Compare 2019 Toyota RAV4 vs. CR-V

The 2019 model year brings an all-new Toyota RAV4 which features new styling and engine upgrades, including the thermal efficiency of a new dynamic force dual injection engine. In this head-to-head comparison, we will compare the all-new RAV4 with the 2019 Honda CR-V to determine which vehicle comes out ahead in terms of safety, reliability, and performance. For 2019, the Honda CR-V continues in its fifth generation which began in 2016.

Every 2019 Toyota RAV4 is built with “Quality, Dependability and Reliability” in mind. Toyota RAV4 owners can drive with peace of mind knowing that their vehicle is backed by this statement. To that end, it is important to note that Toyota has won the Kelley Blue Book® Best Resale Value Brand for three years in a row: 2017, 2018, and 2019⁴¹⁵⁷.

Explorers who want an SUV that satisfies their craving for adventure will be happy to know that RAV4 comes geared up for off-road fun⁵⁶. The 2019 RAV4 Adventure comes with 19-in. alloy wheels, standard all-wheel drive, and Entune™ 3.0 Audio Plus⁴⁴.

Let’s see how the 2019 Toyota RAV4 and the 2019 Honda CR-V match up when compared head-to-head in safety features, reliability, and performance.

Every 2019 RAV4 comes with Toyota Safety Sense® 2.0 (TSS-P)²⁴. This package includes four advanced active safety features that can help with safe driving while on the road. Meanwhile, Honda offers their similar features as Honda Sensing®, available on every CR-V except the 2019 CR-V LX trim. The four comparable features are:

Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (LDA w/SA)²⁰ is designed to alert the driver, under certain conditions, if the vehicle begins to leave its lane. Steering Assist (SA) may make corrective steering inputs. This feature is similar to Honda Sensing®‘s Lane Departure Warning (LDW).

Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection (PCS w/PD)²³²² is designed to help mitigate potential collisions using radar and an in-vehicle camera to help detect a preceding vehicle and, under certain daytime conditions, a pedestrian in front of you. If the system determines that the possibility of a frontal collision with a vehicle or a pedestrian is likely, an audio and visual alert is given and, provided the driver applies the brakes, the system may provide additional braking force using Brake Assist (BA)²⁸. If the driver does not apply the brakes in this situation, the system may automatically apply the brakes, reducing speed to help mitigate the impact or avoid the collision altogether. These features are similar to Honda Sensing®‘s Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™).

Automatic High Beams (AHB)¹⁸ rely on an in-vehicle camera to help detect headlights of oncoming vehicles and taillights of preceding vehicles and automatically toggles between high or low beams to provide the appropriate amount of light. Honda includes Auto High-Beam Headlights on all except the 2019 CR-V LX grades.

Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC)³⁹ is designed to help detect a preceding vehicle and to automatically adjust speed to help maintain a preset distance behind a vehicle ahead. Once the slower vehicle is no longer in your lane, the system will resume your preset speed. This is similar to Honda Sensing®‘s Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow.

While every 2019 RAV4 comes standard with Toyota Safety Sense® 2.0 (TSS-P)²⁴, the Honda Sensing® safety suite is not standard on the 2019 CR-V LX trim. The Honda Sensing® package for 2019 CR-Vs does include one feature that Toyota Safety Sense® 2.0 (TSS-P)²⁴ does not include. This feature is the Road Departure Mitigation System (RDM).

However, Toyota Safety Sense® 2.0 (TSS 2.0)²⁴ comes with two features that are non-existent with Honda Sensing®. Those two features are:

Road Sign Assist (RSA)⁵⁹ uses a forward-facing intelligent camera to detect speed limit signs, stop signs, do not enter signs and yield signs and then displays them on the Multi-Information Display to alert the driver.

Lane Tracing Assist (LTA)⁶⁰ uses lines on the road and preceding vehicles to determine where the lane is and keep the vehicle centered. This feature requires Full-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC)³⁹ to be enabled and lane markers to be visible.

