This is a great comparison between two vehicles that are often cross-shopped. Thank you for taking the time to post this. I’m hoping Subaru comes out with a hybrid option for the Outback soon.

 

My wife has the base level (non-hybrid) 2021 CRV. We got a great deal on it (brand new) right before the big car market supply crash. Bang for the buck, a fantastic car.

I'm still waiting to get the '24 OBO XT... hopefully this month!

No hybrids or EVs for us.

 

Great review, OP.

My wife has the base level (non-hybrid) 2021 CRV. We got a great deal on it (brand new) right before the big car market supply crash. Bang for the buck, a fantastic car.

I'm still waiting to get the '24 OBO XT... hopefully this month!

No hybrids or EVs for us.

The car is great (just got mine). Get you some cup holder inserts prior to your first coffee run though, lol.

 

The new honda CRV is bigger and nicer compared to the older generation. It's just too expensive for what it is. As for the gas mileage, I bet you live in small town with no traffic

 

I have a '23 Outback, my wife a 24 CRV Hyrid Sport-Touring. I thjought a compasion might be useful to some.

AWD SYSTEM There is no comparison. Subaru’s system is always on and designed for constant use. The CRV system is a FWD biased system. It uses electric motors to provide AWD as needed. If you take the CRV off road for an extended time you run the risk of overheating the system.

ACCELERATION: The XT Turbo blows away the CRV. However the CRV Hybrid is faster than the non-turbo Outback and the non-hybrid CRV.

MILEAGE: My Outback XT always exceeded what others report on this forum. I got 28-29 overall in summer, 26-27mph winter. We've had the CRV two-month (winter). We're getting around 31-34 highway and around 42-47 city (hand checked). City driving is where the regenerative braking and hybrid (electric) system really does its magic.

INFOTAINMENT: The CRV system just works. It simple, clean and works with Apple Car Play seamlessly. Its screen has much less glare making it much more readable. The CRV touring comes with Honda’s best Bose system. I have a friend with the Harman-Kardon his Outback. I think neither are amazing to be honest. I replaced the door speakers in my Outback with Infinity Reference and was more than happy.

COMFORT. Both are great. The CRV works better for me - because I’m really tall. This is big (<-- see what I did there?). However, I think, most people will find both exceptionally comfortable.

HANDLING: I think the CRV is much better. I always felt like my Outback suffers from a bit of under steer. The CRV just feel right - even a little sports-car like. It’s tighter and quicker to respond.

ERGONOMICS: There is no comparison. Honda sweats the details, Subaru never has. It’s not the Outback is bad. It’s just that Honda is great. Clean and functional.

COLOR/PAINT: Subjective. I think the the Autumn Metallic looks amazing. I think the White CRV looks clean and classy. I still like the Subaru’s color better. I’ve had several Subaru and Honda products over the years. Subaru paint always seems more fragile.

ROOM: With the CRV, the under deck (where a spare is on the non hybrid) is where the Hybrid battery is stored. This makes the the Subaru a clear winner. However, I can get large road bike (62mm frame) with both wheels attached in back (second row seats down) in either – this is a priority for me in any car.

SPARE TIRE: There is NONE in the CRV. You get a repair kit (Slime-like sealer stuff and an electric infiltrator.) This may be a deal breaker for many. One advantage for the Honda, you will never have to buy four new tires when you get one flat tire.

NOISE: In general the CRV is much quieter with less road noise. The Outback's roof rails make the use of the moon roof less pleasant because of the noise. Under hard acceleration you can hear the engine in the CRV. It's not CVT whine like you get in the Subaru - it's engine noise. The CRV has an eCVT (but it's not really a CVT at all - thank you Honda for being so confusing).

The Honda extended warranty is about 1/3 cheaper than the Subaru comparable extended warranty. You can buy a Honda Warranty from any Honda dealer (unless you are in Florida). I think this competition is the reason you can find a Honda warranty for less - all things being equal.

Summary: They're different cars and both are great in there own right. Your mileage may vary. I hope you find this comparison useful in some way. Cheers.

So the short version is the CRV is better. Got it, thanks!

 

For the vast majority of drivers the CRV is a solid option. For driving in more challenging conditions more often, I would trust the Subie more.

 

SPARE TIRE: There is NONE in the CRV. You get a repair kit (Slime-like sealer stuff and an electric infiltrator.) This may be a deal breaker for many. One advantage for the Honda, you will never have to buy four new tires when you get one flat tire.

