Subaru Crosstrek Vs. Honda CR-V: Which Is Better?
The Honda CR-V generally outperforms the Subaru Crosstrek in terms of affordability, reliability, and safety features.
Written by Mary Cahill
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
The Subaru Crosstrek is more affordable than the Honda CR-V, but the Honda CR-V is cheaper to insure and earns higher ratings for safety, reliability, and overall quality.
If you’re in the market for a new vehicle, it’s not surprising that both the Subaru Crosstrek and the Honda CR-V are on your radar. The Crosstrek is easy to maneuver and has the rugged charm Subaru is known for. The CR-V, now in its fifth generation, offers the comfort and practicality long-expected from a Honda vehicle.
So how do you know which of these vehicles is right for you? To help you compare and contrast, the
insurance broker app
and personal car insurance
shopper Jerry
has created a detailed guide to everything you need to know about how the Subaru Crosstrek and Honda CR-V stack up against each other.Crosstrek vs. CR-V: which is more expensive?
The price tag is a huge deciding factor when you’re shopping for a new vehicle. There is a cost difference between the base model
Subaru Crosstrek
and the base CR-V LX. The starting MSRP for a base Subaru Crosstrek is $24,320, and the starting MSRP for the Honda CR-V LX
is $28,045. In the case of both vehicles, higher trim levels come with more features, and the prices get higher as well. The top-level
Honda CR-V Touring
runs upwards of $37,845—similar to what you might pay for the base model of a luxury car. The most expensive Subaru Crosstrek model is the hybrid version, which carries a price tag of around $36,770. Here’s a closer look at how different trims of the Crosstrek and CR-V compare to each other price-wise:
Model | Starting MSRP | Model | Starting MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|
Crosstrek Base | $24,320 | CR-V LX | $28,045 |
$24,720 | $29,245 | ||
$27,920 | $30,555 | ||
$29,420 | $33,145 | ||
Crosstrek Hybrid | $36,770 | CR-V Touring | $37,845 |
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Ownership costs
The upfront cost of a vehicle is just one facet of the true price of ownership and maintenance.
According to Edmunds, the true five-year ownership cost for a 2022 Honda CR-V LX is $34,698—thousands more than the initial price tag. As for the 2022 Subaru Crosstrek base model, the true five-year ownership cost comes in at $35,667. Based on this data, what you save on the MSRP of the Crosstrek, you’ll end up paying out over time in ownership costs.
Some of the main reasons for the difference in cost of ownership is that the 2022 Honda CR-V is cheaper to insure and has lower fuel costs. In fact, if both the Crosstrek and CR-V were driven 15,000 miles per year for five years, the projected expense for fuel alone is $2,070 less for the Honda CR-V. Keep in mind that if you pick a higher trim level for either the Crosstrek or the CR-V these projected costs of ownership are likely to be even higher.
MORE: How to save money on gas
Insurance costs
If you don’t have the cost of car insurance on the brain when you’re perusing for a new vehicle, you should consider how this contributes to the overall expense of the vehicle you choose.
You’ll be pleased to know that the annual
Honda CR-V insurance cost
is $1,366-$1,391. While the Subaru Crosstrek insurance cost
is an average of $1,548 a year. Wondering what makes one vehicle more expensive to insure than the other? When two vehicles are in a similar price range factors like safety ratings and claims history can affect the rate you get for coverage.
Not only has the Honda CR-V been around longer than the Subaru Crosstrek, which made its debut in 2016, but the general safety ratings for the CR-V are slightly higher. In other words, if you’re in a car accident with a Honda CR-V, there’s a good chance that the repair costs after the collision will be cheaper than if you were to get into a car accident while driving a Subaru Crosstrek. For this reason, the annual cost of coverage is lower.
MORE: How does your credit score affect car insurance?
Winner: Honda CR-V
After breaking down the different costs associated with investing in a new vehicle, the numbers lean in the Honda CR-V’s favor. There’s a chance you could cut down on fuel costs if you upgrade to a Crosstrek Hybrid, but seeing as it’s the top-tier trim option, the initial MSRP drags down the potential for overall savings.
Subaru Crosstrek vs. Honda CR-V: In-Depth Comparison
Vehicle cost is crucial, but it’s not the only thing that matters when you’re researching which car to buy. The truth is, there are a lot of specs you might miss just by browsing at the dealership, so knowing more about what each vehicle offers in terms of body style, safety, and interior features is a great way to better inform your decision.
Body style and size
The Honda CR-V is longer, taller, and wider than the Subaru Crosstrek, which means these models often fall into different SUV categories. As its name suggests, the Crosstrek is referred to as a crossover SUV—the smallest SUV class. The Honda CR-V is often referred to as a compact or small SUV whose direct competition includes the Subaru Forester.
Since it’s a larger vehicle, the CR-V has an additional 5 cubic feet of passenger volume than the Subaru Crosstrek. The CR-V swallows up the Crosstrek when it comes to storage space, so if you’ve got your sights set on a family-friendly ride, the Honda CR-V may better serve your needs.
