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The 2021 Honda HR-V takes on the Toyota C-HR to find out which of these compact SUVs is really the best small city car today.
Toyota vs Honda: Compact SUVs
As we come upon the fifth anniversary of the Honda HR-V, it’s amazing to think of how many compact SUVs are running around on roads today compared to when it made its debut. Not least among that swath is the Toyota C-HR which, despite having a similar size, shape, and name, manages to be distinct enough to challenge the HR-V on its home turf. Toyota didn’t bring their compact SUV to market until 2018, so we wonder if that extra time in development has made it a better buy than the Honda HR-V or if the older of the two has managed to get a lead so big that it can’t be caught. To find out we’re comparing the 2021 Honda HR-V to the 2021 Toyota C-HR back to back and only one can win.
2021 Toyota C-HR vs Honda HR-V Specs
Starting at just $21,040, the Honda HR-V edges the Toyota C-HR, which starts at $21,445, by a nose. That small disparity continues throughout each car’s lineup to the top trims where the Honda rings up at $25,820 and the Toyota at $26,500. The Honda also offers a bit better fuel economy, 30 mpg combined compared to the C-HR that achieves 29 mpg combined. That advantage disappears though when the HR-V is equipped with all-wheel-drive, a feature the C-HR cannot be had with. In our minds, that’s one more checkmark for the Honda. Both cars use a four-cylinder engine mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT), but this time Toyota comes away with a slight edge, 144 horsepower to Honda’s 141. Trust us, that’s not enough for even the most deft of drivers to notice. On paper then, these two are incredibly close. Let’s see what they’re like in the real world though.
Driving & Performance
For as humdrum as the reputation of Honda might be in some people’s minds, they know how to make a car feel sporty and engaging. The HR-V is proof positive of that. Despite the fact that it has barely more horsepower than a lawnmower, it’s incredibly nimble on its tires and happy to be thrown about in go-kart-like fashion. Body roll is minimal, while the steering wheel and brakes do an excellent job of being both communicative and easy to modulate. We can’t say enough how much we wish there was a 200ish horsepower version of the HR-V.
The Toyota C-HR has the same abysmal acceleration as the Honda, but it doesn’t benefit from the same fine-tuning that went into the HR-Vs suspension. Braking and steering feedback is solid and didn’t give us cause for complaint, but driving them back to back does expose the C-HR as a bit more muted and unwilling to be playful. Drivers can still enjoy the C-HR, it’s just a bit less athletic.
Both are nicer around town in traffic than they are trying to carve canyons. They’re easy to fit into narrow lanes, change lanes quickly, and can use the highway when needed. Ultimately, neither of these vehicles are really made for more than city driving. Merging or passing on the highway is a real chore for both. In cities where most drivers are piloting their cars above the speed limit, both the HR-V and C-HR could prove stressful for their owners.
2021 Toyota C-HR vs Honda HR-V Interior Comfort
Where the Toyota comes into its own though is in terms of overall ride comfort. No, it’s not going to provide a supple and luxurious experience over broken pavement and poor roads, but neither is the Honda. What the Toyota excels at is providing a spacious, comfortable, and feature heavy interior compared to the Honda. First, the infotainment system is a world apart from the HR-V. It’s much easier to use than the Honda system, and it’s bigger to boot. Then there’s overall ride comfort which is similar, but we like the support and the overall classier design aesthetic of the seats in the Toyota C-HR.
If there’s something we didn’t like about the C-HR it’s the gigantic C-pillars that not only limit rearward visibility but also can make the rear seats feel much tighter than they really are. That can make parking in tight spaces, a key feature of small SUVs like this, harder than it needs to be for some. Honda doesn’t have that problem in the HR-V thanks to excellent visibility in all directions. Its interior is nicely laid out and comfortable too. Its seats don’t feel as supportive, especially over the aforementioned poor road conditions, but around town, they’re perfectly lovely.
Neither the HR-V nor the C-HR are particularly quiet inside. Both parent companies clearly saved some money on little to no sound deadening and it’s easy to hear both engines when accelerating. Again though, in the city, noise levels shouldn’t be a major irritant.
2021 Toyota C-HR vs Honda HR-V Trims & Features
Both of these compact SUVs are available in four separate trims. The 2021 Honda HR-V base model is called the LX and it features a 5-inch infotainment screen, 17-inch wheels, and LED brake lights. The next level up is the Sport which gets bigger 18-inch wheels, a 7-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as paddle shifters. At the EX level, buyers will find their HR-V equipped with heated seats, a sunroof, and blind-spot monitoring. In addition, the EX as well as the EX-L get Honda Sensing, Honda’s full complement of advanced driver safety features like adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist. Standard features on the EX-L include leather seats and a 180-watt sound system.
The 2021 Toyota C-HR starts out its base model with 17-inch wheels, but boosts value immediately with an 8-inch infotainment screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, dual-zone automatic climate control, and LED headlights. Every C-HR including the base model LE comes with standard advanced safety features like adaptive cruise, lane-keep assist, road sign recognition, and automatic high beams. XLE is the trim above LE and drivers will enjoy standard 18-inch wheels, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a push-button start. Above that is the new Nightshade edition that gets special black 18-inch wheels, a chin spoiler, and black interior trim. The top of the line Limited trim also gets a special set of 18-inch wheels, leather upholstery, adaptive LED headlights, and power-adjustable heated front seats. It really is quite the package.
The Winner Is…
Considering the demographic that these cars are aimed at, we can’t help but think that the Toyota C-HR is the better buy hands down. No, it doesn’t have all-wheel-drive as an option, a major oversight in our eyes. But, it does have a better interior, better technology, and costs only little more than the Honda HR-V. That cost is made up immediately in the 2 years or 25,000 miles worth of complimentary maintenance that comes with every Toyota C-HR. Finally, there’s no price we can put on safety, and as most C-HR drivers will be younger and less experienced behind the wheel. We feel that by including so many more advanced safety features as standard, Toyota has really shown Honda how it should be done.