This is a great feature unlike Subaru's spare tire setup from the pioneer ages.

 

We'll have to agree to disagree on this one. Many things can happen to a tire, not all are repairable using sealer. I much prefer having a real spare, as I know I'm less likely to be stranded regardless of the type of road hazard I may encounter. As there is room for it, I'm even considering replacing the temp spare with a full-size one.

To me, one of the biggest difference between the Outback and the CRV (and all other CUV competition) is the length of the cargo area. I carry cross-country skis in winter and RC model gliders in summer. Both fit easily in the back of the Outback (with the rear seats down), and not would fit so easily, if at all, in the competition. Wagons rule!

 

nice comparison. we have a '18 CR-V and '24 Outback XT in our family. for fuel economy, the CR-V wins hands down. i can't say the fit and finish of one is better than the other. i like many here, prefer the longer cargo area for storage/transport of the Outback, but that comes at the cost of it being a bit harder to park parallel and eating up more depth in our garage.

 

I considered a CRV (used) before looking at Subarus, but I thought tales about its bad off-road performance were somewhat exaggerated. Glad to know that I made the right choice with my '15 Outback, because it opened up the whole new world of off-roadish camping trips for me.

 

That was a great comparison write-up. I'm sure that will be helpful to someone trying to decide between the two. As an owner of a 2017 CRV and a 2021 OB Touring XT, I can relate to many of the differences you spoke of. My wife loves her OB and I love my CRV. I enjoy the OB on long trips because it rides better and the seats are the most comfortable of any car we test drove before our purchase. We usually take her car on trips for that reason, but as a daily driver I enjoy not having to deal with the infotainment system of the OB. It's nice to not have someone tell me to keep my eyes on the road when I'm looking straight ahead. I am constantly adjusting the climate control on the OB even when I'm trying to use the Auto feature. My CRV is just set it and leave it.
At 72k on the CRV I'm getting an avg of 32.5 mpg for combined city/hwy.

Bottom line is while both are good cars and I have no regrets with the purchase of either, I will probably buy another CRV when the time comes for replacement. Unless my wife really wants another I don't think I would buy another OB, esp. now with the hideous black cladding. Just my .02 worth.

 

That was a great comparison write-up. I'm sure that will be helpful to someone trying to decide between the two. As an owner of a 2017 CRV and a 2021 OB Touring XT, I can relate to many of the differences you spoke of. My wife loves her OB and I love my CRV. I enjoy the OB on long trips because it rides better and the seats are the most comfortable of any car we test drove before our purchase. We usually take her car on trips for that reason, but as a daily driver I enjoy not having to deal with the infotainment system of the OB. It's nice to not have someone tell me to keep my eyes on the road when I'm looking straight ahead. I am constantly adjusting the climate control on the OB even when I'm trying to use the Auto feature. My CRV is just set it and leave it.
At 72k on the CRV I'm getting an avg of 32.5 mpg for combined city/hwy.

Bottom line is while both are good cars and I have no regrets with the purchase of either, I will probably buy another CRV when the time comes for replacement. Unless my wife really wants another I don't think I would buy another OB, esp. now with the hideous black cladding. Just my .02 worth.

Seats where redone for the new CRV and provide better comfort.

 

When I was looking at vehicles I ruled out the no-spare hybrid CR-V. A $10 can of sealant is a poor substitute for a spare tire.

 

If you want to have an option, there are websites like ModernSpare that have a functional donut kit that can go in your trunk. I agree it’s no substitute but it’s better than nothing.

 

I have a '23 Outback, my wife a 24 CRV Hyrid Sport-Touring. I thjought a compasion might be useful to some.

AWD SYSTEM There is no comparison. Subaru’s system is always on and designed for constant use. The CRV system is a FWD biased system. It uses electric motors to provide AWD as needed. If you take the CRV off road for an extended time you run the risk of overheating the system.

ACCELERATION: The XT Turbo blows away the CRV. However the CRV Hybrid is faster than the non-turbo Outback and the non-hybrid CRV.

MILEAGE: My Outback XT always exceeded what others report on this forum. I got 28-29 overall in summer, 26-27mph winter. We've had the CRV two-month (winter). We're getting around 31-34 highway and around 42-47 city (hand checked). City driving is where the regenerative braking and hybrid (electric) system really does its magic.

