2022 Honda CR-V vs HR-V

As you check into what kinds of SUVs are on the market this year, you might run into some difficulties deciding what is going to best suit your unique needs. There sure are a lot of SUVs out there, coming in all shapes and sizes. There is a chance, though, that a friend or family member has recommended you look into Honda's line of SUVs. The 2022 Honda CR-V and 2022 Honda HR-V are two of Honda's smaller SUVs, and both are packed with standard technological gadgets, driver aids, and comfort and convenience features. Restrained but stylish, these two vehicles have a lot of appeal.

The 2022 Honda CR-V is a small crossover SUV that offers swift acceleration mixed with a high fuel efficiency from its base engine. It also gives you a sense of athleticism with a well-tuned suspension that creates all-around secure and engaging handling. With a smooth ride quality to boot, the overall performance oozes comfort. Space has also been carefully crafted inside of the CR-V. Its cabin is downright cavernous, you get plenty of small item storage areas, and there is plenty of versatility packed into the well thought-out cargo area. And, new for the model year, the line-topping Touring trim comes with standard all-wheel drive (AWD).

There are a few downsides to buying this vehicle, though they shouldn't be considered deal-breakers. The 2022 CR-V doesn't have a separate tuning knob, which is something that would make using the wonky touchscreen infotainment display exponentially more efficient. Also, the CR-V's max towing capacity of 1,500- pounds is about 2,000 pounds below what its competitors can do.

Now, the 2022 Honda HR-V might be a miniscule-looking SUV, but it continues Honda's trend of creating a lot of interior space even with a small body design. Several adults can sit comfortably beside one another in the rear seats. You can even fit a few big cases of luggage in the cargo area without hassle. The HR-V also showcases a strong fuel efficiency and gives you clear outward visibility all around the vehicle.

However, the HR-V is limited by its lackluster engine performance from the base engine. This particular engine will generate a lot of noise and shudders when you start to push it into full throttle. You don't get as many standard tech features available as you do on the CR-V, and the HR-V still has a finicky touchscreen display to tackle. In some ways, the HR-V falls slightly short of Honda's high standards.

Which of these two Honda SUVs is the right one to fit your daily driving needs? Let's pit the CR-V against the HR-V and find out.

Size and Styling

The 2022 Honda CR-V is larger than the HR-V, which means that their size does make them distinguishable from one another. The new CR-V has a refined look that isn't very aggressive in its styling. If you decide to upgrade to the EX trim level, you will get the sunroof, some 18-inch wheels, and rear windows that are tinted. The EX-L comes with a power lift-gate, and there are LED headlights and roof rails on the top-of-the-line Touring trim level.

The 2022 Honda HR-V is, of course, smaller than the CR-V and has a more rounded roof than the CR-V. The base LX trim level rides on top of 17-inch alloy wheels and has LED brake and daytime running lights. On the Sport trim level, you instead get 18-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, and roof rails. The EX gains a sunroof to the design.

Drivability

Time to dig into drivability factors, starting with the 2022 Honda CR-V. The CR-V is a crossover SUV that gets its power from a standard turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The turbo-four engine can pull a power output of 190 horsepower and 179 lb-ft of torque and gets matched up with a continuously variable automatic transmission (also known as a CVT). FWD is standard issue although AWD is available on any trim level - that is, aside from the Touring, as it comes as standard equipment on that trim level. There is a hybrid powertrain you can get on the CR-V, which really enhances your fuel economy numbers while still giving you the same overall design outside of that.

Quick to come off of a full stop, the CR-V's turbo-four engine is able to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 8.2 seconds. This is actually quite a good showing for the segment, even if it does not sound all that enthralling on paper. Honda makes their CVTs quite capable of seamless upshifting and downshifting, plus CVTs are more fuel efficient than basic automatic transmissions by design. Overall, the CR-V feels grounded and nimble in terms of its handling. And, as a way to make its performance even better, the CR-V has evenly weighted and responsive steering.

A 2022 CR-V with FWD equipped is EPA rated for 30 mpg in combined driving. Meanwhile, the CR-V's AWD models are EPA estimated to receive 29 mpg combined. This puts the CR-V near the top of the pack, but the CR-V is highly subjective to driving styles. If you are light on the gas pedal, you could possibly meet those 29-30 mpg estimates without any problems. However, if you have a heavier foot, you will probably fall short of meeting the EPA's estimates.

Now for the 2022 Honda HR-V. This vehicle receives its power from a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that generates 141 horsepower and 127 lb-ft of torque. This four-cylinder engine is paired up to CVT. FWD is standard equipment while AWD is available on any of the HR-V's four trim levels.

The HR-V would probably be a much more enjoyable vehicle if its engine had a touch more power behind it. At least the HR-V's steering and handling are top-notch and meet all of the high standards we have for Honda vehicles. Also, the HR-V's well-tuned suspension contributes to the vehicle's strong handling capabilities and even makes driving along winding mountain roads somewhat thrilling. The HR-V feels balanced and grounded as it zips through turns.

While the HR-V's 1.8-liter engine performs well enough on flat roads, longer grades will gas it out. Trying to pass someone else on the highway is particularly troublesome, and getting from 0 to 60 miles per hour takes the HR-V a sluggish 10.4 seconds, which is a poor showing for a vehicle this size.

At least the HR-V is gentle on the fuel tank. Its EPA estimates sit at for 29 miles per gallon in combined city and highway driving with AWD equipped. FWD models can do slightly better than that, making for a great output in this segment.

