2021 Honda CR-V vs 2021 Toyota Highlander

The 2021 Toyota Highlander certainly wasn't one to blend into the crowd. Unlike the mundane looks of many midsize SUVs, the Highlander made a bold statement. Its front end, although not as dramatic as the 2021 Sienna minivan's bullet-train-inspired styling, still impressed with wide headlights, a long hood, and a prominent trapezoidal grille. Along the side, a character line reminiscent of the Supra sports car added flair, while taillights at the back had a luxury touch, mimicking Lexus designs but without the vertical elements. This entire aesthetic made the Highlander appear longer and lower without compromising its spacious size compared to its predecessor.

In 2021, Toyota introduced the XSE trim to its Highlander line-up. This trim came with a sportier, more aggressive front end, announcing itself with 20-inch wheels accented in black, a unique front fascia, lower spoiler, and a larger air intake. However, despite these visual cues hinting at a sporty demeanor, the XSE's enhancements were mostly cosmetic, along with some suspension tuning.

Our test Highlander was in the Limited trim, which is just below the top-tier Platinum trim. Its exterior boasted chrome roof rails and accents, giving it an upscale look. The interior, however, stole the show with near-flawless fit and finish, a high-quality steering wheel, and tan leather seats complemented by dark brown trim. The wood detailing looked impressive, even if it wasn't genuine.

On the other hand, the 2021 Honda CR-V didn’t break any new ground in terms of design. Its styling was almost indistinguishable from other crossovers on the market. The side window opening, or "daylight opening," looked the same as many competitors. A few features like the grille and chromed plastic elements tried to set it apart, but buying a CR-V based on exterior looks was unlikely. Honda offered it in eight colors, although most were shades of gray, black, white, or muted blues, with the more vibrant choices reserved for higher trims. Aegean Blue Metallic and Radiant Red Metallic were rare finds at dealerships.

Inside, the CR-V was modern with angular seats and distinctive headrests, available in black, gray, and ivory cloth or leather. Nonetheless, mid-tier competitors like the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson had an edge in interior style. The interior aesthetics aimed for a modern and slightly upscale look but weren't standout features in this vehicle class.

Those expecting exhilarating performance from the 2021 Toyota Highlander would have been disappointed. It was designed for smooth, predictable driving and boasted a strong reputation for reliability. The 3.5-liter V6 engine provided 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission available in both FWD and AWD configurations. The Highlander wasn't built for speed but could comfortably merge onto highways without feeling sluggish. Compared to its competitors, it held its ground well in terms of power, trailing slightly behind the Honda Pilot but ahead of the Chevy Traverse in horsepower and torque. The Mazda CX-9 had less horsepower but more torque, while the Ford Explorer ST significantly outperformed it but came with a much higher price tag.

Handling the Highlander’s three-row body required a soft, comfortable suspension, causing it to lumber a bit through corners. The XSE trim attempted to provide a sportier experience with higher-rated springs, retuned shock absorbers, a rear stabilizer bar, and enhanced power steering. These upgrades added some excitement but didn't transform the Highlander into a sporty vehicle.

Meanwhile, the 2021 Honda CR-V wasn't about thrilling acceleration or sporty handling. It ran on a 190-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine available across all trims, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Achieving 0-60 mph in about 7.8 seconds, it was competent but not exceptional. None of its competitors offered a significant performance advantage in acceleration. The CVT provided smooth and steady acceleration, which might not have been engaging for drivers used to a more dynamic driving experience. Vehicles like the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson, with their conventional eight-speed automatic transmissions and sport modes, offered a more stimulating drive. The CR-V's FWD was standard, with AWD available as an option, except for the Subaru Forester, which came standard with AWD.

The CR-V's MacPherson strut front suspension and multi-link rear suspension were standard in its class, offering decent handling and ride quality without surprises.

Passenger comfort and cargo space were crucial factors in evaluating three-row crossovers like the Highlander. The 2021 Highlander provided practical shelving ahead of the front seats, ideal for storing large cell phones with a pass-through for charging cords leading to USB ports. Wireless charging was standard on trims above the LE. Second-row passengers enjoyed ample legroom, with seats that could slide forward or backward to balance space between the second and third rows. The third row could accommodate adults but only if the second-row passengers made some sacrifices in comfort. An unusual placement of rear-seat climate control vents on the ceiling was a notable critique.

Cargo space behind the third row was limited to 16 cubic feet, enough for small groceries but insufficient for sports equipment. Folding the third row opened up 48.4 cubic feet of space, slightly more than the Honda Pilot offers behind its second row. With both the second and third rows folded, the Highlander provided an impressive 84.3 cubic feet of cargo capacity.

In contrast, the 2021 Honda CR-V's design was all about functionality. With 102.9 cubic feet of passenger volume, it trumped the Toyota RAV4 by about four cubic feet and offered slightly more cargo space behind the second row than the Toyota. Folding the rear seats provided 75.8 cubic feet of total cargo volume, enough for most family needs. Access to the cargo area varied by trim, with manual operation for the LX and EX, a power tailgate for the EX-L, and a hands-free version for the Touring trim. Only the Touring trim came standard with roof rails, unlike Subaru, which included roof rails with tie-downs on all but the base model.

Technology can greatly influence a vehicle's appeal, and in the Highlander, Toyota offered an 8-inch touchscreen on trims below the Limited. Switching to the Limited trim provided an option for a 12.3-inch touchscreen, which was standard on the Platinum trim. This larger screen was bright, crisp, and responsive. Navigation, though an additional cost, was worthwhile for certain uses, although it struggled with points of interest that Google Maps handled with ease. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard across all trims, while the JBL audio system, despite sounding good, wasn’t particularly impressive.

For the 2021 Honda CR-V, tech features were more limited at the base level. The LX trim had just a 5-inch color screen with Bluetooth connectivity. In contrast, all other trims came with a 7-inch high-definition touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. The Special Edition and EX trims featured a 180-watt audio system with six speakers, while the EX-L added two more speakers. The Touring trim boasted a 300-watt system with a subwoofer, satellite navigation, and voice recognition. Charging ports were abundant, from 1-amp and 1.5-amp USB ports in the front console to 2.5-amp USB ports in the second row. The Touring trim also included a wireless phone charger upfront.

Safety features in the Highlander were enhanced in 2021 with the Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ suite. This included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and intersection support, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-tracing assist, road-sign assist, and automatic high beams. These features ensured comprehensive safety across all trims. The Highlander earned top scores from both NHTSA and IIHS, solidifying its reputation with a five-star overall safety rating and a Top Safety Pick+ designation.

Safety was where the 2021 Honda CR-V shone brightest. It received a five-star overall crash test rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick award from IIHS. However, it fell short of the highest Top Safety Pick+ rating due to lower headlight scores and the updated side crash test. The LATCH child seat anchoring system received an “Acceptable” rating for ease of use. Notably, Honda's CR-V came standard with the Honda Sensing system, which included forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, road departure mitigation, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and auto high-beam headlamps. The only advanced feature missing from the base trim was blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, standard from EX trim onwards.