Let’s review the difference in interior and exterior dimensions between the Subaru Crosstrek and the Honda CR-V:
Dimensions | 2022 Subaru Crosstrek | 2022 Honda CR-V |
|---|---|---|
Wheelbase | 104.9 inches | 104.8 inches |
Passenger volume | 100.9 cubic feet | 105.9 cubic feet |
Headroom (front/rear) | 39.8/38 inches | 40.1/39.2 inches |
Legroom (front/rear) | 43.1/36.5 inches | 41.3/40.4 inches |
Cargo volume w/seats up | 20.8 cubic feet | 39.2 cubic feet |
Cargo volume w/seats down | 55.3 cubic feet | 75.8 cubic feet |
Ground clearance | 8.7 inches | 7.8 inches |
Base curb weight | 3188 lbs | 3337 lbs |
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Engine and performance
The 2022 Honda CR-V is equipped with a 1.5-liter, four-cylinder turbo CVT engine regardless of trim level. On the other hand, the 2022 Subaru Crosstrek has numerous engine options, and the one you go for can make all the difference.
The base model Crosstrek gives a no-frills performance by way of a 2-liter four-cylinder engine with a six-speed manual transmission. That’s right, you may get AWD as a standard feature but you’ll need to pay extra for an automatic transmission if driving stick isn’t your bag. Another caveat to this base-level engine is that test drivers have concluded that it makes the Crosstrek painfully slow—also a common complaint about the hybrid configuration.
If a hybrid powertrain isn’t on your must-have list, you’ll find more satisfaction in the performance of the Honda CR-V. Front-wheel drive is standard on all CR-V trims except the Touring which boasts AWD, but even so, the acceleration, handling, and drive quality of the turbo-powered CR-V stand out compared to the Crosstrek.
Fuel economy
The 2022 Hybrid Crosstrek leads the charge with 36 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway. In pure hybrid mode you’ll enjoy up to 90 MPGe, but if you aren’t willing to shell out the extra $12,000+ on the hybrid version, you’ll notice the drop in fuel economy with 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway.
The 2022 CR-V has a decent fuel economy for a vehicle its size with 28 mpg city and 34 mpg on the highway. With an AWD drivetrain, that mpg drops to 27 city and 32 highway. Seeing as you won’t have to splurge on upgrades to reap the benefits of the CR-V’s solid gas mileage specs, it’s safe to say that the Honda CR-V has an overall better fuel economy than the Subaru Crosstrek.
MORE: How to track gas mileage
Safety
When comparing safety stats, the CR-V pulls ahead of the Crosstrek. Each year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) performs 35 mph front crash tests on new vehicles which help determine how many safety starts they should earn.
The Honda CR-V earned an overall five-star rating while the Subaru Crosstrek earned a four-star rating. Both vehicles earned five stars for the side-impact safety test.
Tech
Both the Crosstrek and CR-V come with Apple CarPlay and Andriod Auto compatibility, but it’s only a standard feature on all trims for the Crosstrek. You won’t get this tech feature on the LX trim of the CR-V.
The Crosstrek and CR-V have streamlined, easy-to-use touchscreens, but if you’re looking for a top-of-the-line stereo system for either model, you’ll need to go with a higher trim.
Interior and comfort
Subaru builds vehicles that can handle rugged roads, so creature comforts have never been a source of bragging rights. The Crosstrek is available with leather seating in its Limited and Hybrid versions, but if you’re looking for lounge-worthy style, the Crosstrek is a bit of a letdown.
The CR-V was designed with wide door openings and a low-reach power liftgate to accommodate many drivers. Edmunds praises the CR-V for its comfortable ride quality, ranking it second out of 14 small SUVs reviewed. The model also earned an 8.1 out of 10 rating, which Edmunds classifies as “great”.
Winner: Honda CR-V
Consumer Reports places Honda ahead of Subaru for overall reliability. In J.D. Power’s 2022 quality and reliability report, the Honda CR-V placed ninth in the compact SUV category with an overall rating of 81. J.D. Power ranked the Subaru Crosstrek 14th in the small SUV category with an overall rating of 83.
The majority of drivers may find their money better spent with the Honda CR-V, but preference factors in as well. Drivers who feel more at ease with a smaller vehicle should consider the Crosstrek a viable option since it more closely resembles a station wagon than a full-blown SUV.
How to save on Subaru or Honda insurance costs
As we mentioned before,
car insurance
costs have a lot to do with the true cost of owning a Crosstrek or CR-V. Either way, when you’re looking to score serious savings on coverage for one of these popular vehicles, shopping for an insurance policy with Jerry
is a must. Jerry is the #1 rated insurance app because it takes less than a minute for the cheapest rates from over 55 top-rated insurance companies to be delivered right to your smartphone. Once you find the quote you like best, all you need to do is give it a tap and Jerry will take the lead on getting you enrolled.
No phone calls or monotonous paperwork is required when you choose coverage with Jerry’s expert assistance. But the real star of the show is the savings—the average Jerry user saves more than $800 on their annual coverage!
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