, never rose above 203°F, and the RPM never exceeded 3100 even on the steepest sections (this drive was done at 55 mph). My 2019 Prius Prime always felt like it struggled to climb steep freeway grades, with the ICE running 4,000~4,200 RPM, and little extra power available to pass trucks or slow moving RV's. The Rav4 Prime's powertrain feels like there's a 4 liter V-6 under the hood, not a 2.5 liter Atkinson 4-banger. Amazing technology in the Rav4 Prime, and it is so relaxing to drive. If I was comparing Honda CRV to Rav4, the lack of a spare tire in the Honda would definitely be a turn-off for me. But I also have to fault Toyota for putting a compact donut spare in the Rav4 Prime. This is a 4,300 pound vehicle, and I don't think that the donut spare is appropriate for a vehicle that weighs that much. If they were going to supply a spare tire at all, it should have been a full-size one.

 

Compare the CRV hybrid to the Rav4 Hybrid and do it in the hybrid forum! Comparing a different brand non plug-in hybrid to a Toyota Plug In hybrid is nonsensical to start with.

 

This forum is intended for the respectful and free flow of ideas. Clearly I and a number of others have found this thread helpful. If you have not, there are plenty of others to enjoy.

 

We could talk about literacy issue then.

 

When I got Rav4 Prime this year I was looking to replace a 16 year old Subaru outback that we will probably get rid of in year or two. We have 10 year old Honda Accord Hybrid which I love. Really well designed system, engine optimized for highway milage. I average 45-50mpg for most of my driving around 40 if going 75, vs. the 40-60 mph roads most of my commute is in. I have always loved turning radius of Subaru which was bad on Accord. I think the 2023 CRV was even worse than Accord. Rav4 prime while not as good as old Outback it still very nice. I didn't dis-like the look of CRV, but really it was the bad milage that killed it for me. If there as an AWD Accord maybe I would have considered that. I did consider AWD Prius. One odd thing on CRV is what clearly look like fog lights, bu isn't a fog light at any trim level. Use when I get SE Prime it looks like that at well, but at least there is some form of light that goes there if I wanted to go to higher trim. I've notcie in particular on print adds, they always have the metal edge of the fake fog light very bright. It would be easy to think from the add there was a fog light there.

If I didn't get the Rav4 Prime, I almost would have wanted the Corolla Cross Hybrid instead of Rav4 Hybrid. Yes, i know not off road capable and an inch or so less clearance ,and less cargo space. But it is less expensive, has next generation hybrid system, has better milage, and has safety sense 3.0 vs. 2.5.

 

Test drove the CRV hybrid, sport and touring, over a dozen times. Read about all owner's issues and experiences on crvownersclub. It would be an easy choice. It is NO competitor for the Prime.

Test drove the RAV4hybrid, probably a dozen times, and Venza a couple times. Venza is pretty rare to find around here but didn't have enough space for our purposes.

Drove the Prime. Was disgusted by the dealer markup. The Rav4Prime is in its own class and purpose, and was sold pretty rapidly too. It would've been our 1st choice since it'll do 12k-15k of special/severe service city only commuting every year(on electric only). Other than weekend getaways, I'd say the Prime would need only a few fill-ups for each major trip, without the charge location planning of a bland Tesla3/Y, that we didn't care for(3 is pretty boringly bland common around here), along with Kia's EV which we could care less for as we'll never bother with Hyundai/Kia again(non stop issues with multiple over the years).

It was a coin toss among the CRV and RAV4 hybrids. Of the 2 dozen CRV hybrids available within 150 miles, most did NOT have blind spot. And, those that did, had too many options, or dealer add-ons, that we just didn't want, and always in the wrong colors.

The Rav4 hybrid XLE(without premium) was our best choice and now in the driveway. CRV hybrid a close 2nd. Since another new vehicle will join the driveway in about 9 months, the CRVhybrid and Venza are still heavy competitors, along with the Prime and Lexus. Don't need the plug in range but it would be nice. Can't deal with EV only so no TeslaKia. So, will stick with the 40mpg hybrid wagons.

