Compare the2026 Honda CR-VVS 2025 Lexus RX

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the CR-V deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The CR-V’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The RX’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Honda CR-V achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Lexus RX has not been tested.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the CR-V’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The RX doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the CR-V and the RX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all-wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Honda CR-V is safer than the Lexus RX:

	CR-V	RX
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	17.1%	29.8%
Neck Stress	181 lbs.	301 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	217/317 lbs.	353/469 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	357	472
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.6 inches
Neck Compression	37 lbs.	114 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	408/341 lbs.	454/389 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Honda CR-V is safer than the Lexus RX:

	CR-V	RX
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	613 lbs.	640 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	15 inches
HIC	302	317
Hip Force	753 lbs.	919 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

There are over 4 times as many Honda dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the CR-V’s warranty.

On the EPA test cycle the CR-V gets better mileage than the RX running its gasoline engine:

			MPG
CR-V
	FWD	2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	43 city/36 hwy
		1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	28 city/33 hwy
	AWD	2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	40 city/34 hwy
		TrailSport 2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	38 city/33 hwy
		1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	27 city/31 hwy
RX
	FWD	350 2.4 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/29 hwy
	AWD	350h 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	37 city/34 hwy
		450h+ 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	36 city/33 hwy
		500h 2.4 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	27 city/28 hwy
		350 2.4 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/28 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda CR-V uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended with the 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder engine for maximum performance). The RX 350 requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The CR-V has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The RX doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The CR-V stops much shorter than the RX:

	CR-V	RX
70 to 0 MPH	163 feet	195 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	118 feet	139 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	145 feet	149 feet	Consumer Reports

The CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid handles at .85 G’s, while the RX 500h F Sport Performance pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The CR-V EX-L AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the RX 350h (27.4 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28.6 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the CR-V has a greater minimum ground clearance than the RX 350 (8.2 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the CR-V to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Honda CR-V may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 700 to 900 pounds less than the Lexus RX.

The CR-V is 7.7 inches shorter than the RX, making the CR-V easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the CR-V uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The RX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The CR-V uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The RX doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The CR-V has .5 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front legroom and 3.6 inches more rear legroom than the RX.

The CR-V has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the RX with its rear seat up (39.3 vs. 29.6 cubic feet). The CR-V has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the RX with its rear seat folded (76.5 vs. 46.2 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the CR-V easier. The CR-V’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 28 inches, while the RX’s liftover is 31 inches.

The CR-V’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the RX’s (1000 vs. 0 pounds).

Consumer Reports rated the CR-V’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the RX’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Honda CR-V has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the RX.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Honda CR-V and the Lexus RX, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The CR-V was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “5Best Trucks/10Best” for 2025 and 5 more times in the last 24 years. The RX has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

The Honda CR-V outsold the Lexus RX by over three to one during 2024.