2018 Toyota RAV4 vs Honda CR-V
2018 Toyota RAV4 vs Honda CR-V
At first blush, the Honda CR-V seems to be the superior vehicle: the base model has a lower price point, the CR-V gets better gas mileage. And most critics agree it has a nicer interior. The deck is stacked, right? Not quite. But before you rush out to get a CR-V, you might want to reconsider. The Toyota RAV4 has more advantages than you think.
Infotainment System
The RAV4 boasts Toyota’s intuitive Entune infotainment system. Toyota has designed the system wisely, giving you a choice of voice command, physical knobs, or touchscreen to access the features you need. These redundant systems work together to get your eyes back where they should be in no time.
The Honda CR-V has plenty of tech options, but they are routed through an infuriating touchscreen system. Honda finally sprang for a rotary volume knob but everything else is controlled via touchscreen. Patience, young grasshopper. You’re going to need it. The HondaLink system is one of the slowest on the market. With the lack of physical controls, it’s your only option. That splits your attention, taking your eyes off the road.
Safety and Security
In terms of crash test safety ratings, the RAV4 and CR-V are tied. Both received top marks from government tests and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. But in onboard safety features, the RAV4 takes the cake.
Every single model from base LE to top-of-the-line Platinum has the Toyota Safety Sense P package standard. This package gives you both forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking. On the other hand, Honda doesn’t offer similar features on anything lower than the EX trim.
Pricing and Trims
Speaking of trims, it’s no secret that the RAV4 and CR-V are pretty evenly matched price-wise. The RAV4 starts at $24,510 while the CR-V base model costs $24,150. But after that something interesting happens.
The Toyota RAV4 offers six trim levels compared to the Honda CR-V’s four. This means that many features and options on the CR-V are locked away until you jump an entire trim level. On top of that, Honda remains rigid with its pricing structure. There are no à la carte options on the CR-V. You’re left with the impossible decision of holding out and forgoing a wanted feature or two or spending more money and moving up to a costlier trim to get the what you really want. Toyota doesn’t do that with the RAV4, simply because it offers you more versions that bridge the gap between what you need and what you actually want.
0 comment(s) so far on 2018 Toyota RAV4 vs Honda CR-V