Subaru Ascent vs Honda CR-V Hybrid

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid and Subaru Ascent were designed with distinct styling approaches, each catering to different consumer tastes.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid began at a base price of $33,700 for the Sport Hybrid, making it the most affordable electrified version of Honda's SUV lineup. The model boasted black 18-inch wheels and blacked-out exterior trim, imparting a sporty appearance. While the interior leaned towards basic in the Sport Hybrid trim, the leather-lined Sport-L Hybrid provided a significant upgrade, starting at $36,700. The top-tier Sport Touring Hybrid, priced at $39,850, came with additional features and a suggested retail price (MSRP) of $41,175, including the $1,325 destination charge, when paired with Canyon River Blue paint and no optional accessories.

However, the CR-V’s styling was somewhat conservative, with a technical front design resembling an 'angry robot' that might age well, though it carried too much visual weight over its front wheels. The Sport Touring model featured noticeable tusks framing the lower air intake, which didn’t enhance its aesthetics. The rear quarter view, showcasing Volvo-esque taillights and a refined design, provided the best visual angle. Honda maintained restraint in adhering to excessive SUV styling cues, even with the Sport Touring's 19-inch gloss black wheels being almost invisible against darker paint.

Inside, the CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid exuded sophistication with leather seats featuring orange contrast stitching. The cabin’s quality was apparent through the soft-touch upper dashboard pad, metal mesh hiding the air vents, and finely knurled metallic trim on the knobs, giving the compact SUV a premium feel.

Conversely, the 2024 Subaru Ascent struggled with appealing design, particularly after a refresh that introduced unsightly tusks and a boldly prominent spear across the grille into the headlights. It was available in six trims: Base, Premium, Onyx Edition, Limited, Onyx Edition Limited, and Touring, with prices ranging from $34,395 to $48,695, excluding a destination charge of $1,345. Our test vehicle, a Touring trim, included optional all-weather floor liners, bringing its MSRP to $50,181.

Choosing the Ascent Touring over the Limited trim added several premium features such as a panoramic sunroof, Nappa leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, a navigation system, a 14-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, a camera-based rearview mirror, and a surround-view camera system. While the interior materials were of good quality, the design felt modular and functional but lacked sophistication or modernity.

Overall, while the Honda CR-V Hybrid balanced sporty elements with premium interior touches and conservative styling cues, the Subaru Ascent focused on practicality but fell short in delivering a cohesive and sophisticated design.

Both vehicles showcased distinctive performing capabilities aligning with their respective powertrains.

For the 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid, the non-hybrid trims—LX, EX, and EX-L—featured a 190-horsepower turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) for the front wheels, with an all-wheel drive (AWD) option. Meanwhile, the Sport, Sport-L, and Sport Touring trims housed the fourth-generation Honda two-motor hybrid drive system. This hybrid system combined a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors: one for propulsion and the other for generating and starting. This system delivered 204 horsepower, available for both front-wheel and all-wheel drives.

Despite Honda’s complex hybrid system, the driving experience was mostly transparent with some noticeable aspects like low-speed EV warning noise and steady-state engine droning while climbing hills. The CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid targeted an EPA estimated 37 mpg in combined driving but delivered only 32.4 mpg on a Southern California mountainous testing loop, compared to a previous CR-V EX-L test returning 29.1 mpg with its turbo engine. Honda’s hybrid drive was relatively quiet, provided a comfortable ride, predictable handling, and suitably firm brake response during intensive use, but the steering effort remained unusually heavy.

The 2024 Subaru Ascent carried a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, with power distributed to all four wheels via a CVT and standard all-wheel-drive (AWD) system with active torque vectoring. The Ascent could tow up to 5,000 pounds or 2,000 pounds for the Base trim.

The Ascent easily handled diverse driving conditions, from urban environments to rugged off-road trails, making it an ideal daily driver and adventure vehicle. Although its CVT managed to mimic a traditional automatic transmission convincingly, the Ascent's performance suffered on twisty mountain roads due to its weight and softer suspension. Fuel economy ratings were modest, with 20-inch wheels bringing EPA figures to 19 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined. Our test returned 16.7 mpg in the city and 18.6 mpg overall.

The CR-V Hybrid offered a balanced, efficient drive, excelling in urban and gentle environments, whereas the Ascent brought robust power suited for a wider range of terrains but lagged in fuel efficiency and handling finesse.

