Compare the2026 Subaru CrosstrekVS 2026 Honda HR-V

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The Crosstrek has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The HR-V doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Crosstrek. But it costs extra on the HR-V.

The Crosstrek Limited Hybrid offers an optional Surround View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The HR-V only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The Subaru Crosstrek’s rear backup camera has a standard washer for maintaining a clear view under various conditions. In contrast, the Honda HR-V does not offer a rear camera washer, meaning its effectiveness relies on manual cleaning by the user when necessary.

Both the Crosstrek and the HR-V have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear 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, available blind spot warning systems, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

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

	Crosstrek	HR-V
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	22.4%	30.8%
Leg Forces (l/r)	265/291 lbs.	279/312 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	170	278
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	28.8%	41.3%

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

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 Subaru Crosstrek is safer than the Honda HR-V:

	Crosstrek	HR-V
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.7 inches
Hip Force	297 lbs.	418 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	116	173
Spine Acceleration	52 G’s	61 G’s
Hip Force	673 lbs.	910 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	254	292

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

Reliability

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Honda vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru first in overall reliability. Honda is ranked fourth.

Engine

The Crosstrek’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 22 more horsepower (180 vs. 158) and 40 lbs.-ft. more torque (178 vs. 138) than the HR-V’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Crosstrek Hybrid’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 36 more horsepower (194 vs. 158) than the HR-V’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Subaru Crosstrek 4 cyl. is faster than the Honda HR-V:

	Crosstrek	HR-V
Zero to 60 MPH	7.9 sec	9.8 sec
Quarter Mile	16.1 sec	17.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	88.6 MPH	83 MPH

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Crosstrek lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The HR-V doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Crosstrek gets better mileage than the HR-V:

			MPG
Crosstrek
	AWD	2.5 flat-4 Hybrid	36 city/36 hwy
		Sport/Limited 2.5 DOHC flat-4	26 city/33 hwy
HR-V
	FWD	2.0 4-cyl.	26 city/32 hwy
	AWD	2.0 4-cyl.	25 city/30 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the Crosstrek Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The HR-V doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Crosstrek’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The HR-V doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Crosstrek has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the HR-V (16.6 vs. 14 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Crosstrek	Crosstrek Hybrid	HR-V
Front Rotors	12.4 inches	12.6 inches	12.3 inches

The Crosstrek’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the HR-V are solid, not vented.

The Crosstrek stops shorter than the HR-V:

	Crosstrek	HR-V
60 to 0 MPH	121 feet	125 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	138 feet	148 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Crosstrek has larger tires than the HR-V (225/60R17 vs. 215/60R17).

Suspension and Handling

The Crosstrek Limited handles at .81 G’s, while the HR-V EX-L AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Crosstrek Limited executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the HR-V EX-L AWD (27.3 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28.5 seconds @ .56 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Crosstrek Wilderness’ turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the HR-V Sport’s (34.8 feet vs. 37.1 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Crosstrek has a 1.7 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the HR-V LX/EX-L (8.7 vs. 7 inches), allowing the Crosstrek to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Crosstrek Wilderness’ minimum ground clearance is 2 inches higher than on the HR-V Sport (9.3 vs. 7.3 inches).

Chassis

The Crosstrek is 3.4 inches shorter than the HR-V, making the Crosstrek easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the Crosstrek uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The HR-V doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Crosstrek has .4 inches more front headroom, 1 inch more front legroom, 1.1 inches more front hip room, .2 inches more front shoulder room, 7.8 inches more rear hip room and .1 inches more rear shoulder room than the HR-V.

Cargo Capacity

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Crosstrek. The HR-V doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

The Crosstrek has a 1500 lbs. towing capacity. The HR-V has no towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Crosstrek is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the HR-V. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Subaru service is better than Honda. J.D. Power ranks Subaru third in service department satisfaction. With a 15% lower rating, Honda is ranked 7th.

Ergonomics

The Crosstrek’s front power windows open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The HR-V’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. The HR-V Sport/EX-L’s rear windows don’t close automatically.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Crosstrek’s exterior PIN entry system. The HR-V doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Crosstrek’s standard Keyless Access and Start allow you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, unlock the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Push Button Start standard on the HR-V only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle. Push Button Start is not available on the HR-V Sport/EX-L.

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

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Crosstrek’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the HR-V’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Crosstrek has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The HR-V doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Crosstrek’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The HR-V offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

On extremely cold winter days, the Crosstrek Limited/Wilderness’ standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The HR-V doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Crosstrek Premium/Sport/Limited/Wilderness has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The HR-V doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The Crosstrek has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the HR-V EX-L.

Compared to the Honda HR-V, the Subaru Crosstrek eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its optional integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the rear view mirror.

Compared to traditional radio, the Subaru Crosstrek’s standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks. Satellite radio is only offered on the HR-V EX-L.

Recommendations

Both are recommended, but Consumer Reports® chose the Subaru Crosstrek as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its August 2024 issue and they ranked the Subaru Crosstrek Limited higher than the Honda HR-V EX-L AWD.

The Subaru Crosstrek outsold the Honda HR-V by 20% during 2024.

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