2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid vs 2025 Jeep Wrangler

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid presented a sporty yet conservative design, with its black 18-inch wheels and blacked-out exterior trim. Despite its sporty exterior, the interior was relatively basic, though the Sport-L Hybrid offered an upgrade with leather-lined interiors. The Sport Touring Hybrid, priced at $39,850, topped the lineup. Our test vehicle, a Sport Touring Hybrid, featured Canyon River Blue paint and a total MSRP of $41,175, including destination charges. The CR-V's styling was conservative, with a technical face that resembled an angry robot, though it carried too much visual weight over its front wheels. The best viewing angle was from the rear quarter, where Volvo-adjacent taillights and a tidy design gave it an upscale appearance. Inside, the Sport Touring featured leather seats with orange contrast stitching and numerous details that imparted a sense of quality, such as the sound of the doors when shut and the soft-touch upper dashboard pad.

In contrast, the 2025 Jeep Wrangler Sport S hardtop, with its black-on-black color scheme, was less appealing in the tropical climate of Hawaii. Despite this, the Wrangler's design drew upon themes of American freedom, rooted in a World War II military vehicle. The Wrangler was available in various trims, including the Sport, Sport S, Willys, Sahara, Rubicon, Rubicon X, and Rubicon 392, with prices ranging from $34,685 to $63,995. Our Sport S model had a few options, including a turbocharged four-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission, bringing the MSRP to $49,175. The Wrangler's interior was functional, with classy gray fabric dashboard trim, metallic accents, and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Despite its nearly $50,000 sticker price, the Wrangler emphasized function over form, designed to get dirty and wet. Its appeal lay in its capability to go almost anywhere, with a design that nostalgically drew upon themes of American freedom.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid featured a fourth-generation Honda two-motor hybrid drive system, combining an Atkinson-cycle 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors. This system delivered 204 horsepower to the front or all four wheels, with an EPA rating of 37 mpg in combined driving for the CR-V Sport Touring. However, during testing on a mountainous Southern California loop, the vehicle returned 32.4 mpg. The CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid was relatively quiet on the road, providing a compliant ride quality with predictable handling traits. The brakes withstood heavy use, and the steering, though not noteworthy, had an unusually heavy effort level even in Normal driving mode. Overall, the CR-V was easy to drive, with hints of fun, but it wasn't designed for off-road adventures or spirited driving.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler offered a choice between a 3.6-liter V6 engine with a six-speed manual transmission and a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The latter produced 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, with an EPA rating of 21 mpg in combined driving. During testing in Hawaii, the Wrangler averaged 19.2 mpg. The Wrangler's standard four-wheel drive, high ground clearance, and generous approach and departure angles made it well-suited for off-road adventures. However, its ride was rough, with a steady stream of jiggles and jolts, and the disconnected on-center steering feel created disconcerting feelings on narrow lanes. The Wrangler's three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA was a concern, but its off-road capabilities were impressive, with the right version able to tackle challenging terrains.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid excelled in form and function, offering quality materials, intuitive control layout, and comfortable seats. The CR-V Hybrids included a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The wide rear doors made it easy to install child safety seats, and the back seat was comfortable for adults, with generous legroom and adjustable backrest angles. The CR-V provided ample storage, though the glove compartment was smaller than expected. The Sport Touring's hands-free power rear liftgate revealed a 34.7 cubic foot cargo area, expandable to 76.5 cubic feet with the back seat folded down.

In contrast, the 2025 Jeep Wrangler's high ground clearance and narrow door openings made entry and exit challenging. The front seats were comfortable, with cloth upholstery and heated options available. Rear-seat legroom was adequate, but taller passengers had to be cautious of plastic hooks on the front seatback panels. Storage space was limited, with small items often ending up in cupholders. Accessing the cargo area was a hassle, requiring the tailgate and rear window to be opened. The Wrangler offered a 31.7 cubic foot cargo hold, expandable to 72.4 cubic feet with the back seat folded down.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid came with a 7-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with a 9-inch display available. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging, and a premium sound system were reserved for higher trims. The Sport Touring trim included navigation and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The voice recognition system was basic, and the CR-V Hybrid featured a walk-away automatic locking feature for added security.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's Uconnect 5 infotainment system was a highlight, featuring a 12.3-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio preparation. The Sport S trim came with an eight-speaker stereo, with a nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system optional. Jeep Connect offered navigation, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and off-road navigation capabilities. The Convenience Group pack added a 7-inch digital display, passive entry, and remote engine starting. Rear parking sensors were available in the Active Safety Group option pack.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid was equipped with Honda Sensing, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The CR-V earned impressive ratings from the IIHS, receiving a Top Safety Pick+ award for 2023. However, the NHTSA had not yet rated the 2024 model.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler added side curtain airbags for the front and rear seats, with optional advanced driver assistance systems. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available on most trims, while forward collision warning with automatic braking was limited to the Sahara trim. The Wrangler received a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA. The IIHS rated the Wrangler Good for side-impact protection but Marginal for small overlap frontal-impact tests.