INFOTAINMENT: The CRV system just works. It simple, clean and works with Apple Car Play seamlessly. Its screen has much less glare making it much more readable. The CRV touring comes with Honda’s best Bose system. I have a friend with the Harman-Kardon his Outback. I think neither are amazing to be honest. I replaced the door speakers in my Outback with Infinity Reference and was more than happy.

COMFORT. Both are great. The CRV works better for me - because I’m really tall. This is big (<-- see what I did there?). However, I think, most people will find both exceptionally comfortable.

HANDLING: I think the CRV is much better. I always felt like my Outback suffers from a bit of under steer. The CRV just feel right - even a little sports-car like. It’s tighter and quicker to respond.

ERGONOMICS: There is no comparison. Honda sweats the details, Subaru never has. It’s not the Outback is bad. It’s just that Honda is great. Clean and functional.

COLOR/PAINT: Subjective. I think the the Autumn Metallic looks amazing. I think the White CRV looks clean and classy. I still like the Subaru’s color better. I’ve had several Subaru and Honda products over the years. Subaru paint always seems more fragile.

ROOM: With the CRV, the under deck (where a spare is on the non hybrid) is where the Hybrid battery is stored. This makes the the Subaru a clear winner. However, I can get large road bike (62mm frame) with both wheels attached in back (second row seats down) in either – this is a priority for me in any car.

SPARE TIRE: There is NONE in the CRV. You get a repair kit (Slime-like sealer stuff and an electric infiltrator.) This may be a deal breaker for many. One advantage for the Honda, you will never have to buy four new tires when you get one flat tire.

NOISE: In general the CRV is much quieter with less road noise. The Outback's roof rails make the use of the moon roof less pleasant because of the noise. Under hard acceleration you can hear the engine in the CRV. It's not CVT whine like you get in the Subaru - it's engine noise. The CRV has an eCVT (but it's not really a CVT at all - thank you Honda for being so confusing).

The Honda extended warranty is about 1/3 cheaper than the Subaru comparable extended warranty. You can buy a Honda Warranty from any Honda dealer (unless you are in Florida). I think this competition is the reason you can find a Honda warranty for less - all things being equal.

Summary: They're different cars and both are great in there own right. Your mileage may vary. I hope you find this comparison useful in some way. Cheers.

The AWD is mechanical on the new Hybrid CRV that's why the highway mileage is down. The Hybrid setup imo is the best out there. Also, there is no transmission. Interior design if you like simplicity and analog usage is good. Its got a little bigger and has excellent rear seat room. Build quality is good and the chassis is on Hondas new global architecture which means its stiffer and safer. It has rear seat airbags. On the down side-There not loaded with extra features and a touring will cost you 40k

 

road noise has always been an issue on all the OB's I have owned.
I did a new car take off on my 2024 OB Limited and put on quiter Michelin tires.

 

road noise has always been an issue on all the OB's I have owned.
I did a new car take off on my 2024 OB Limited and put on quiter Michelin tires.

I’m curious to see what I think of the road noise for my ‘24 OB once I get used to it. As i’m coming from a Jeep, I suspect I’ll be in the “wow, this is amazing/so quiet” stage for a while.

 

my '24 Touring XT OB is quieter than my wife's '18 CR-V EX-L, and dramatically quieter than my '12 Impreza

 

A six year newer car should be quieter. However he is talking about a '24 model yr Honda so I would expect it to be quieter than a 2018.

 

good point. but based on very unreliable memory, the '24 outback is quieter than the the CR-V was when new. i have no doubts though that Honda improved upon this.

i think one thing i appreciate about the XT is in day to day driving, i never have to rev it, so it there is very little engine noise which adds to the quiet drive experience.

 

I looked at the Honda before looking at Subaru and the seats in the Outback were/are much more comfortable.

 

My daily driver is a 2020 Outback XT Touring, while my wife’s is 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid Touring, which has the same drivetrain as the CRV Hybrid. I agree with the OP’s comments. The Honda hybrid drive train is VERY nice to drive - only somewhat slower than my OB. The transitions of the gas engine turning on and off are barely perceptible. Acceleration is smooth and very linear. The Honda hybrid is different from Toyota’s in being “serial” much of the time. Except for cruising down the highway, the gas engine is mostly acting as a generator, and not connected to the wheels. It locks to the wheels when cruising at highway speeds, but still turns on and off periodically. And when accelerating the gas engine uncouples from the wheels so it can rev up to provide more electrical power. All of which happens seamlessly. In Accord form the highway mpg is about the same as the city mpg, basically mid-40’s, due to better aerodynamics than the CRV. If the CRV hybrid had been out when I bought my Outback (in late 2019), it would have received serious consideration.

