2023 Honda CR-V vs. Toyota RAV4

The compact SUV market is hot with no signs of slowing down. Two of the top choices in the market are the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4. For the 2023 model year, Honda completely redesigned the CR-V. It now boasts a new, more exciting exterior look, more space in the cabin for its passengers, and more standard features and equipment.

It’s expected that Toyota will make some minor style updates but no major changes to the RAV4 for 2023. Our team at Performance Honda in Fairfield, OH has produced this guide to help you compare the 2023 Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4. With these details, you can see why the Honda CR-V is the top choice for most drivers.

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Power and Performance

The base powertrain for the CR-V is a 1.5L turbo four-cylinder gas engine. It puts out 190 horsepower and delivers 179 lb-ft of torque. The Sport and Sport Touring trims now come standard with a hybrid powertrain that consists of a 2.0L four-cylinder gas engine and two electric motors. These combine to generate 204 horsepower and put out 247 lb-ft of torque. All models except the Sport Touring come standard with front-wheel drive and offer all-wheel drive as an option. The Sport Touring comes standard with all-wheel drive.

The Toyota RAV4 comes standard with a four-cylinder gas engine offering 203 horsepower. It works with an eight-speed automatic transmission, and most trims come standard with front-wheel drive and offer the all-wheel-drive system as an option. Whether you choose the Adventure trim or the TRD Off-Road, both come standard with all-wheel drive. Toyota offers a hybrid version of the RAV4 as a separate model. It has a 2.5L four-cylinder gas engine, one electric motor for the front wheels, and another for the rear wheels. Together, these churn out 219 horsepower, which is slightly less than the CR-V’s hybrid powertrain.

Passenger and Cargo Space

The CR-V has a slight edge when it comes to interior space. Both these compact SUVs have room for up to five passengers, but the CR-V’s rear legroom is larger. It also has more cargo space when the back seats are down. With the rear seats up in the CR-V, you’ll have 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 76.5 cubic feet with the back seats folded down.

The RAV4 has 37.6 cubic feet of storage space behind the rear seats, but folding the seats down reveals just 69.8 cubic feet of storage space.

CR-V and RAV4 Safety Features

Both the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4 come standard with impressive safety suites, providing each with a long list of active safety technology and driver safety aids. Each comes equipped with a forward collision warning system, automatic braking, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. A bind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert has been introduced as standard for the 2023 CR-V, which also now comes standard with a lane-centering assist feature that works at speeds up to 45 mph. Another new feature is a speed-limit sign recognition system.

The CR-V comes with a drowsy-driver monitor to help ensure you stay alert when driving and a rear seat reminder to make sure you don’t leave anything behind in the rear seat. Also new for 2023, the CR-V has a slight edge with additional safety features such as a 120-degree FOV radar cruise control system, an extra wide rearview mirror, and pedestrian detection. Every 2023 CR-V comes with a hill descent control system and a driving mode specifically designed to handle snow. These systems are only available with specific RAV4 trims.

The Toyota RAV4 offers a blind-spot monitoring system and rear cross-traffic alert as an option or standard in the higher trims. An automatic parking assist system is also available as an option, along with a surround-view parking camera system.

Infotainment and In-Car Technology

For 2023, the CR-V’s base trim comes with a 7-inch touch screen, and if you opt for the higher trims, you’ll get a 9-inch touch screen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are compatible with the latest infotainment system, which is an improved version of the previous generation. A wireless charging pad comes in the EX-L and the Touring trims, and the Sport Touring has a 12-speaker Bose stereo system. The 2023 CR-V comes standard with two USB ports, and you can get more USB charging ports for the second row in the higher trims, along with a wireless charger.

For 2023, the RAV4 received a few updates. The base model now has an 8-inch touch screen, with a 10.5-inch touch screen in the higher trims. It also offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and Bluetooth connectivity. You can upgrade from the standard stereo system to an 11-speaker Bose stereo system in the RAV4. Both the CR-V and the RAV4 have a 7-inch gauge cluster display, which sits in front of the driver, providing important information about the vehicle.

Cabin Features

The CR-V’s spacious cabin has high-quality materials and a new honeycomb mesh dashboard design that conceals the air conditioning vents to give it a sporty look. Power-adjustable front seats with a heated and ventilation function are available, and eight-way adjustable rear seats are in the works, but they already come with eight recline levels.

Additional comfort features in the CR-V include updated front seats that improve posture to keep the driver more comfortable and reduce fatigue on long drives. The steering wheel is now angled more like a sedan’s to make the driving position more comfortable.

The 2023 RAV4 will have the same interior as the previous model. It takes a step up from the base to get the power-adjustable driver’s seat and another bump to the XLE Premium for simulated leather upholstery.

The 2023 Honda CR-V has some significant improvements that make this already popular SUV even better. Compared with the 2023 Toyota RAV4, it still comes out on top with its extra cabin space, added safety technology, and upscale cabin. Give us a call at (513) 829-7300 or stop by Performance Honda in Fairfield, OH to find out more about the 2023 CR-V and take one out for a test drive.