Safety
Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Honda CR‑V deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Honda CR‑V’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Rav4’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.
The Honda CR‑V’s blind spot mirrors use wide-angle convex mirrors mounted in the corner of each side view mirror to reveal objects that may be in the driver's blind spots. The Rav4 doesn’t offer a system to reveal objects in the driver's blind spots.
Compared to metal, the Honda CR‑V’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Toyota Rav4 has a metal gas tank.
Both the Honda CR‑V and the Rav4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding and available all wheel drive.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) performs roof strength tests. In that test the Honda CR‑V earned the top rating of “Good” because its roof supported over four times the Honda CR‑V’s weight before being crushed five inches. The Rav4 was rated lower at “Acceptable.”
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rates the general design of front seat head restraints for their ability to protect front seat occupants from whiplash injuries. The IIHS also performs a dynamic test on those seats with “good” or “acceptable” geometry. In these ratings, the Honda CR‑V with standard seats is safer then the Rav4.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rates the general design of front seat head restraints for their ability to protect front seat occupants from whiplash injuries. The IIHS also performs a dynamic test on those seats with “good” or “acceptable” geometry. In these ratings, the Honda CR‑V with standard seats is safer then the Rav4.
Overall Evaluation:
2012 CRV - Good
2012 Rav4 - Marginal
Dynamic Test Rating:
2012 CRV - Good
2012 Rav 4 - Marginal
Seat Design:
2012 CRV - Pass
2012 Rav 4 - Fail
Neck Force Rating:
2012 CRV - Low
2012 Rav4 - Medium
Cargo Capacity
Pressing a switch automatically lowers the Honda CR‑V’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Rav4 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.
The Honda CR‑V’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The Rav4’s swing out door blocks loading from the passenger’s side.
Ergonomics
The Rav4’s standard power locks don’t automatically lock the doors. The Honda CR‑V’s standard doors lock when a certain speed is reached. This is an important feature for occupant safety. Locked doors are proven to open less often in collisions, and they are also effective in preventing crime at traffic lights. (The power lock’s automatic feature may have to be activated by your dealer.)
The Honda CR‑V’s standard power mirror controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The Rav4’s standard power mirror controls are on the center console where they can’t be seen without the driver completely removing his eyes from the road.
For greater rear passenger comfort, the Honda CR‑V has standard rear heat vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Rav4 doesn’t offer rear vents.
With optional voice command, the Honda CR‑V EX-L offers the driver hands free control of the radio, climate controls, cell phone and the navigation computer by simply speaking. The Rav4 doesn’t offer a voice control system.
Brakes and Stopping
For better stopping power the Honda CR‑V’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Rav4.
Engine
The Honda CR‑V’s 2.4 DOHC 4 cyl. produces 6 more horsepower (185 vs. 179) than the Rav4’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4 cyl.
Fuel Economy
On the EPA test cycle the Honda CR‑V gets better fuel mileage than the Rav4.
2012 CRV 2WD - 23 city/31 hwy
2012 RAV4 2WD - 22 city/28 hwy
The Honda CR‑V outsold the Toyota Rav4 by 57% during the 2011 model year.
