Go ahead, splurge. Treat yourself to the best compact SUV in the showroom—just don't let the hybrid badge surprise you. If that h-word provokes associations of stodgy, slow, compromise-mobiles, consider this: The 2020 Honda CR-V and 2020 Toyota RAV4 offer engine upgrades that deliver more responsiveness and efficiency than almost any SUV under $40,000. Oh, and you'll retain the interior space you expect while traveling more than 100 miles longer between fuel stops. When it comes to having your cake and eating it, too, the hybrids of these segment-dominating rivals provide satisfying and guilt-free motoring. At the higher end of the segment, though, which is the best hybrid SUV—the CR-V Touring or the RAV4 XSE?

Which Hybrid SUV Is More Efficient? Are They Expensive?

The Toyota and Ford's new Escape Hybrid win the race for data-obsessed buyers, with an excellent 40 mpg combined city/highway rating. But you're reading MotorTrend, which means you understand there's more to the picture than simply superb efficiency. It's a good place to start, though, and the all-wheel-drive (AWD) Honda falls a tiny bit behind the others, with an EPA-rated 40/35 mpg to the AWD Toyota's 41/38 mpg and the Ford's 43-44/37 mpg (front-wheel drive and AWD). Our real-world results with the Toyota and Honda reflected the former's advantage.

See all 73 photos The Honda has a standard mechanical AWD system like the non-hybrid model. The Toyota, however, uses an electric motor at the rear axle instead of the conventional AWD system of other RAV4s.

Even if you're only an environmentalist when Greenpeace volunteers are at the door, how would you like three extra days of commuting without stopping for gas? With the CR-V, upgrading from an AWD model to the AWD hybrid means 126 extra miles of range if you drive about as efficiently as the EPA's estimates. The RAV4 hybrid extends driving range 145 to 174 miles, depending on the trim. One note—as of this writing, Toyota was working through an issue affecting an unknown number of 2019 and 2020 RAV4 Hybrids, in which a variation in the shape of the fuel tank may be impacting the car's ability to get a full fill-up.

Enthusiasts of good deals can get behind these hybrids, too. Honda only charges $1,200 above the AWD non-hybrid trim, and Toyota has cut its hybrid premium to only $1,000 above AWD non-hybrid variants. That's compelling. Depending on how and where you drive, paying off those premiums over the course of a five-year loan should be a cinch.

How They Drive … and a 2001 Prius

"Remarkably fun" was how testing director Kim Reynolds described the RAV4 XSE hybrid after he drove it at the limit on our figure-eight course, which evaluates braking, cornering, accelerating, and the transitions in between. Our RAV4 Hybrid tester hit 60 mph in just 7.1 seconds, beating the CR-V Hybrid's 7.5 seconds, almost a full second quicker than our 2019 RAV4 XLE AWD long-termer, and about 6 seconds swifter than the original Prius. Not bad for a hybrid SUV only 1 mpg off that trailblazing hybrid sedan.

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At a more relaxed pace, the RAV4 XSE Hybrid's dynamics are solid but not quite as entertaining. "The steering on the Toyota feels more artificial and has less feedback," MotorTrend en Español managing editor Miguel Cortina said after driving the Honda and Toyota. It's more than just the steering, though.

The sport-tuned RAV4 XSE is less compliant than the CR-V, yet the Honda still feels fun for a sensible crossover. Reynolds preferred the RAV4's dynamics on the track but spoke to what we discovered on the street: The Honda feels nimbler during casual driving. The CR-V also hands the RAV4 the title for quickest compact SUV hybrid in exchange for slightly more comfortable suspension and transmission tuning. There's no right or wrong here; it's more a matter of taste. If you want the ultimate in suspension compliance, go with the CR-V Touring Hybrid. But if the responsive Honda can't quite match your lead-footed driving style, try the even more responsive and quicker RAV4 XSE.

Braking Performance and a Transmission Curiosity

So you're thinking of going with the CR-V because a 0.4-second difference to 60 mph doesn't faze you. OK, but before you end a CR-V Hybrid test drive, listen for the Honda's motorboating transmission by applying moderate to maximum throttle. That occasional intrusion is the biggest reason the Insight wasn't our 2019 Car of the Year, and for some it will sour an otherwise excellent driving experience. With my stop-and-eventually-go commute, I'd gladly accept the unconventional way the transmission lets the engine swell toward its power peak as a trade-off for smoothness.

See all 73 photos Both SUVs have five-star safety scores from the NHTSA and are IIHS 2020 Top Safety Picks. The main difference: The Honda's headlights are rated better (on average), but the Toyota's LATCH setup is rated easier to use.

