2020 HONDA CR-V HYBRID - BETTER THAN RAV4?

EV Channels Review

The 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid is presented as a highly competitive offering, building upon the existing CR-V's strengths with significant improvements in fuel economy. The reviewer highlights its refined and quiet driving experience, particularly noting its superiority in noise reduction compared to the RAV4 Hybrid. Key advantages include standard mechanical AWD, a comfortable and spacious interior with excellent rear-seat legroom, and a well-packaged center console with versatile storage. The hybrid powertrain, while not focused on outright performance, delivers responsive acceleration thanks to its electric motor and offers impressive real-world fuel economy, often exceeding EPA estimates, especially in city driving. The reviewer praises the intuitive paddle shifters for adjusting regenerative braking, though notes they are less aggressive than in some other EVs. Downsides are minimal, with a slight criticism of hard plastic in the knee area and an infotainment system that, while functional with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, feels slightly dated compared to other Honda models. The CR-V Hybrid is positioned as a compelling value, costing only slightly more than its non-hybrid counterpart and undercutting a comparably equipped RAV4 Hybrid, while offering a more secure and planted feel in AWD situations.