For most buyers, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is the better pick. It starts about $4,100 lower, has more standard equipment at the same price, uses less fuel, carries a spare tire, tows far more and won all four of our value rounds. The Honda CR-V Hybrid is the better choice if you carry adults or tall teens in the back: it has about three more inches of rear legroom, and the current CR-V Hybrid has five NHTSA stars. This guide covers the 2026 RAV4 Hybrid and the 2027 CR-V Hybrid, the models in our video.
Key takeaways
- The RAV4 Hybrid starts about $4,100 lower and wins all four of our price-matched value rounds.
- The RAV4 gets 43 mpg combined with front-wheel drive against 40 for the CR-V Hybrid, up to about $1,000 less fuel over five years.
- The CR-V Hybrid has 41 inches of rear legroom against 37.8 and a five-star NHTSA rating (as a 2025 model).
- The RAV4 tows 3,500 lb with all-wheel drive against 1,000 lb, and has a spare tire; the CR-V Hybrid has only a repair kit.
- At the IIHS, the CR-V scored Poor in the updated frontal test and the RAV4 scored Acceptable.
Side by side
| 2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid | 2027 Honda CR-V Hybrid | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP | $31,900 (LE) | $36,030 (Sport Hybrid) |
| Destination | $1,595 | $1,550 |
| Power | 226 hp (FWD), 236 hp (AWD) | 204 hp |
| EPA combined mpg | 43 FWD, up to 42 AWD | 40 FWD, 37 AWD |
| Fuel cost a year (EPA) | $1,500 FWD, $1,550 AWD | $1,600 FWD, $1,750 AWD |
| Rear legroom | 37.8 in | 41.0 in |
| Cargo behind rear seat | 37.8 cu ft | 36.3 cu ft |
| Max towing | 3,500 lb (AWD, SE and up) | 1,000 lb |
| Touchscreen | 10.5 or 12.9 in | 9 in |
| Spare tire | temporary spare, every trim | tire repair kit, no spare |
Prices are MSRP checked in October 2026, without destination, taxes or dealer fees. The RAV4 is now sold only as a hybrid or plug-in hybrid. All-wheel drive adds about $1,400 on the lower RAV4 trims and $1,500 on the CR-V Hybrid.
Prices and trims
The RAV4 starts at $31,900, about $4,100 below the CR-V Hybrid. The Woodland, XSE and Limited come with all-wheel drive, and so do the CR-V TrailSport and Sport Touring.
| Round | Toyota RAV4 Hybrid | Honda CR-V Hybrid |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Entry (FWD) | XLE Premium $36,100 | Sport Hybrid $36,030 |
| 2. Off-road | Woodland $39,900 | TrailSport Hybrid $39,200 |
| 3. Upper (AWD) | XSE $41,300 | Sport-L Hybrid AWD $40,625 |
| 4. Top | Limited $43,300 | Sport Touring Hybrid $42,950 |
The RAV4 LE, SE and XLE Premium are $31,900, $34,700 and $36,100 with front-wheel drive. The CR-V Hybrid Sport is $36,030 with front-wheel drive and $37,530 with all-wheel drive. Both cars pair a gas engine with electric motors and have no traditional gearbox.
Gas mileage and fuel cost
The EPA rates the front-wheel-drive RAV4 at 43 mpg combined and the CR-V Hybrid at 40. With all-wheel drive it is up to 42 for the RAV4 and 37 for the CR-V. In fuel money that is about $100 a year with front-wheel drive and about $200 a year on the all-wheel-drive top trims, in the RAV4's favor, or up to about $1,000 over five years. On a long commute the RAV4's lead keeps adding up; around town the gap is small.
Back seat, cargo and screens
The CR-V is almost four inches longer (184.8 inches against 181), and Honda puts that length into the back seat: 41 inches of rear legroom against 37.8. That is about three inches more knee room, which you will notice with teens or a rear-facing car seat behind a tall driver.
Cargo is close. Most RAV4s hold 37.8 cubic feet behind the rear seat and most CR-V Hybrids 36.3. The RAV4 has the bigger screens, a 10.5-inch or 12.9-inch touchscreen against 9 inches in every CR-V Hybrid, and a 12.3-inch digital gauge display on every trim. Ground clearance is close too: 8.1 inches on most RAV4s and 8.2 on an all-wheel-drive CR-V.
Towing and spare tire
An all-wheel-drive RAV4 from the SE up tows 3,500 lb, and the CR-V Hybrid is rated at 1,000 lb. The CR-V Hybrid has no spare tire at all, only a tire repair kit, while every RAV4 carries a temporary spare.
Safety and recalls
Both have automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and blind-spot warning on every trim. NHTSA has not crash-tested the new RAV4 yet. The CR-V Hybrid, rated as a 2025 model, got five stars overall.
At the IIHS, neither has an award. The 2026 RAV4 scored Good in most tests and Acceptable in the updated frontal test, which also checks the rear passenger. The CR-V scored Poor in that same test. Both have Good headlights on every trim.
Recalls so far: one for the 2026 RAV4 Hybrid, a corrected load label, and two for the 2026 CR-V Hybrid, both for its tire repair kit. The 2027 CR-V has none so far. All are fixed free at the dealer. On safety it is a split: the CR-V has the government rating today, and the RAV4 did better at the IIHS.
