Compare the2025 Honda HR-VVS 2025 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid

Safety
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Recommendations

Safety

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The Honda HR-V has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Rav4 Hybrid doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the HR-V’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Rav4 Hybrid doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the HR-V and the Rav4 Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Honda HR-V is safer than the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid:

	HR-V	Rav4 Hybrid
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	139	152
Neck Stress	134 lbs.	306 lbs.
Neck Compression	17 lbs.	56 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	279/312 lbs.	400/388 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the HR-V is much safer than the Rav4 Hybrid:

	HR-V	Rav4 Hybrid
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	203	307
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Honda HR-V is safer than the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid:

	HR-V	Rav4 Hybrid
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Abdominal Force	118 lbs.	138 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	14 inches
HIC	292	299
Hip Force	564 lbs.	835 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Honda HR-V is safer than the Rav4 Hybrid:

	HR-V	Rav4 Hybrid
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Torso Max Deflection	1.3 in	1.34 in
Torso Deflection Rate	7 MPH	7 MPH
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	937 lbs.	1093 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	186	542
Head Peak Forces	no contact	104 G’s
Neck Tension	67 lbs.	312 lbs.
Neck Compression	156 lbs.	223 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Torso Deflection Rate	5 MPH	8 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	625 lbs.	692 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	MARGINAL

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the HR-V is 1.2% to 1.5% less likely to roll over than the Rav4 Hybrid.

The Honda HR-V has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Rav4 Hybrid is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda above average in initial quality. With 11 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is rated lower.

Fuel Economy and Range

The HR-V has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Rav4 Hybrid doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the HR-V’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Rav4 Hybrid:

	HR-V	Rav4 Hybrid
Front Rotors	12.3 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	12.2 inches	11.1 inches

The HR-V stops much shorter than the Rav4 Hybrid:

	HR-V	Rav4 Hybrid
70 to 0 MPH	172 feet	179 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	123 feet	143 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

The HR-V’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Rav4 Hybrid LE/XLE’s standard 65 series tires. The HR-V Sport’s tires have a lower 55 series profile than the Rav4 Hybrid’s optional 60 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

The HR-V EX-L AWD handles at .80 G’s, while the Rav4 Hybrid Woodland Edition pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the HR-V’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the Rav4 Hybrid’s (35.1 feet vs. 36.1 feet).

Chassis

The Honda HR-V may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 550 pounds less than the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid.

The HR-V uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Rav4 Hybrid doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Honda service is better than Toyota. J.D. Power ranks Honda 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 23% lower rating, Toyota is ranked 24th.

Ergonomics

The HR-V has standard Push Button Start that allows you to start the engine without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Only the Rav4 Hybrid XLE/Woodland/SE/XSE/Limited offers a Smart Key System.

The HR-V’s driver power window, power lock and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Rav4 Hybrid’s power lock switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The HR-V’s variable intermittent wipers have an adjustable delay to allow the driver to choose a setting that best clears the windshield during light rain or mist. The Rav4 Hybrid LE’s standard fixed intermittent wipers only have one fixed delay setting, so the driver will have to manually switch them between slow and intermittent.

Model Availability

The HR-V is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Rav4 Hybrid doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Honda HR-V and the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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