 

The hybrid drivetrain in the 18 Accord has been re- engineered for the 23 Accord and CRV. Much better and quieter.

 

before purchasing my 2023 outback premium, i test drove an equivalent crv and despised everything about it except the seats!
i literally felt like it had so little pick up that i needed to get out and push the car, lol.
my husband has a honda ridgeline and i hate the controls and the infotainment system.
the crv felt cheap and junky and the handling was terrible!
i wish the outback seats were more padded but that is my only big complaint.
yes the roof rails create noise but it's no more than any other car I have driven
I do miss the physical buttons for defrost/heat but love wireless carplay.

 

@Truax Thanks for comparison. I just had a rebuilt engine installed in my '99 OB/MT. In mid October, when I had to make a decision, I came close to buying a CRV Hybrid. However, the one I liked already had a deposit and the dealer's lot is being reconstructed, so there weren't any sitting around. I figure that's ok, not only for saving the $$$ difference, but also to let the market settle down, perhaps become more of a buyers' one, and see what Honda does with the Hybrid. Honda is coming out with an all-electric next year, but that doesn't interest me. I'm 77 and working on the assumption that the next purchase will be my last.

In the meantime, I've spoken with quite a few Honda owners, including CRV and hybrid, and not one has had a bad experience or anything critical to say about them. And other than standard maintenance, not one has had a problem with theirs. Can't say that for Subaru. So, some observations...

• Yes, the CRV Hybrid is overpriced and in some ways incomplete, per some reviews, but that may have to do with parts shortages presumably getting straightened out for next year and perhaps the next version
• Yes, the spare is an issue and I'd buy either a donut or true spare, especially for any serious travelling
• If the Sport Touring Hybrid is quieter than the OB, that's probably because (I read somewhere) it has better sound insulation, probably for the Bose (ugh) system
• While I've only ridden in a Hybrid, I wouldn't be surprised if my OB/MT, at least earlier on, would have been faster off the line. I can live without that. The RAV4 is reportedly better in this regard. But my gosh, the Tesla Y accelerates like a rocket.
• No CD player option like Subie has on some models. CD audiobooks books are still free plentiful and free at the library.
• The current Hybrid is the same length as the Forester, so relative to the OB it's rear compartment floor space is necessarily shorter. The Hybrid's rear cubic measurement comes from having more height. I use cross-country skis and in my OB lay them (or a bag) either diagonally across the rear cover toward the drivers side or along the right to the front seat. Don't know why that wouldn't work with the CRV.

"Challenging roads:" What do you have in mind? I live in SW Montana with mountains all around and YNP not far. Dirt roads, often uphill and sometimes serially rutty, are often the way to the trailhead. My sense is that the CRV can handle at least most of that.

 

@Truax Thanks for comparison. I just had a rebuilt engine installed in my '99 OB/MT. In mid October, when I had to make a decision, I came close to buying a CRV Hybrid. However, the one I liked already had a deposit and the dealer's lot is being reconstructed, so there weren't any sitting around. I figure that's ok, not only for saving the $$$ difference, but also to let the market settle down, perhaps become more of a buyers' one, and see what Honda does with the Hybrid. Honda is coming out with an all-electric next year, but that doesn't interest me. I'm 77 and working on the assumption that the next purchase will be my last.

In the meantime, I've spoken with quite a few Honda owners, including CRV and hybrid, and not one has had a bad experience or anything critical to say about them. And other than standard maintenance, not one has had a problem with theirs. Can't say that for Subaru. So, some observations...

