For most buyers, the 2026 Hyundai Tucson is the smarter buy. Match it with the 2027 Honda CR-V on price and it gives you more features in all four of our rounds: more safety tech, a bigger screen, more towing and a much longer warranty. The CR-V uses less gas, so in three of our four matchups it costs less to buy and fuel over five years. Choose the CR-V for its smoother ride, better-built cabin and resale value.
Key takeaways
- The Hyundai Tucson gives more features at the same price in all four of our rounds, with value scores of 100 against 44 to 85 for the CR-V.
- The Honda CR-V costs less over five years in three of four rounds because it gets better mpg, 40 against 38 in the entry hybrids.
- The Tucson has the better warranty (5 yr / 60,000 mi, 10 yr / 100,000 mi powertrain) and tows up to 2,750 lb against 1,500.
- The 2026 Tucson earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick+, while the 2027 CR-V earned no award.
- An all-new 2027 Tucson is coming, so expect discounts on the 2026.
Side by side
| 2027 Honda CR-V | 2026 Hyundai Tucson | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP | $31,520 (LX) | $29,700 (SE) |
| Destination | $1,550 | About $1,600 |
| Gas engine | 190 hp | 187 hp |
| Hybrid power | 204 hp | 231 hp |
| EPA combined mpg, gas | 30 | 28 |
| EPA combined mpg, entry hybrid | 40 | 38 |
| Length | 184.8 in | 182.7 in |
| Cargo behind the back seat | 39.3 cu ft gas, 36.3 hybrid | 38.7 cu ft gas and hybrid |
| Towing | 1,500 lb gas, 1,000 lb hybrid | 2,750 lb gas, 2,000 lb hybrid |
| Touchscreen | 9 in | 12.3 in |
| IIHS | No award | 2026 Top Safety Pick+ |
| Warranty | 3 yr / 36,000 mi | 5 yr / 60,000 mi |
Prices are MSRP checked in October 2026, without destination, taxes or dealer fees. The Hyundai freight figure comes from secondary sources. This article covers the 2027 CR-V and the 2026 Tucson, the two models in our video. On October 1, Hyundai revealed an all-new 2027 Tucson that is not priced yet, so dealers want the 2026s gone and you should expect discounts.
The basics
The Tucson starts about $1,820 lower, at $29,700 against $31,520. The gas engines are close, but the Tucson Hybrid is the stronger hybrid, with 231 hp against the CR-V Hybrid's 204. All-wheel drive, which sends power to all four wheels for better grip in rain and snow, is available on both, and costs $1,500 extra on the CR-V.
Gas or hybrid?
The EPA rates the gas CR-V at 30 mpg combined and the gas Tucson at 28; the entry-level hybrids get 40 in the CR-V and 38 in the Tucson. Getting into each brand's hybrid costs very different money. The Tucson Hybrid SE starts at $31,300, and the lowest-priced CR-V Hybrid, the Sport at $36,030, is about $4,700 more, for which Honda adds heated seats and a sunroof.
At Hyundai the hybrid costs about $1,600 more than the gas SE and comes out about $1,400 ahead over five years of price plus fuel. At Honda the Sport Hybrid costs about $2,480 more than the gas EX and saves only about $270. On the CR-V, buy the hybrid for the extra power and 40 mpg, not to save money.
Size, cargo and towing
The CR-V is about 2.1 inches longer, while width (about 73.5 inches) and ground clearance (about 8.2 to 8.3 inches with all-wheel drive) are almost identical. The CR-V looks clean and conservative and the Tucson has a sharper, more upright face, which is a matter of taste.
Cargo depends on what you buy. The gas CR-V has 39.3 cubic feet behind the back seat, a little more than the Tucson's 38.7. But the CR-V Hybrid drops to 36.3, while the Tucson Hybrid keeps its full 38.7. For towing, the Tucson is rated up to 2,750 pounds and the CR-V only 1,500, so if you have a small camper or a boat, that settles it.
