2019 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid vs 2020 Honda CR-V

The 2019 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid distinguished itself from its gas-powered siblings with unique visual cues. It featured bright gray inserts along the sides and front lower bumper, and blue frames around the headlight projectors, adding a touch of exclusivity. The Hybrid was available in a limited color palette, with the "Lagoon Blue" being particularly striking. Inside, the Crosstrek Hybrid boasted blue inserts and two-tone leather seats with blue contrast stitching, all standard. Despite its well-equipped nature, the Hybrid sacrificed rear cargo space to accommodate its battery, resulting in a higher cargo floor compared to the conventional Crosstrek.

The 2020 Honda CR-V, part of the fifth generation, maintained a familiar and appealing design. Its exterior lines were soft and car-like, with a resemblance to Honda's sedan lineup. The CR-V's interior, however, was a mix of textures and materials, with upscale touches like wood-look trim and leather upholstery clashing with lower-quality plastics. The CR-V offered a straightforward trim lineup, with the base LX starting at $26,270. It featured a range of wheel sizes and fabric or leather seating options, depending on the trim. The CR-V's design leaned more towards a station wagon than an SUV, providing a modern family transportation aesthetic.

The 2019 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid featured a unique gas-electric powertrain, combining a 2.0-liter Boxer four-cylinder engine with two electric motors, producing 137 horsepower and 134 pound-feet of torque. Its AWD system was integrated before the drivetrain split, offering traditional AWD composure. The plug-in system's battery charged in five hours with a 120-volt outlet or two hours with a 240-volt station, providing a 17-mile electric-only range. Despite its electric capabilities, acceleration was underwhelming, with a 0-60 time of 8 seconds. The Hybrid's extra 500 pounds affected handling, but it excelled in off-road conditions with 8.7 inches of ground clearance and X-Mode with hill-descent control. The Crosstrek Hybrid achieved an EPA rating of 90 MPGe and 35 mpg combined.

The 2020 Honda CR-V simplified its lineup by replacing the base engine with a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine, producing 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a CVT, the CR-V offered a responsive and fuel-efficient driving experience. Its car-like demeanor translated to excellent road manners, with nimble handling and minimal body roll. The CR-V's low curb weight of 3,337 pounds contributed to its agility and fuel economy, achieving 30 mpg combined for FWD models and 29 mpg for AWD. The CR-V's performance was competitive within its class, matching the Subaru Forester and surpassing the Ford Escape and Toyota RAV4 in fuel efficiency.

The 2019 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid's interior featured an electronic emergency brake, allowing for a more efficient layout with side-by-side cupholders and additional controls. The upright seating position provided a commanding view, and rear seat space was adequate even for taller passengers. However, the cargo area was reduced to 41 cubic feet due to the battery pack, compared to 55 cubic feet in the gas-powered Crosstrek.

The 2020 Honda CR-V excelled in interior space and storage solutions. Its cabin offered ample head- and legroom, with an excellent seating position for visibility. The cargo compartment matched the Volkswagen Tiguan in volume, with a two-position load floor for versatility. The CR-V's center console featured a deep well with a sliding cover, inspired by the Odyssey minivan, providing practical storage. The rear seats folded flat, creating 75.8 cubic feet of cargo space. The CR-V's door pockets were spacious, accommodating various items with ease.

The 2019 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid came standard with Subaru's premium Starlink infotainment system and an 8-inch touchscreen. Starlink offered a user-friendly interface with large icons and no lag. It included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, although the USB port was located in the center compartment. The color multi-information display atop the dash provided useful information, controlled by a steering wheel button.

The 2020 Honda CR-V's infotainment system showed its age, with a 5-inch screen in the LX trim and a 7-inch touchscreen in higher trims. The system lacked hard buttons, making it challenging to operate. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available with the larger screen, but integration felt lacking. The CR-V offered multiple USB ports in the EX trim and above, with a wireless phone charger in the Touring trim.

The 2019 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid included standard safety features such as front- and side-impact airbags, traction control, and a reversing camera. Subaru's EyeSight suite provided advanced driver-assistance features, including forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. EyeSight offered semi-autonomous highway driving and alerts for inattentive drivers.

The 2020 Honda CR-V featured the Honda Sensing system as standard, with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, road-departure mitigation, and adaptive cruise control. EX trims and above included blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic monitoring. The CR-V earned a five-star rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick designation from IIHS, with LED headlights on the Touring trim improving nighttime visibility.