The Hybrid SUV Saves You More Than The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid In Fuel Costs

The Toyota RAV4 is one of the most popular and highest-selling cars in the American market. In fact, in 2024, it managed to beat the Ford F-150 to become the highest selling model in the country, ending the iconic pickup’s 40-year-long streak. One of the major contributors to the high sales volume of the RAV4 is its hybrid version. And for multiple reasons. For starters, it manages to provide the same level of practicality as its pure ICE sibling despite having extra hardware like an electric motor and the battery. Plus, the hybrid drivetrain manages to deliver better performance and efficiency, while costing just $3,000 more compared to the standard RAV4, making it a very sensible choice as a family car.

Base Trim Engine

2.0L I4 Hybrid

Base Trim Transmission

Electronic Continuously Variable Transmission (e-CVT)

Base Trim Drivetrain

Front-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

204 hp

Fuel Economy

43/36/40 mpg (FWD) | 40/34/37 mpg (AWD)

Make

Honda

Model

CR-V Hybrid

Segment

Compact SUV

The compact crossover/SUV is a fiercely competitive segment with almost all major players having a decent contender. However, there’s one Honda hybrid SUV which is quite closely matched with the RAV4 Hybrid, thanks to its practicality, efficiency and reliability. In fact, it has even managed to consistently outsell the RAV4 Hybrid to become one of the best-selling hybrids in the market.

The Honda CR-V Hybrid Is More Efficient Than The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

As With Many Great Things, There Is A Catch

Lyndon Conrad Bell/TopSpeed

The Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V have been competing against each other for ages. When it comes to their hybrid versions, it was Toyota who first introduced the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid in 2016. Seeing its success, Honda decided to equip the CR-V with a hybrid drivetrain in 2020. Both models have always been quite closely matched in terms of performance and efficiency. The Honda CR-V Hybrid comes with a front-wheel-drive configuration as standard, with an option to get all-wheel-drive at an extra cost. On the other hand, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid comes with all-wheel drive as standard for all trims. Before we talk about the catch, let’s look at some numbers.

Toyota RAV4 Hybrid vs. Honda CR-V Hybrid Efficiency

With an EPA-estimated range of 566 miles on a single tank of fuel, the Toyota RAV4 is the leader in its segment. That said, the Honda CR-V Hybrid FWD comes in a close second at 560 miles. Meanwhile, the all-wheel drive version of the CR-V Hybrid comes in a distant third with a range of 518 miles, which is impressive in its own right. For reference, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid comes with a 14.5-gallon fuel tank while the Honda CR-V Hybrid gets a slightly smaller 14-gallon tank. This is one of the reasons that the CR-V Hybrid falls just behind the RAV4 Hybrid in terms of tank-to-tank range, despite having better efficiency (FWD model only).

Honda CR-V Hybrid FWD Saves You More On Fuel Cost

As we know, a hybrid car manages to deliver significantly better efficiency compared to a normal ICE vehicle. This is mostly due to the electric motors and ICE working in tandem to provide the best possible efficiency without compromising on performance. To calculate the average running cost of a vehicle, the EPA assumes a vehicle covers 15,000 miles annually with 45 percent highway and 55 percent city driving. Moreover, an average new non-hybrid vehicle is assumed to deliver 28 MPG, and the cost savings for the hybrids are relative to the same.

RAV4 Hybrid And Honda CR-V Hybrid EPA Efficiency Comparison

Evidently, the Honda CR-V Hybrid in its standard form manages to save you $250 more than the RAV4 Hybrid. That said, if you want an all-wheel-drive car, it is the RAV4 Hybrid, which will be more affordable to run. In either case, the cost savings are not very significant, and both the hybrid SUVs make a strong case for themselves as family cars.

Both Hybrid SUVs Offer Similar Performance

Standard AWD Gives The RAV4 Hybrid A Slight Edge

Craig Cole | TopSpeed

The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid uses a 2.5-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine that is combined with a pair of electric motors and a small lithium-ion battery pack. Power is sent to the wheels via an E-CVT gearbox. The combined output stands at 219 horsepower and 252 pound-feet of torque.

Performance Spec Comparison

Lyndon Conrad Bell – Photo

The Honda CR-V hybrid, on the other hand, comes with a smaller 2.0-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine. However, it manages to put out 204 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of peak torque, so the difference in real-world performance should be minimal. As mentioned earlier, the RAV4 Hybrid comes with AWD as standard. Honda, on the other hand, charges a small amount of $1,500 to add all-wheel drive capability to your CR-V Hybrid, except for the TrailSport trim, which gets it as standard.

Toyota RAV4 Hybrid VS Honda CR-V Hybrid: Trims And Features

The RAV4 Hybrid Comes In Seven Trims

Craig Cole | TopSpeed

The Toyota RAV4 comes with three drivetrain options–pure ICE, Hybrid (HEV) and Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV). It comes with 13 trim options, spread across the three drivetrains, with seven trims for the hybrid version. Prices for the base LE trim start at $32,850 and go all the way up to $41,155 for the top-spec Limited trim.

2025 Toyota RAV4 Trims And Prices

The ‘Woodland Edition’ is an off-road focused trim with rugged styling, dual-purpose tires and re-tuned suspension setup. Higher trims come with premium features like a large 10.5-inch infotainment screen and 11-speaker JBL audio system, though all trims feature Toyota’s Safety Sense driver assist suite, which includes:

• Forward collision warning
• Auto emergency braking
• Adaptive cruise control
• Lane keeping assist

Lesser Trims And Higher Price For The Honda CR-V Hybrid

Lyndon Conrad Bell – Photo

Just like the RAV4, the CR-V comes with three drivetrains. However, Honda offers the CR-V with just eight trims in total, including four for the hybrid version. It is also more expensive to purchase with prices starting at $35,630 and going up to $42,250.

2026 Honda CR-V Hybrid Trims And Price

For 2026, Honda has introduced a new TrailSport trim for the hybrid version. With its rugged styling and standard all-wheel drive, it is aimed directly at the RAV4 Woodland Edition. In terms of features, the CR-V Hybrid boasts similar feature sets with some differences in the screen sizes. Thankfully, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included in all trims, and higher trims add features such as built-in navigation, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a wireless charging pad.

Sources: Fueleconomy.gov, J.D. Power, EPA