Four price-matched rounds
We matched trims on price. Five-year cost is price, destination and five years of EPA fuel cost, with no resale, insurance or maintenance.
| Round | Matchup | MSRP | 5-year cost | Value score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tucson SEL vs CR-V LX (gas) | $31,050 vs $31,520 | $44,150 vs $43,820 | 100 vs 44 |
| 2 | Tucson SEL Premium vs CR-V EX (gas) | $34,050 vs $33,550 | $47,150 vs $45,850 | 100 vs 85 |
| 3 | Tucson Hybrid SEL Convenience vs CR-V Sport Hybrid | $35,250 vs $36,030 | $45,850 vs $45,580 | 100 vs 82 |
| 4 | Tucson Hybrid Limited vs CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid | $42,425 vs $42,950 | $53,025 vs $53,250 | 100 vs 81 |
Round 1: the Tucson wins clearly. The two are about $470 apart. The Tucson SEL has blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, heated front seats, a power driver's seat, dual-zone climate control, a hands-free power liftgate and a 12.3-inch screen; the CR-V LX has none of those. The CR-V does give you a wireless phone charger and 30 mpg against 28, which makes it about $330 lower over five years. Blind-spot warning and heated seats are things you use every day.
Round 2: the Tucson wins on features, the CR-V on cost. Now the Honda is about $500 lower in price, and about $1,300 lower over five years. The CR-V EX has blind-spot warning, heated seats, a power seat, dual-zone climate and a sunroof, and the Tucson SEL Premium has all of that plus the bigger screen, a fully digital gauge display and the hands-free liftgate. For the lowest running cost, take the EX; for more for the money, the SEL Premium.
Round 3: the Tucson wins. The Tucson is about $780 lower in price and comes with all-wheel drive as standard, while the CR-V at this price is front-wheel drive. The Honda gets 40 mpg to the Tucson's 36, so over five years the CR-V ends up about $270 lower. An all-wheel-drive CR-V Sport Hybrid is $37,530 and gets 37 mpg, about $2,280 more for a one-mpg edge. Both have heated seats, a power seat and blind-spot warning; the CR-V adds a sunroof, and the Tucson adds all-wheel drive, digital gauges, the big screen and the power liftgate.
Round 4: the Tucson wins, and it is not close. The two are about $525 apart and both have all-wheel drive. Both get leather, a heated steering wheel, Bose sound, parking sensors and memory seats. The Tucson adds cooled front seats, heated rear seats, a 360-degree camera, a head-up display and remote parking, while the CR-V adds Google built in. Over five years the Tucson even comes out about $225 lower.
Our value score gives points for each standard feature, three for things you use every day, two for often and one for nice to have, and divides by five-year price plus fuel. The best car in each round scores 100. It does not count ride, build quality or resale. Our method is on the How we research page.
Cabin and how they drive
Every Tucson has a 12.3-inch touchscreen and every CR-V a 9-inch one, which looks small next to rivals. Both have wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The CR-V wins back points on quality, with one of the best-built cabins in its class and real buttons and knobs that are easy to use while driving. Rear legroom is about the same, 41.0 inches in the CR-V and 41.3 in the Tucson.
On the road, reviewers agree the CR-V has one of the smoothest, most composed rides in the class, and the Tucson rides on the firmer side. The Tucson Hybrid's extra power makes it smooth and strong, while the CR-V Hybrid is smooth around town but can sound strained on a long uphill climb.
Safety and recalls
Both get five stars overall from NHTSA (the 2026 Tucson Hybrid, and the 2025 CR-V, the latest rated). But the IIHS gave the 2026 Tucson a Top Safety Pick+, its top award, and the 2027 CR-V no award, mainly because of a Poor result for the back-seat passenger in one front crash test. The CR-V hits back on headlights, rated Good on every trim, while on the Tucson only the top Limited gets Good headlights.
Counting every recall on the 2026 models, the Tucson has six and the CR-V two, both about the hybrid's tire repair kit. The 2027 CR-V has none so far. The most serious-sounding Tucson recall, a free engine replacement, covers only 29 vehicles in total. Every recall is fixed free at the dealer.
Warranty and resale
Warranty is a clear Tucson win. Hyundai covers the whole car for 5 years or 60,000 miles, the hybrid battery for 10 years or 100,000 miles, and the engine and transmission for 10 years or 100,000 miles (original owner only), with roadside help for five years and unlimited miles. Honda gives 3 years or 36,000 miles on the car and roadside help, 5 years or 60,000 on the engine, and 8 years or 100,000 on the hybrid battery. Honda does include its maintenance program for one year or 12,000 miles, and Hyundai's free maintenance ended with the 2025 models.
