The Honda CR-V continues to be a popular choice if you’re looking for a compact SUV, as it was the second-best-selling vehicle in the segment for 2025 – and the 2026 version improves things further, as the Honda CR-V’s TrailSport Hybrid trim is new for the model. Our Logan K. Carter summed up his experience by saying that the CR-V “remains one of the most refined, composed, spacious, and user-friendly options in the compact crossover segment.”
But that section is full of good options. For example, Consumer Reports recommended both the hybrid and non-hybrid 2026 CR-V, but it did the same for 20 other compact SUVs. The magazine also published an article titled “5 Reasons to Buy the Honda CR-V Now” in the summer of 2025 after the 2026 CR-V debuted. The bottom line was that while the Honda could still make sense, it has some weaknesses compared to today’s impressive crop of compact SUVs.
That brings the hybrid model, the high-scoring CR-V, to the only competitor to outscore. We think there were three: the Subaru Forester, the Toyota RAV4, and the Mazda CX-5. Consumer Reports — because it treats hybrids and non-hybrids as separate models — lists four: Subaru Forester Hybrid, Subaru Forester, Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid, and Mazda CX-5. We’ll cover them all, considering the non-hybrid CR-V’s overall score was 10 below that of its compact SUV rivals.
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2025 Mazda CX-5
A red 2026 Mazda CX-5 parked in the harbor overlooking the paved stone drive – Mazda
First, keep in mind that Consumer Reports had not tested the 2026 Mazda CX-5 when it published its rankings, listing the 2025 model instead. Examining the story of the tape between it and the gas-only CR-V we found the main difference between them is their predicted reliability. The Mazda CX-5 had best-in-class results on this measure, which is based on Consumer Reports’ annual membership survey that includes millions of vehicles. Nor was the CR-V exactly behind, as its CR-estimated reliability score was about 25% lower than the CX-5’s.
That said, it was the CR-V with the noticeably better driving experience despite any long zoom-zoom capabilities from Mazda. Yet they had similar owner-satisfaction grades.
The 2026 CR-V will also have to contend with the all-new CX-5 when Mazda moves its small SUV next model year. Only the 2026 Mazda CX-5 won’t be as small as before. Among the many things the CX-5’s length is changing: its overall length and its wheelbase each increase by about 4.5 inches. Confusing to shoppers, the CX-5, despite its new length (184.6 inches) and low-ish starting price — $31,485 (with destination) — is still more expensive than the slightly larger CX-50 at 185.8 inches and $31,395 (again with destination).
2025 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid
Dark blue 2025 Toyota RAV4 PHEV XSE parked in front of southwest style building – Toyota
As with the Mazda CX-5, the Toyota RAV4 plug-in hybrid was a model year for Consumer Reports testing when its story was written, so we’re comparing the 2025 Toyota to the 2026 Honda. And this time we’re using the CR-V Hybrid as our benchmark because Honda doesn’t sell a plug-in version.
The RAV4 Plug-in had a slightly higher overall score, driven by better grades for both reliability and customer satisfaction. While one other compact SUV outscored the RAV4 Plug-in for estimated reliability — the Mazda CX-5 — the CRV Hybrid finished in a tie for 9th place on this measure, tied with the Buick Envision. Significantly more RAV4 Plug-in owners will repurchase the vehicle based on their recent driving history than they would repurchase the CR-V Hybrid as well. (Thus CR measures overall customer satisfaction.)
The reason the CR-V Hybrid kept its overall score close to the RAV4 Plug-in is Honda’s healthy advantage on the road. Of course, part of that had to do with the Toyota’s brakes, which CR described as “touchy” and offered stopping distances that it deemed “slightly long,” but the CR-V Hybrid also earned plenty of praise, with the second-best road-test scores in the segment. No. 1 was the 2026 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, which was one point ahead of the CR-V Hybrid for driving experience and tied with it for the overall score.
The future looks bright for both RAV4 hybrids when the 2026 models go on sale. Our Daniel Golson says they don’t innovate but must maintain dominance.
2026 Subaru Forester
A gray 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness parked outside at dusk – Subaru
Since Consumer Reports considers the same models as different vehicles with different powertrains, it’s no surprise that the 2026 Subaru Forester follows this template, with the owner of the second-best overall CR score among compact SUVs. (That means the Forester Hybrid, ranked No. 1, is covered below.)
Subaru’s position at the top of the compact SUV segment makes sense, of course, given that it was also the top name in the industry on CR’s list of brands that make the best cars. The gas-only Forester finished a few points higher than the gas-only CR-V in overall scores and road-test results, but the results were reversed when comparing predicted reliability. According to Consumer Reports, the main factor separating the two was owner-satisfaction — there, the Forester held a double-digit score advantage over the CR-V. Drilling down further, the Forester also edged out its Honda rival in specific sub-categories of driving experience, comfort, value and styling.
Forster also has a very prominent edge in pricing. The entry point for the Subaru is $31,445 with standard all-wheel drive (including destination), but a similarly equipped CR-V will set you back $33,870 (including destination). In fact, the AWD Forester is less expensive than the front-wheel drive CR-V which opens at $32,370 (again, with destination).
2026 Subaru Forester Hybrid
A gold 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid parked in front of a tree-covered hill – Subaru
Before looking at how the 2026 Subaru Forester Hybrid stacks up against the CR-V Hybrid, let’s take a quick look at how it matches up to the gas-only Forester in some relevant aspects. That current-generation non-hybrid Forester comes with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder boxer-style engine making 180 horsepower with EPA ratings of 26 mpg city/33 mpg highway/29 mpg. The Forester Hybrid adds an electric motor to increase output to 194 horsepower with an EPA line of 35/34/35.
From a Consumer Reports perspective, it’s the No. 1 compact SUV for an overall score, compared to the No. 5 CR-V Hybrid (which actually tied for fifth with the 2026 Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid and Hyundai Tucson Hybrid). The main contributor to the CR-V’s low overall score? There was actually one common thread running through all of our Honda CR-V comparisons today, and it was a poor owner-satisfaction grade.
The CR-V, hybrid and non-hybrid alike, not only trailed the entire quartet of today’s main rivals for overall score, it beat all but the Mazda CX-5 for owner satisfaction. A comparison of the Forester Hybrid and CR-V Hybrid shows the usual results: The two vehicles earned very close scores for road tests and predicted reliability, but Subaru had a double-digit lead in keeping owners satisfied.
Although it may come as a surprise, the CR-V hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle isn’t doing much to help in the happiness department. For some reason, Consumer Reports hasn’t tested the latest Honda CR-V e:FCV, but the automaker recently had to recall 388 of them for potentially leaking fuel-cell stacks.
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