Compare the2026 Honda CR-VVS 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Recommendations

Safety

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The Honda CR-V has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Corolla Cross Hybrid doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

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 Corolla Cross Hybrid’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 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid has not been tested.

Both the CR-V and the Corolla Cross Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver 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 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid:

	CR-V	Corolla Cross Hybrid
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	17.1%	33.6%
Neck Stress	181 lbs.	297 lbs.
Neck Compression	48 lbs.	61 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	217/317 lbs.	324/279 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Leg Forces (l/r)	408/341 lbs.	592/372 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 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid:

	CR-V	Corolla Cross Hybrid
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	72	92
Chest Movement	.8 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	115 lbs.	129 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	71	137
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	12 inches

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

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Honda CR-V is safer than the Corolla Cross Hybrid:

	CR-V	Corolla Cross Hybrid
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	138	282
Neck Compression	45 lbs.	67 lbs.
Shoulder Deflection	.91 in	1.22 in
Shoulder Force	201 lbs.	446 lbs.
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	759 lbs.	892 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda above average in initial quality. With 21 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is rated below average.

Engine

The CR-V’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 27 lbs.-ft. more torque (179 vs. 152) than the Corolla Cross Hybrid’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The CR-V Hybrid’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 8 more horsepower (204 vs. 196) and 95 lbs.-ft. more torque (247 vs. 152) than the Corolla Cross Hybrid’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the CR-V Hybrid 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid:

	CR-V	Corolla Cross Hybrid
Zero to 60 MPH	7.1 sec	7.3 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	3.8 sec	4.3 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	5.2 sec	5.7 sec

Fuel Economy and Range

Both the CR-V and Corolla Cross Hybrid have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. The CR-V (except CR-V Hybrid) has a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The CR-V has 3.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Corolla Cross Hybrid (14 vs. 10.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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 Corolla Cross Hybrid doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the CR-V’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Corolla Cross Hybrid:

	CR-V 1.5T	CR-V Hybrid	Corolla Cross Hybrid
Front Rotors	12.3 inches	12.6 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	12.2 inches	12.2 inches	11.1 inches

The CR-V stops much shorter than the Corolla Cross Hybrid:

	CR-V	Corolla Cross Hybrid
70 to 0 MPH	163 feet	182 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	118 feet	125 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the CR-V has larger tires than the Corolla Cross Hybrid (235/60R18 vs. 215/65R17). The CR-V’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Corolla Cross Hybrid (235/60R18 vs. 225/55R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid has standard 19-inch wheels. The Corolla Cross Hybrid’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

The CR-V 1.5T has a standard space-saver spare (not available on Hybrid) so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Corolla Cross Hybrid; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CR-V’s wheelbase is 2.4 inches longer than on the Corolla Cross Hybrid (106.3 inches vs. 103.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the CR-V is 1.9 inches wider in the front and 2.5 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Corolla Cross Hybrid.

The CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid handles at .85 G’s, while the Corolla Cross Hybrid XSE pulls only .82 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 quicker than the Corolla Cross Hybrid XSE (27.4 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the CR-V has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Corolla Cross Hybrid (8.2 vs. 8 inches), allowing the CR-V to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

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 Corolla Cross Hybrid 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 Corolla Cross Hybrid doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The CR-V has 11.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Corolla Cross Hybrid (106 vs. 94.9).

The CR-V has 1.4 inches more front headroom, 3 inches more front hip room, 5.2 inches more front shoulder room, 9 inches more rear legroom, 8.8 inches more rear hip room and 3.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Corolla Cross Hybrid.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the CR-V’s rear seats recline. The Corolla Cross Hybrid’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The CR-V has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Corolla Cross Hybrid with its rear seat up (39.3 vs. 17 cubic feet). The CR-V has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Corolla Cross Hybrid with its rear seat folded (76.5 vs. 55 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the CR-V. The Corolla Cross Hybrid doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the CR-V Sport Touring’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Corolla Cross Hybrid doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Servicing Ease

The CR-V uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Corolla Cross Hybrid uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Honda service is better than Toyota. J.D. Power ranks Honda 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 23% lower rating, Toyota is ranked 24th.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the CR-V EX-L/Sport-L/Sport Touring, the memory seats make it convenient for both. Each keyless remote activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position. The Corolla Cross Hybrid doesn’t offer memory seats.

The CR-V EX-L/Sport-L/Sport Touring’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Corolla Cross Hybrid doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The CR-V’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Corolla Cross Hybrid’s power window (except driver window) and power lock switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The CR-V’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Corolla Cross Hybrid S’ standard fixed intermittent wipers only have one fixed delay setting, so the driver will have to manually switch them between slow and intermittent. The CR-V Sport Touring’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Corolla Cross Hybrid SE/XSE’s manually variable intermittent wipers don’t change delay with speed.

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

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The CR-V’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Corolla Cross Hybrid’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

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. Only the Corolla Cross Hybrid SE/XSE offers wireless charging.

Model Availability

The CR-V is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Corolla Cross Hybrid doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Honda CR-V and the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid, 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 25 years. The Corolla Cross Hybrid has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

Motor Trend selected the CR-V as their 2018 Sport Utility of the Year. The Corolla Cross Hybrid has never been chosen.

The Honda CR-V outsold the Toyota Corolla Cross by over four to one during 2025.

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