They all have their purposes. Its for YOU TO TEST DRIVE and decide for yourself. I've never asked anyone to pick any product for me that I was buying, as no one knows what I need or want in a vehicle.

 

Lets say XLE Hybrid vs. Prime SE. Even with a great deal the delta is still going to be around 6k. It comes down to if you want the extra performance and a 40 mile EV experience for that 6k. I have both and still don't know for sure which I like better but they're both winners.

When Toyota implements the batteries that can get 5-600 miles of range with short charging time for a Prime price, I'll switch. However, most RAV's I see around here are hybrids and my guess is those folks are very satisfied so they're in no hurry to make a switch. For me it comes down to filling up once a month with a Prime (with a lot of plugging in) or 2-3 times per month with an XLE hybrid. I've had 3 CRV's in the past and Honda has certainly figured out the interior/switch gear game but Toyota has the drivetrain and implementation of features figured out. When the next RAV gets an up to date interior with a slightly better greenhouse I think it puts the CRV into a distant second. Most importantly, I think Toyota can go the distance. Hondas have been getting worse and worse which was a significant reason why I switched over to Toyota. Honda hasn't had a winning drivetrain since the 2.4 naturally aspirated with the 5 speed. The CVT was junk (mine failed at 62k) and drove like crap. Accord V6 was great but Ridgeline and Passport had daily annoyances and some build quality issues you wouldn't expect from a Honda. Toyota gives you something that works as advertised and hopefully will go for the long run. I've purchased 4 RAVs since 21 and not one problem or recall so far. I do have lots of papers with warranty extensions but that's a good thing. What I'm thinking these days is should I try a Lexus and is it that much better than a Toyota. My sister has last year's V6 Lexus hybrid and it's nice but not 60k nice.

After owning numerous Honda for the past 20 years and my first Toyotas in 21, I can say Toyota is quick to react to problems while with Honda it can take many years. Size matters.

 

Test drove the CRV hybrid, sport and touring, over a dozen times. Read about all owner's issues and experiences on crvownersclub. It would be an easy choice. It is NO competitor for the Prime. Test drove the RAV4hybrid, probably a dozen times, and Venza a couple times. Venza is pretty rare to find around here but didn't have enough space for our purposes. Drove the Prime. Was disgusted by the dealer markup. The Rav4Prime is in its own class and purpose, and was sold pretty rapidly too. It would've been our 1st choice since it'll do 12k-15k of special/severe service city only commuting every year(on electric only). Other than weekend getaways, I'd say the Prime would need only a few fill-ups for each major trip, without the charge location planning of a bland Tesla3/Y, that we didn't care for(3 is pretty boringly bland common around here), along with Kia's EV which we could care less for as we'll never bother with Hyundai/Kia again(non stop issues with multiple over the years). It was a coin toss among the CRV and RAV4 hybrids. Of the 2 dozen CRV hybrids available within 150 miles, most did NOT have blind spot. And, those that did, had too many options, or dealer add-ons, that we just didn't want, and always in the wrong colors. The Rav4 hybrid XLE(without premium) was our best choice and now in the driveway. CRV hybrid a close 2nd. Since another new vehicle will join the driveway in about 9 months, the CRVhybrid and Venza are still heavy competitors, along with the Prime and Lexus. Don't need the plug in range but it would be nice. Can't deal with EV only so no TeslaKia. So, will stick with the 40mpg hybrid wagons. They all have their purposes. Its for YOU TO TEST DRIVE and decide for yourself. I've never asked anyone to pick any product for me that I was buying, as no one knows what I need or want in a vehicle.

We have a R4P (2021). Flawless. Almost all electric (we have 240v/solar). AND, we have a Tesla M3 L/R (2023). I don’t consider it boring at all. It’s blazingly fast, good looking (red), and reliable. Common? Yes. There’s a reason for that.

 

I have a use case that may not apply to everyone, but just got the RAV4 Prime because it beat everything I looked at hands down. I live in the mountains with steep climbs and snow/rain a good part of the year. Most of the driving I do is within a 40 mile range. The battery-only range and the ICE+battery power of the engine+motor combination exceeded everything else at any price point.