Warranty and resale
Both have 3 years or 36,000 miles of basic coverage and 5 years or 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Toyota covers the hybrid battery for 10 years or 150,000 miles. Honda covers it for 8 years or 100,000 miles, with longer coverage in California.
In Kelley Blue Book's 2026 Best Resale Value Awards, Toyota won best brand and the CR-V won the compact-SUV category, so both should hold their value well.
Four price-matched rounds
We matched each RAV4 with the CR-V closest in price and scored the standard features you will use, weighted by how often you will use them, against five years of price, destination and EPA fuel cost. The better value in each round scores 100. Our method is on the How we research page.
| Round | Matchup | 5-year cost | Value score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Entry | RAV4 XLE Premium vs CR-V Sport Hybrid | $45,195 vs $45,580 | 100 vs 73 |
| 2. Off-road | RAV4 Woodland vs CR-V TrailSport | $49,995 vs $50,000 | 100 vs 76 |
| 3. Upper | RAV4 XSE vs CR-V Sport-L Hybrid AWD | $50,645 vs $50,925 | 100 vs 78 |
| 4. Top | RAV4 Limited vs CR-V Sport Touring | $52,645 vs $53,250 | 100 vs 77 |
In round one the two are only $70 apart. Both have heated front seats, a power driver's seat, blind-spot warning and a wireless charger, and the CR-V adds a power moonroof. The RAV4 XLE Premium answers with a power liftgate, parking sensors that brake for you, synthetic leather, a bigger screen and a spare tire, and it costs about $400 less over five years.
In round two the Woodland adds a 360-degree camera, parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers, a tow hitch and a household-style outlet in the cargo area, and it tows 3,500 lb against 1,000. The EPA rates it at 38 mpg and the TrailSport at 35, so over five years the two are just $5 apart. Round three: both have a power liftgate, a moonroof and power passenger seat; the Sport-L has leather, while the XSE adds cooled front seats, a 360-degree camera, a hands-free liftgate and a 12.9-inch screen. In round four the Sport Touring brings Bose sound, Google built-in and a hands-free liftgate, while the Limited adds a panoramic roof, cooled front and heated rear seats, a 360-degree camera, a digital rearview mirror and self-parking, and it still costs about $600 less over five years.
Our score does not count rear legroom or crash ratings, which is where the CR-V does better.
Which one is right for you?
- Most features for your money: RAV4 XLE Premium.
- Adults or tall teens in the back: CR-V Hybrid.
- Lots of miles: RAV4, in any trim.
- Towing a small camper: all-wheel-drive RAV4, SE and up.
- A five-star government crash rating today: CR-V Hybrid.
- Lowest price for a hybrid: RAV4 LE.
Before you sign, ask for the out-the-door price in writing and check it for add-ons you did not ask for. If you find a leftover 2026 CR-V Hybrid, ask the dealer to confirm both tire repair kit recalls are done. Price the RAV4 XLE Premium with and without all-wheel drive: on a snowy commute it is worth it, while in a sunny city you might keep the $1,400. For another RAV4 matchup, see our Toyota Camry Hybrid vs Toyota RAV4 Hybrid comparison. Watch the full video above and see all our car comparisons.
Sources
All figures checked in October 2026.
- 2026 Toyota RAV4 prices, specs and features: toyota.com RAV4
- 2027 Honda CR-V Hybrid pricing and EPA ratings: Honda news release and Honda trim comparison
- EPA fuel economy and fuel cost: RAV4 FWD, RAV4 AWD LE and SE, RAV4 Woodland, CR-V Hybrid FWD, CR-V Hybrid AWD, CR-V TrailSport Hybrid (fueleconomy.gov)
- Crash tests, recalls and complaints: NHTSA · IIHS 2026 Toyota RAV4 · IIHS 2027 Honda CR-V
- Resale: Kelley Blue Book 2026 Best Resale Value Awards
Buy the 2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid XLE Premium. For $70 more in sticker price than the CR-V Sport Hybrid you get a power liftgate, parking sensors, a bigger screen, synthetic leather seats and a real spare tire, and over five years it costs about $400 less. If your back seat is full of adults or tall teens, get the 2027 Honda CR-V Sport Hybrid for its extra legroom and five-star NHTSA rating.
Common questions
Which is better, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid or the Honda CR-V Hybrid?
For most buyers, the RAV4 Hybrid. It has more standard equipment at the same price, uses less fuel, tows more and carries a spare tire. The CR-V Hybrid wins on rear legroom and has a five-star NHTSA rating.
Which gets better gas mileage, the RAV4 Hybrid or the CR-V Hybrid?
The RAV4 Hybrid. The EPA rates the front-wheel-drive RAV4 at 43 mpg combined against 40 for the CR-V Hybrid, and with all-wheel drive it is up to 42 against 37.
Does the Honda CR-V Hybrid have a spare tire?
No. Every CR-V Hybrid comes with a tire repair kit. Every Toyota RAV4 carries a temporary spare tire.
How much can the RAV4 Hybrid and CR-V Hybrid tow?
An all-wheel-drive RAV4 Hybrid from the SE up tows 3,500 lb. The CR-V Hybrid is rated for 1,000 lb.
Which has more back seat room, the RAV4 or the CR-V?
The CR-V Hybrid, with 41 inches of rear legroom against 37.8 inches in the RAV4, about three more inches.