2025 Honda HR-V e:HEV L vs Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid S: Spec battle

Small SUVs are big business nowadays.

Almost every mainstream auto brand has a high-riding hatchback that guarantees more room and potential for adventure than a traditional suburban runabout, including these two – the Honda HR-V and Subaru Crosstrek.

The 2 Japanese automakers are arguably the early pioneers of crossover wagons with vehicles just like the Subaru Outback, a vehicle which the smaller Crosstrek follows within the wheel tracks of, and the unique Honda HR-V that launched almost 20 years ago as a cool three-door city automotive on stilts.

And now, through advances in fuel-saving technology, the HR-V and Crosstrek line up against one another with hybrid powertrains. So which one is healthier? Let’s have a look and discover…

How much?

These two is perhaps considered small SUVs, but each command a big chunk of change because the flagship variants of their respective model lineups.

The HR-V e:HEV X costs $42,990 drive-away, which is a $3000 premium over the lower grade HR-V L variant.

The Crosstrek Hybrid S comes with a considerably higher sticker price of $45,590 plus on-road costs. A better match on price is the lower-grade L, which costs $39,090 plus on-roads, however it misses out on some key features and luxuries.

To see how the Honda HR-V stacks up against its rivals, take a look at our comparison tool

What do you get?

With each of those vehicles positioned as their respective range-toppers, they arrive with as much standard equipment as Honda and Subaru can throw at them.

The extensive list of features on each vehicles includes:

• LED headlights and tail-lights
• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Dual-zone climate control
• Power windows
• Privacy glass
• Keyless entry with push-button start
• Heated front seats
• Synthetic leather trim
• Embedded satellite navigation
• Wireless Apple CarPlay
• Android Auto
• Bluetooth connectivity
• DAB+ digital radio

While the Subaru misses out on the HR-V’s powered tailgate, it picks up a number of additional features comparable to a glass sunroof, power-adjustable driver’s seat, 10-speaker Harmon Kardon audio (in comparison with six within the Honda) and a wireless phone charger.

To see how the Honda HR-V stacks up against its rivals, take a look at our comparison tool

Are they protected?

The Subaru Crosstrek scores higher than the HR-V in independent safety testing, with a maximum five-star ANCAP rating from 2024 in comparison with the Honda’s four-star result from 2022.

Each cars, nevertheless, feature a comprehensive array of advanced driver aids, including:

• Automated emergency braking (AEB)
• Forward collision warning
• Lane departure warning
• Lane keeping assistance
• Adaptive cruise control
• Traffic jam assist
• Rear cross traffic alert
• Reversing camera
• Rear parking sensors
• Tyre pressure monitoring
• Blind spot monitoring

The Subaru goes somewhat further with its latest Eyesight suite of features that adds facial recognition software for driver fatigue management, and has a 360-degree reverse parking display.

To see how the Honda HR-V stacks up against its rivals, take a look at our comparison tool

What are they like inside?

The Subaru Crosstrek is a fraction larger than the Honda HR-V in every exterior dimension, but Honda does an incredible job of interior packaging and each of those small SUVs offer generous space inside for small families.

It have to be noted though that the HR-V is technically only a four-seater with room for just two across the rear bench seat, whereas the Subaru has a more traditional three-person rear seat configuration.

It also has barely more cargo carrying capability too, however the HR-V’s ‘magic seats’ will be configured in 18 different settings, giving it added flexibility to hold larger, and taller, items.

As for the remaining of the cabin, each are fairly dark with a predominantly black color palette, but each offer loads of headroom and a superb range of adjustment for the driving position to suit all sorts.

The Honda’s dash layout is somewhat more conservative with a horizontal bar that runs through the center, separating the floating tablet-style 9.0-inch touchscreen from a bank of physical controls for the climate control system below, with a conventional gear selector, twin cupholders and a covered bin within the centre console.

The infotainment system has a logical menu structure with large widgets which are easy to discover, in addition to a rotary dial to regulate the amount and shortcut buttons for the homepage and to return one step.

