Toyota Highlander vs Honda CR-V

The 2022 Toyota Highlander exhibited a modern, somewhat aggressive front-end design that was complemented by flared fender arches and a unique third-row window design that visually minimized its size. When climbing inside, one found ample cabin space designed with clever storage solutions for iPads and juice boxes. The XSE trim, in particular, stood out with its bold red optional leather interior package, which contrasted against a sedate navy blue exterior. Unique exterior styling, ambient interior lighting, and a sport-tuned suspension further set the XSE apart.

Trims for the Highlander included the L, LE, XLE, XSE, Limited, and Platinum. The base L trim featured 18-inch alloy wheels, three-zone climate control, and a user-friendly 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. Each subsequent trim introduced additional luxury and convenience features, culminating in the Platinum trim, which included adaptive headlights, a panoramic sunroof, and a 360-degree parking camera.

In contrast, the 2023 Honda CR-V presented a cleaner and slightly meaner look with its blunt nose, long hood, and stretched wheelbase. It was a more conservative design compared to its predecessor, ensuring its styling would age well. Both the CR-V EX and EX-L trims shared 18-inch alloy wheels and dark-tinted rear privacy glass. Inside, the EX-L trim distinguished itself with leather-wrapped seats, steering wheel, and shift knob, while both trims boasted a dashboard design inspired by the latest Civic model. The EX-L trim offered more advanced features, including a larger touchscreen, a power-adjustable front passenger seat, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came equipped with a robust 3.5-liter V6 engine that delivered 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. This power was managed by an eight-speed automatic transmission, available in both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations. The transmission included a tap-shift function, and certain trims offered paddle shifters. A drive-mode button on the center console allowed drivers to switch between Sport, Normal, and Eco modes, with AWD-specific modes for Mud/Sand, Rock, and Normal. The Highlander’s V6 excelled at highway speeds, offering ample power for overtakes and maintaining a throaty exhaust note.

In comparison, the 2023 Honda CR-V was powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, generating 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque. Though potent for a compact SUV, its performance was marred by a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), which tended to drone during hard acceleration. Nevertheless, Honda’s refined suspension, steering, and brakes combined for an engaging drive experience despite the CVT's limitations. The CR-V achieved impressive fuel economy, averaging 29.1 mpg on a test drive.

Regarding cargo space, the 2022 Toyota Highlander provided up to 84.3 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded down, 48.4 cubic feet with the second row in use, and 16 cubic feet with all seats deployed. The second- and third-row seats featured quick-release latches and pull-straps for easy adjustment, and trims above the base L offered a power liftgate, with higher trims including hands-free functionality.

In contrast, the 2023 Honda CR-V offered 39.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear load floor panel at its lowest position, and 76.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. The CR-V’s cargo area included storage trays and grocery bag hooks, though the hard plastic linings of the storage bins were a concern for potential noise from items placed inside. Despite claims of increased roominess, the CR-V’s driver’s seat sat relatively low, making it feel more like a car than an SUV, though rear-seat passengers enjoyed ample legroom and seating comfort.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander featured a WiFi hotspot, five USB ports, and an 8-inch touchscreen supporting Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. The system was user-friendly, with hard buttons flanking the screen for added convenience. A wireless charging pad and additional USB ports were also available. Higher trims offered a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen and an optional 11-speaker JBL premium stereo system.

Meanwhile, the 2023 Honda CR-V came standard with a 7-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system equipped with essential features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The EX-L trim upgraded to a 9-inch touchscreen, wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and additional features like SiriusXM satellite radio and an eight-speaker sound system. However, more advanced tech features, such as a Bose premium sound system and a navigation system, were reserved for the top Sport Touring Hybrid trim.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came standard with Toyota Safety Sense, which included features like forward collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and automatic high beams. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, parking sensors, a surround-view monitor, a head-up display, and adaptive headlights. The lane-departure and lane-keeping assist systems were overly sensitive, sometimes detracting from the driving experience.

Similarly, the 2023 Honda CR-V featured the Honda Sensing package, which comprised adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and automatic high beams. Honda included new features like Traffic Jam Assist and enhanced the system’s accuracy with new camera and radar units. However, the lane-centering assist could be unpredictable, especially on highways with varying lane widths. The CR-V’s latest Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure aimed to deflect collision energy, and updated front airbag designs improved crash safety. Despite these enhancements, testing for official crash ratings by NHTSA and IIHS was still pending.