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Comparing a Toyota to other vehicles is usually a winning battle. Toyota has a long-standing reputation for designing and delivering reliable, long-lasting, and durable vehicles that outmatch many of its competitors. However, comparing a Toyota Rav4 with a Honda CR-V is a tough choice to make.
Both the Toyota Rav4 and the Honda CR-V are in the compact SUV market lineup, but the Rav4 is slightly bigger than its CR-V competitor by approximately one inch. The wheelbase of the Rav4 is 105.9-inches while the CR-V has a slightly smaller wheelbase of 104.8 inches.
Apparently, size matters in a vehicle because bigger and heavier cars are less likely to take as much damage as smaller and lighter cars. The CR-V and the Rav4 are too close to call though so instead we delve deeper into the features and specs of each model to work out if the Honda CR-V or Toyota Rav4 is the better choice for you.
Read on below to find out.
Is the Toyota Rav4 Bigger than the Honda CR-V?
Yes, the Toyota Rav4 is technically bigger than the Honda CR-V because it has a longer wheelbase. However, the interior dimensions of both compact SUVs show different results, and the cargo space of the Honda CR-V is bigger than the Rav4 by inches because the CR-V is longer than the Rav4.
Here is a table to help identify the different measurements of each of these favorite SUVs so you can decide which one you believe is bigger out of these two popular Japanese SUVs:
| Specs | Honda CR-V | Toyota Rav4 |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 104.7-inches | 105.9-inches |
| Length | 182.1-inches | 181.5-inches |
| Width | 73-inches | 73.4-inches |
| Height | 66.5-inches | 68.6-inches |
| Cargo Space | 37.6 cubic feet | 37.6 cubic feet |
| Cargo Space with Folded Seats | 75.8 cubic feet | 69.8 cubic feet |
| Payload capacity | Roughly 1,358lbs | Roughly 1,240lbs |
| Towing capacity | 1,500lbs | 3,500lbs depending on the trim |
| Front passenger legroom | 41.3-inches | 41-inches |
| Front passenger headroom | 40.1-inches | 37.7-inches |
| Rear passenger legroom | 40.4-inches | 37.8-inches |
| Rear passenger headroom | 39.2-inches | 39.5-inches |
It doesn’t seem right that the wheelbase and exterior dimensions for the Rav4 are taller and wider than the CR-V, with a longer wheelbase, yet the CR-V boasts more space inside, does it?
So, answering this question is purely based on whether you believe the wheelbase or the length and height are more important. If wheelbase is your answer, then the Toyota Rav4 is bigger than the Honda CR-V.
Is the Honda CR-V or the Toyota Rav4 More Spacious?
Although the Toyota Rav4 has a longer wheelbase than the Honda CR-V, the interior dimensions of the popular CR-V compact SUV are bigger and more spacious.
Spaciousness in a car is desirable for those needing to accommodate for families and more passengers but having a comfortable car is also a desirable feature. If comfort is as important to you as how big the car is, check out our comparison guide between the interior features of the CR-V and the Rav4 below.
| Interior Comforts | Honda CR-V LX | Honda CR-V Touring | Toyota Rav4 LE | Toyota Rav4 Limited Hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Climate Control | Climate Control | Dual-zone climate control | Climate Control with dust and pollen filter | Dual-Zone automatic climate control with rear vents |
| Dashboard | Not mentioned | Not mentioned | Analog speedometer | Digital speedometer |
| Seating options | Cloth Seats | Leather-trimmed seats | Fabric-trimmed seating for all five passengers | SofTex (Faux leather) trimmed seating for all passengers |
| Driver’s comfort | Not mentioned | Powered-adjustable front seats with driver’s memory seat | 6-way adjustable driver’s seat | 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat |
| Rear seat folding | 60/40 split folding rear seats | 60/40 split folding rear seats | 60/40 split folding rear seats | 60/40 split folding rear seats |
| Heated seats | Not offered | Heated front seats and heated leather-wrapped steering wheel | Not offered | Heated front seating with the option to upgrade rear seats |
| Trims | Standard | Leather-trimmed gear lever | Standard | Leather-trimmed gear lever |
| Dashboard comfort | Not mentioned | Not mentioned | Soft-touch dash and armrests | Soft-touch dash, armrests, and doors |
| Additional interior comfort | Not mentioned | Silver detailing | Standard black interior door handles | Silver interior door handles |
| Mirror technology | Not mentioned | Not mentioned | Standard rearview mirror | Digital rearview mirror |
| Interior technology | One front USB port | Wireless charger and front and second-row USB ports | One USB media port | 5 USB media ports and wireless charging |
| Lighting features | Not mentioned | Not mentioned | Standard | Blue illuminating interior |
We chose both the lowest and the highest trim level from each manufacturer for the above comparison guide. As you can see, the Toyota Rav4 has more information available than the Honda CR-V. This was the available information from both the Toyota and Honda websites.
But again, having available and unavailable information does not guarantee one is better or bigger than the other.
Honda vs Toyota, Which One is Right for You?
Both Honda and Toyota are Japanese branded vehicles, so the quality of each is superior to many other vehicles on the road today. Japan is known for manufacturing long-lasting and reliable engines and for their innovative safety and media technology advancements in cars.
According to Major World, Toyota is the superior car brand with more affordable cars, superior reliability, and more vehicle models to choose from.
While both the compact Honda and Toyota SUV range are favorite cars in America, the Toyota Rav4 is rated to be better in performance and has a little more power in its engine than the CR-V, but that also depends on who you ask.
Toyota cars last longer than most other cars on the road and this is a huge factor in why people buy cars today. For a long-term investment that almost guarantees their money’s worth. Toyota cars can definitely do this for you.
- Both Toyota and Honda cars have an average lifespan of 250,000 miles
- A new Honda CR-V has an estimated mileage of anywhere between 250,000 – 300,000 miles
- The average estimated mileage of a Toyota Rav4 is approximately 250,000 miles but owners of the Rav4 on online platforms disagree and say it’s much more
- The United States Department of Transportation gives both the Honda CR-V and the Toyota Rav4 an overall safety rating of 5 stars
What Do the Reviews Say About the Rav4 VS the CR-V?
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named the 2021 Toyota Rav4 a Top Safety Pick of the year.
Reviews on Edmunds have given overall ratings for the Honda CV-R a 4.9 out of 5 and a 3.4 out of 5 for the Toyota Rav4.
Here is how Cars US News rates both compact SUVs and similar reviews can be found at Motor Trend where they have tested 4 compact SUVs and have placed the Toyota Rav4 in third and the Honda CR-V in 1st.
Reviews from Honda drivers are generally pretty good and out of 696 reviews on Repair Pal the average rating is 4.1 stars out of five. The 2021 Honda CR-V also scored a reliability rating of 4.1 out of five at Kelley Blue Book.
Conclusion
While the wheelbase of the Rav4 is longer, the CR-V beats the Rav4 in length and this is why the interior dimensions are more spacious. The Rav4 has a higher ground clearance than the CR-V but this is mainly because Toyota designed the Rav4 to have some 4-wheel drive off-road (ish) capabilities.
While both the compact SUVs are great cars, and both are similar in size and price, the Honda CR-V seems to have bigger dimensions than the Rav4 and may therefore be slightly bigger. The Honda CR-V can hold more luggage in its cargo area, but it can’t tow nearly as much as the compact crossover Rav4.