• Yes, the CRV Hybrid is overpriced and in some ways incomplete, per some reviews, but that may have to do with parts shortages presumably getting straightened out for next year and perhaps the next version
• Yes, the spare is an issue and I'd buy either a donut or true spare, especially for any serious travelling
• If the Sport Touring Hybrid is quieter than the OB, that's probably because (I read somewhere) it has better sound insulation, probably for the Bose (ugh) system
• While I've only ridden in a Hybrid, I wouldn't be surprised if my OB/MT, at least earlier on, would have been faster off the line. I can live without that. The RAV4 is reportedly better in this regard. But my gosh, the Tesla Y accelerates like a rocket.
• The current Hybrid is the same length as the Forester, so relative to the OB it's rear compartment floor space is necessarily shorter. The Hybrid's rear cubic measurement comes from having more height. I use cross-country skis and in my OB lay them (or a bag) either diagonally across the rear cover toward the drivers side or along the right to the front seat. Don't know why that wouldn't work with the CRV.

"Challenging roads:" What do you have in mind? I live in SW Montana with mountains all around and YNP not far. Dirt roads, often uphill and sometimes serially rutty, are often the way to the trailhead. My sense is that the CRV can handle at least most of that.

You will be fine on those roads with the CRV, Although I always change out the OEM tires for something better. Also, Hondas first electric cars are re-badged GM products. I personally would not touch one. Honda will have all electric choices based on Hondas new platform probably in the 26 model year. Your skis should fit it. The 25 model year should bring more content to CRV but at what price .

 

We compared a CRV to an Outback in 2012, the CRV won. In 2019 we compared again, the Outback won, and was a repeat winner in 2020.

In 2023 we shopped again, considered CRV, Pilot, Outback, and Ascent: the Ascent won (we also kept our 20 Outback). The biggest change from 2020 was the CRV price went way up to get the minimum equipment we wanted, almost as expensive as an Ascent. Similarly, an equivalent Pilot would have been $15K more than the Ascent; we could have bought a Pilot for only $9K more than the Ascent, but it would have been sorely lacking on equipment. The Grand Highlander would have been nice, but ridiculously more expensive. Subaru is simply an amazing value, and still has the best awd system if that is important to you.

88K miles now on the Outback, averaging just over 31mpg for the life of the vehicle, still original brakes and pads. 23K on the Ascent, averaging 25.5mpg for the life of the vehicle. We will be closely watching the new hybrid offerings from Subaru in the years ahead.

 

Driving ANY car without a spare tire is a terrible idea. A can of sealant is going to be able to fix anything that comes up? That's just crazy.

I have an OBW with full size spare and would have nothing less in all futire vehicles.

And why would all four tires need to be replaced when you get a flat in ONE of them? That's just incorrect.

 

Funny, an uncle and I were recently having this conversation. He's been a CRV guy for many years. I'm on my 4th Subie, my current '21 Touring XT is my first OB. My lease is up in a few months, so I've been poking around online (as one does lol) and at dealerships. I've looked at comparably sized Honda, Mercedes, Volvo, BMW's and I'm back to an OBXT again, mostly because of all those vehicles, the OBXT has the most features in aggregate. Full disclosure, I installed a beefier rear sway bar which mitigated much of the body roll and over/under steer. I find it to be a great road trip car, fitting a ton of stuff in the back w/o folding the seats.

So here I am, not getting a CRV (it was pretty close though) and instead ordering a '24 Touring XT. I guess we'll see about any noise difference since the windshield is no longer laminated (the front doors' glass remains laminated).

 

Glad to see this thread. Once I decided I needed to have my pickup no longer be the daily driver (Chevy crew cab 3/4 ton), I decided my wife's '16 Outback (my third Subaru) was just too small. The Ascent uses two turbos on a smaller 2.4L engine, which makes no sense to me. No way that motor's lasting very long. I ended up with a new Honda Pilot, and I think its newly upgraded AWD system is phenomenal, and the three rows of seats will all carry adults comfortably. A lot to get used to in these newfangled things, but man is that Pilot comfortable. It also outhandles the Outback by a good bit. My '06 OB handled like a sports car, but the '16 is pretty pedestrian overall. Nice car, but the new Pilot is beyond awesome. Worth looking at if you want a bus that'll zip u[p the mountain roads around here.

 

I'm not that concerned about not having a spare. I rode motorcycles over 40 years without a spare and I always made it home. My last 2 Miatas do not have a spare simply because there is no room for one, Never had a problem. My wife has been driving since 1966 and has never had a flat (very lucky).

 

(Sorry I'm a bit late to this party) I have a new '24 Outback. I think my husband would have bought the CRV if the dealer hadn't ticked him off. But what I'm really here about is how you are getting 28 mpg? I get 23 at best. Local suburban driving with a bit of highway. Very disappointing although the car is extremely comfortable.