Resale is where the Honda pulls ahead, and our five-year number does not count it. Kelley Blue Book gave the CR-V its 2026 Best Resale Value Award for compact SUVs, and with an all-new Tucson on the way, the 2026 will likely lose value faster. If you trade in every three or four years, make the Hyundai dealer cover that with a real discount.
Which one is right for you?
- Most features for the money: Tucson.
- All-wheel-drive hybrid without paying extra: Tucson Hybrid SEL Convenience.
- Towing a small trailer: Tucson.
- Best gas mileage: CR-V Hybrid, 40 mpg with front-wheel drive (with all-wheel drive, the entry Tucson Hybrid gets 38 against the CR-V's 37).
- Smoothest ride and best-built cabin: CR-V.
- Selling in a few years: CR-V, for resale.
If it were our money, we would buy the Tucson Hybrid SEL Convenience: all-wheel drive, 36 mpg and heated seats for about $35,250, before any discount. If you would rather have the Honda, our pick is the CR-V Sport Hybrid. For other compact SUVs, see our Toyota RAV4 Hybrid vs Honda CR-V Hybrid comparison and our Hyundai Tucson vs Kia Sportage comparison.
Before you sign, get the out-the-door price in writing, push for a real discount on the 2026 Tucson (if it is small, it may be worth waiting to see what the new one costs), and ask the dealer to confirm any open recalls are fixed. Watch the full video above and see all our car comparisons.
Sources
All figures checked in October 2026.
- 2027 Honda CR-V prices and EPA ratings: Honda news release and Honda's trim comparison on automobiles.honda.com
- 2026 Hyundai Tucson prices and features: hyundaiusa.com Tucson specs and Tucson Hybrid specs
- EPA fuel economy: fueleconomy.gov CR-V record and other fueleconomy.gov records for the 2027 CR-V and 2026 Tucson
- Crash tests and recalls: NHTSA 2025 CR-V, NHTSA 2025 Tucson · IIHS 2027 Honda CR-V · IIHS 2026 Hyundai Tucson
- Warranty: Hyundai assurance pages and Honda warranty pages
- Resale award: Kelley Blue Book 2026 Best Resale Value Awards; ride and cabin impressions: consensus from Car and Driver, Edmunds, Cars.com and Consumer Reports
Buy the 2026 Hyundai Tucson, best as the Hybrid SEL Convenience at $35,250 with all-wheel drive, 36 mpg and heated seats, before any discount. Choose the 2027 Honda CR-V, best as the Sport Hybrid at 40 mpg, if you care more about its smooth ride, well-built cabin, fuel bill and resale than the longest feature list.
Common questions
Is the Honda CR-V or Hyundai Tucson the better buy?
For most buyers, the Tucson. Matched on price, it gives more features in all four of our rounds, a bigger screen, more towing and a longer warranty. The CR-V costs less over five years in three rounds thanks to better mpg.
Which gets better gas mileage, the CR-V or the Tucson?
The CR-V. The EPA rates the gas CR-V at 30 mpg combined against 28 for the Tucson, and the entry hybrids at 40 against 38. With all-wheel drive, the entry Tucson Hybrid gets 38 and the CR-V Sport Hybrid 37.
Which is safer, the CR-V or the Tucson?
Both get five stars overall from NHTSA, but the IIHS gave the 2026 Tucson a Top Safety Pick+ and the 2027 CR-V no award, mainly for a Poor back-seat result in one front crash test. The CR-V has Good headlights on every trim.
Which has the better warranty?
The Hyundai Tucson: 5 years or 60,000 miles on the whole car and 10 years or 100,000 miles on the powertrain for the original owner. Honda gives 3 years or 36,000 miles and 5 years or 60,000 on the engine.
Should I wait for the 2027 Hyundai Tucson?
Hyundai revealed an all-new 2027 Tucson on October 1 but has not priced it. Dealers want the 2026 gone, so push for a real discount, and if it is small, it may be worth waiting.