Comfort, Options and Performance

The 2022 Honda CR-V is a crossover that packs a punch when it comes to ride quality and comfort even though there is some wind and tire noise that comes into the cabin at higher speeds. The suspension has no problem dispatching bumps of all sizes in the road surface, even with the Touring trim level's 19-inch tires slapped on the wheels. You can bask in the cabin's comfort day in and day out, especially if you are sitting in the supportive front seats. In the back, passengers can enjoy using the reclining rear seatback to enhance their overall sense of comfort. There is an automatic climate control system equipped, but it does not always stay at the temperatures you set it to, and adjusting it while driving can be a bit annoying.

A low stepover height and wide door sills make it easy for most folks to get into the CR-V's cabin. You will be able to effortlessly adjust the steering wheel and driver's seat to find the right driving position after you slide into the vehicle. Sitting near the top of the pack when it comes to space, the cabin genuinely feels even bigger than it really is. There are a slew of physical controls situated along the dashboard that are simple enough to use. However, the controls that are immersed in the touchscreen's menus are not that user-friendly. Also, data can be difficult to read on the digital temperature gauge since sunlight washes out its display.

Most drivers should not have any problem getting accustomed to all Honda's included technological features. Smartphone app integration, which is integrated via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, is standard on all trim levels except for the base LX. The higher trim levels in this line-up equip two additional USB ports in the second row that are charge-only ports. The CR-V's voice controls need some fine-tuning since they sometimes struggle to recognize natural speech habits. Should you opt for navigation, you might find that you enjoy how crisp and easy to read the graphics are on the screen.

If you leave the CR-V's rear seats upright, there will be 9.2 cubic feet of cargo space available to you, which seems generous for a vehicle in this segment. When you fold the rear seats down - which do fold flatly, by the way - there are 75.8 cubic feet to work with. You can also utilize the abundance of small item storage spaces thoughtfully placed throughout the cabin. The deep bin in the center console and configurable sliding tray are quite versatile and show a lot of ingenuity. The CR-V's LATCH system for installing child safety seats makes rear seat installation even easier than what you will experience in the CR-V's top competitors. In fact, you will have enough space for a pair of massive rear-facing car seats back there. Just don't plan to tow much with that 1,500 pounds in max towing capacity. Most vehicles in this segment are able to do 3,500 pounds max.

As we've already mentioned, the 2022 Honda HR-V is something of a mixed bag. The HR-V's powertrain is a disappointing and entirely too loud one, but the HR-V does deliver comfort to you in other ways. After you get the HR-V up to speed on the highway, the seats will make their comfort levels known, as they are padded for comfort and offer a lot of adjustability on the front two seats. Even the ride quality evokes a good degree of refinement. The touchscreen climate control is similar to that on the CR-V, which isn't exactly a good thing since it can be hard to use. However, the climate control system sticks to set cabin temperatures without any problem. The HR-V provides plenty of comfort at higher speeds and ultimately feels worth taking a road trip in.

The HR-V's cabin offers plenty of space for adults to sprawl out in the front or back row, reminiscent of the spacious design inside of the CR-V. An abundance of adjustability makes it easy to find a comfortable driving position. Forward and side visibility is vast due to some concisely placed and ultimately slender front pillars, a massive windshield and windows, and a low dashboard. Rear visibility is decent, and the vehicle's blind spots are miniscule due to those huge rear windows.

For the most part, the HR-V's controls are easy enough to use and comprehend. In fact, there is a chance you will find you enjoy the slew of multi-functional buttons that are mounted on top of the steering wheel. On the downside, though, the touchscreen's audio and climate control systems are not that great since what would normally be quick and easy tasks require you to take drawn-out glances and spend time manually adjusting the touchscreens. At least there is a separate volume control knob.

Technology is quite functional but comes off as being a bit sparse. The HR-V gives you standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone app integration if you buy the Sport or any trim level above it. The base LX doesn't have it though. While the HR-V is mostly a tech-friendly vehicle, its voice controls and touchscreen controls can be difficult to use, at times even distracting.

The HR-V excels when it comes to creating a versatile cargo space; also, the rear seats can be folded down flatly in order to maximize the amount of available cargo space. Cargo capacity rings in at 23.2 cubic feet when you leave the rear seats upright, but when you fold them down, the amount of space available maxes out at 55.9 cubes — much better than what you get in a lot of top rivals in this segment. Car seat accommodation is as easy as it is in the CR-V since you get a lot of space in the rear, but the anchors are wedged between the seat cushions, prompting you to dig for them when you need to access them.

Small-item storage isn't as generous as it is in the CR-V though, since there is not all that much depth to the door pockets or in the center console for stashing your smaller items. There are under-console storage areas available, but they are not all that large and can be troublesome to access.

Safety

Honda equips all of its vehicles with the Honda Sensing suite of standard driver aids in order to give its drivers peace of mind on the open road. All of us drivers care deeply about our safety and that of our passengers, which is why having a suite like this equipped on your vehicle is so helpful.

That being said, the 2022 Honda CR-V has the Honda Sensing bundle equipped. Its features include adaptive cruise control, forward collision mitigation, lane keep assist, and automatic high beams. A multi-angle rear-view camera comes standard on all trims, and dynamic guidelines get added to it on the higher trim levels. A blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert comes starting on the EX-L trim.

Likewise, the 2022 Honda HR-V gets its own Honda Sensing suite of driver aids on the EX and EX-L trim levels. This includes forward collision mitigation, lane keep assist, and lane keeping assist. There is also blind-spot monitoring - something that is referred to as Honda LaneWatch. Adaptive cruise control cis the only feature here that seems to be a bit finicky since it doesn't work down to 0 mph (which also applies to that on the CR-V).

Which Model to Choose?

While the 2022 Honda HR-V is a decent vehicle for its segment, the CR-V feels a little bit more refined. It has a few extra tech features that you can use, and there is more space available in the cargo area. You can also utilize more small item storage areas inside of the cabin. And the cost is easy to justify since it isn't all that much more expensive than the HR-V.