The CR-V regains its footing with fantastic brake feel, at least in everyday driving. In MotorTrend's 60-0 mph panic stop testing , road test editor Chris Walton was surprised by the "huge delay between pedal pressing and actually slowing," despite a 115-foot stop that beat the Toyota's 120-foot performance. What delighted us on the street, however, was braking feel that felt more like a non-hybrid than almost any hybrid available today. The Toyota's brakes feel almost normal to the end of the pedal's travel, but the Honda is so good, some might not even realize it's a hybrid. Cortina also appreciated the CR-V's braking-regen paddle shifters.

"They almost work for one-pedal driving," he said.

Interior Innovation: Toyota and Honda Magic

Inside, the Honda and Toyota are almost perfect foils. The Toyota exudes an outdoorsy charm, even in sporty XSE trim. Like a rugged backpack worn by someone who went hiking once, the Toyota is cool even when you know harder-core alternatives exist. The grippy material behind the front door pulls and on the enormous HVAC knobs speak to that spirit, as does the line-pattern on the bottom of the cupholders and even on the footpad of the driver's floormat. Then there's the way the geometric pattern in the headlights matches the pattern on the door sill trim. Taken at this level of interior detail or from 50 feet, the RAV4's design will inspire pride from owners who notice. Pro tip: Even if you rarely use the RAV4 Hybrid's Eco and Sport drive modes, think of the controller as a soothing fidget toy. When you're waiting for someone, rotate the grippy material of that drive mode disc to see the light change from green to blue to red. Neat.

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The Honda takes a more middle-of-the-road approach. The SUV's woodlike trim isn't as convincing as what you'll find in the Accord, but it still speaks to the CR-V's more mainstream-luxury approach. Where the RAV4 XSE has blue accents on the dash and in the seats, the CR-V Hybrid's biggest interior change compared to the non-hybrid model is the lack of a gear stalk. In its place, this Honda has gear buttons that are intuitive once you get used to them. Oddly, the gear stalk of our RAV4 XSE tester required a bit more effort to push from drive to park than we'd like.

On the practical side of things, the SUVs excel in different ways. The CR-V Hybrid's cargo load floor may be slightly lower than the Toyota's, but the Honda only offers 33.2 cubic feet of cargo space to the Toyota's 37.6. Both cargo areas are spacious, but it's worth noting you won't lose any cubes shifting from non-hybrid to hybrid in the Toyota—a hybrid SUV that also manages to make room for a spare tire. With the Honda, non-hybrids provide an extra 6.0 cubic feet.

If you buy on a day when your left brain is calling the shots, we'd still recommend the Honda. Because although the CR-V lacks the RAV4's cargo space advantage, it blows the Toyota out of the water in most practical details in front of the cargo area. Honda's mastered the details—maybe that's one reason this generation CR-V won a non-hybrid Big Test comparison and was our 2018 SUV of the Year. It's everything from the way the rear doors open almost 90 degrees to the way the front seat tracks aren't as intrusive for backseat passengers as in the Toyota. It's the way the drivetrain hump is that much less noticeable, making it easier for outboard passengers to stretch their legs toward the center. Up front, it's the way the supremely usable, flexible center console makes the cabin feel airier. Even the steering wheel's volume and track-forward controls are in a smarter place on the Honda.

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Still, the CR-V's far from perfect. Cortina missed having a tuning knob, and the CR-V's infotainment screen feels like a sad, 7.0-inch homage to what used to be acceptable at this price point. Most CR-V competitors offer screens that are a bit larger and, crucially, mounted higher on the dash for optimal visibility. Expect the next-gen CR-V to adopt this layout—you know, just like the 2020 Accord already does.

Which Hybrid SUV Is Best?

This is a close one. These two sales leaders demonstrate that no one needs to accept a compact hybrid SUV with an absurdly high cargo area load floor anymore. And at least with the Honda and Toyota, MotorTrend testing confirms that poky acceleration is a thing of the past. Go ahead and roll your eyes; the real winner here is you. Both rivals are worth driving even as they strive to be the best hybrid SUV in different ways.

The Toyota actually offers more value and tech on lower trim levels than the Honda, which charges a greater premium for a power liftgate, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. When it comes to our $37,070 CR-V Touring and $38,557 RAV4 XSE hybrid testers, though, we couldn't ignore that gaping price difference. At the more expensive end of the segment, the Toyota doesn't have $1,500 more excellence (or equipment) than the Honda. Also, Toyota, how about adding a power passenger seat on some 2021 or 2022 RAV4s?

Now a few years removed from its SUV of the Year win, the Honda can't hide a couple of warts in hybrid form. But if we had just under $40,000 for a hybrid SUV, we'll take the CR-V.

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