The front seats are super comfortable with sumptuous cushioning and good lateral support, and the materials and construct quality are impressive.

There’s more room within the back seat than you’d imagine for such a small automotive, and rear occupants are treated to good comfort levels with loads of legroom, plus excellent vision through the big windows, rear vents, twin USB-C power outlets and a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders.

The Subaru’s interior is a match for material and construct quality, and overall comfort, with great front seats that provide loads of adjustment, an array of convenient small-item storage spaces, and a set of physical buttons for quick access to often-used functions just like the audio and climate control temperature.

And its larger 11.6-inch portrait-style touchscreen is superb, with a well-known mobile phone-style layout to its menu structure.

However the back seats are somewhat flatter and it does miss out on rear vents, which is perhaps a bit taxing for rear occupants on longer trips.

To see how the Honda HR-V stacks up against its rivals, take a look at our comparison tool

What’s under the bonnet?

Each the Honda HR-V and Subaru Crosstrek are powered by a traditional series-parallel hybrid system that links a petroleum engine with a small electric motor powered by a battery pack to enhance fuel consumption.

But therein lies just about all of their similarities, because the Honda has a lean-burning 1.5-litre petrol engine, while the Subaru has a bigger 2.0-litre horizontally opposed four-cylinder ‘boxer’ engine.

Sure, each of them employ a repeatedly variable automatic transmission and a lithium-ion battery with the identical 1.1kWh capability, however the Honda has two electric motors sandwiched contained in the transmission and drives the front wheels only, while the Subaru has a single electric on the back of its gearbox and retains Subaru’s hallmark all-wheel drive layout.

Interestingly, Honda doesn’t publish the facility output of its electric motors individually and Subaru doesn’t provide a combined system output. But the top result is essentially the identical, with the the HR-V producing 96kW of power and 253Nm of torque, in comparison with the Subaru’s 100kW/182Nm outputs.

Each are tuned to run on probably the most inexpensive 91 RON standard unleaded, however the Honda must push significantly less mass (it weighs over 200kg less) and may use its electric motors more often, shutting down the petrol engine for brief periods at cruising speeds, which makes it more efficient.

Honda claims the HR-V has combined fuel consumption of 4.3L/100km, whereas the Subaru is just marginally higher than non-hybrid versions of the Crosstrek with a claimed average of 6.5L/100km.

To see how the Honda HR-V stacks up against its rivals, take a look at our comparison tool

Cost of ownership

Your hip pocket can be even happier with the HR-V over the long run in terms of maintenance costs.

Honda is currently offering an prolonged eight-year warranty with free roadside assistance across its entire SUV range, including all variants of the HR-V.

This compares to the usual five-year, unlimited-km warranty for the Subaru, which only includes the primary 12 months of roadside assistance without cost.

On top of that, the Crosstrek will cost greater than twice as much to service over the primary five years, regardless that its service intervals have higher 15,000km annual mileage limits than the HR-V.

To see how the Honda HR-V stacks up against its rivals, take a look at our comparison tool

CarExpert’s Pick

In the event you’re searching for a top-quality small family SUV, you possibly can’t go improper with either of those.

Each of those cars are amongst one of the best of their class for quality, reliability, driving dynamics and overall comfort.

The Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid S has a few benefits on this contest, and that’s its ability to seat five, its all-wheel drive traction and higher safety rating. Nevertheless it comes with a substantial cost penalty, as does its electrified powertrain in comparison with cheaper non-hybrid variants which, in point of fact, doesn’t add much for the premium.

Which leaves us with the HR-V e:HEV L as the higher option here – just! It’s cheaper to purchase, in addition to more comfortable, quieter and more efficient to drive, and offers higher long-term ownership advantages.

Taken with buying a Honda HR-V? Let CarExpert find you one of the best deal here
Taken with buying a Subaru Crosstrek? Let CarExpert find you one of the best deal here

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