In terms of reliability, the 2019 Toyota RAV4 takes the cake in this head-to-head comparison. Unsurprisingly, Toyota won the Kelley Blue Book® award for Best Resale Value Brand for the last three years in a row: 2017, 2018, and 2019⁴¹⁵⁷.

The popularity of the RAV4 speaks volumes to its reliability as well: in 2018, the RAV4 was the best-selling SUV in America, according to Kelley Blue Book®⁴¹. Considering that even more notable improvements have been made for the 2019 model year, including aggressive styling and engine upgrades, the RAV4 brings uncompromised reliability and dependability to the table.

Plus, all leases and purchases of new Toyota vehicles receive free 24-hour Roadside Assistance for two years/unlimited miles plus no-cost scheduled maintenance for 2 years or 25,000-miles, whichever comes first¹¹.

To compare, the 2019 CR-V does not come with complimentary scheduled maintenance, but it does come with a roadside assistance plan that is good for 3 years/36,000-miles.

Drivers looking for a fun and functional SUV will be impressed with the performance capabilities of both of the vehicles in this head-to-head comparison. When considering the powerful options of the RAV4, it is clear that the 2019 RAV4 is a true performer.

Only RAV4 offers a hybrid model which has fuel economy that is incomparable in this head-to-head; there is currently no 2019 hybrid CR-V model available in North America.

For drivers who want power, RAV4 packs a 203HP 4-cylinder engine under its hood. Whereas CR-V LX’s horsepower comes in at a considerably lower 184HP with a 4-cylinder engine. Additionally, RAV4 offers higher torque at 184 vs. CR-V LX’s 180 torque. Plus, even with its higher power, RAV4 FWD is rated at an EPA-estimated 35 MPG on the highway⁴⁸. RAV4 LE AWD is rated at an EPA-estimated 34 MPG on the highway⁴⁸, and 2019 RAV4 Hybrid is rated at an EPA-estimated 38 MPG highway⁴⁸. Every trim of RAV4 has better fuel economy than the CR-V LX FWD which comes in at an EPA-estimated 32 MPG on the highway⁴⁸.

RAV4’s Adventure trim offers this comparison’s best towing capability at 3,500 lbs⁶¹. The CR-V LX 2WD is capable of towing only 1,500lbs. RAV4 Adventure also offers larger standard wheel size and excellent off-road capability for drivers who like to explore where the pavement ends⁵⁶.

With its advantages in safety, reliability and performance, it’s no wonder why RAV4 is the best-selling SUV in America and was Toyota’s best-selling vehicle in 2018. Plus, with Toyota having won the 2017, 2018, and 2019 Kelley Blue Book® Best Resale Value Brand awards⁴¹⁵⁷, drivers can have confidence in the dependability of the RAV4.

For 2019, Toyota Safety Sense® 2.0 (TSS-P)²⁴ comes with three new features that are non-existent with CR-V’s Honda Sensing®. These features include Road Edge Detection with Sway Warning, Road Sign Assist⁵⁹, and Lane Tracing Assist⁶⁰ to help with extra safety on the road. Plus, Honda Sensing® is not available as an option on the 2019 CR-V LX trim. For its advanced safety features that come standard on every trim, the RAV4 stays ahead of the safety game.

Plus, all leases and purchases of new Toyota vehicles receive free 24-hour Roadside Assistance for two years/unlimited miles plus no-cost scheduled maintenance for 2 years or 25,000-miles¹¹. The 2019 CR-V does not come with a complimentary factory-scheduled maintenance plan, but it does come with a roadside assistance plan that is good for 3 years/36,000-miles.

Couple the reliability of ToyotaCare with RAV4’s greater horsepower, torque, and fuel economy⁴⁸, and it’s easy to see why RAV4 is our pick over the 2019 CR-V. In addition, don’t forget that RAV4 comes in a Hybrid model option for even greater fuel economy⁴⁸ both on and off the road⁵⁶.

In this head-to-head comparison, our winner is clear: the 2019 RAV4.