Assessing interior space and utility, both the CR-V Hybrid and Ascent provided distinctive advantages.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid excelled in interior finishings and functionalities. It furnished quality materials with user-friendly control layouts. The 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat offered exceptional support, though the front passenger seat lacked extensive adjustments but still provided ample comfort. Dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel elevated comfort levels in colder weather.

The CR-V’s wide rear doors, opening nearly 90 degrees, facilitated easy access—a plus for installing reverse-facing child seats. The back seat was spacious, with high-set bottom cushions for leg support, adjustable backrests, air vents, and USB-C ports to enhance the passenger experience. Storage was generous, except for a small glove compartment and the omission of a driver’s seatback pocket.

Cargo space in the CR-V Hybrid varied by trim: the Sport Touring offered 34.7 cubic feet, while Sport and Sport-L trims provided 36.3 cubic feet, expanding to 76.5 cubic feet with the back seat folded down—placing the CR-V among the leaders in its class.

In the 2024 Subaru Ascent, functionality reigned supreme. The dashboard shelf, large rear door panel cupholders, backpack pegs, and cargo hooks highlighted thoughtful design choices aimed at convenience. Touring trim versions featured premium Nappa leather seats with heating, ventilation options, and good leg support despite the passenger seat lacking height adjustment.

Rear-door openings, also nearly 90 degrees, offered easy access. The raised roof rails supported significant static weight, suitable for up to a rooftop tent. The second-row captain’s chairs were comfortable but slightly tight on legroom compared to some competitors. The third row was acceptable for short trips, with sufficient seat height and supportive cushion, paired with air-conditioning vents and ample storage, keeping younger passengers occupied.

Cargo capacity in the Ascent started with 17.8 cubic feet behind the third row, 43.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, reaching up to 75.6 cubic feet with second-row seats down, slightly less with the sunroof.

The CR-V Hybrid provided a balanced mix of quality, comfort, and cargo space, making it an excellent choice for families, while the Ascent focused on user-friendly practicality and versatile interior configurations.

Technological implementations in both vehicles catered to modern needs with varying effectiveness.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid came with a standard 7-inch digital instrumentation panel and a matching touchscreen infotainment system. Upgrading to the Sport-L or Sport Touring trims provided a 9-inch infotainment display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging, and a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system. Although pairing devices and operating Apple CarPlay wirelessly were seamless, the basic voice recognition system lacked conversational command functionalities. One standout feature was the walk-away automatic locking system, which automatically secured the vehicle as the driver moved away with the key fob.

By contrast, the 2024 Subaru Ascent featured an advanced Starlink infotainment system with an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen, including Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Higher trims added wireless charging, a Wi-Fi hotspot, navigation, and a 14-speaker Harman Kardon surround-sound system. Practical physical buttons controlled key functions, and the Cabin Connect feature in upper trims allowed drivers to communicate with rear passengers via the stereo speakers. However, the display's visibility under direct sunlight was poor, and its native voice-recognition system performed inadequately, making smartphone integration essential.

While Honda provided a straightforward and effective tech suite in the CR-V Hybrid, especially in higher trims, Subaru's Ascent offered a robust tech setup, albeit with some drawbacks in display performance and voice recognition.

Both vehicles boasted substantial safety features aimed at ensuring driver and passenger security.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid included Honda Sensing as standard, featuring forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping and centering assist, adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist, and driver monitoring. Rear-seat reminders, automatic high beams, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert were also included, with front and rear parking sensors and low-speed automatic braking control available on higher trims. In real-world tests, Honda Sensing’s adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist proved smooth and reliable with minor exceptions on freeway curves and dubious road markings. The CR-V Hybrid earned top safety ratings from IIHS with a Top Safety Pick+ award, though NHTSA had yet to rate it at the time.

The 2024 Subaru Ascent mirrored this with a series of comprehensive safety measures incorporated into its EyeSight Driver Assist system. This included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure and keeping assist, lane centering assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high-beam headlights. Premium trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic reverse braking, and Driver Focus monitoring with facial recognition technology. Despite historically strong performance, the latest EyeSight iteration displayed some navigational challenges during complex driving scenarios, with lane-centering assist sometimes fighting against the driver. NHTSA awarded the Ascent five stars in all areas except rollover resistance, where it received four stars, and IIHS also granted a Top Safety Pick+ rating.

Both SUVs offered extensive safety features and achieved high safety ratings, though the CR-V Hybrid’s systems scored slightly higher in expert evaluations.