2025 Honda HR-V vs 2026 Subaru Crosstrek

$25,400 · Crossover

$26,995 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

The most significant numerical difference between the 2026 Subaru Crosstrek (car2) and the 2025 Honda HR-V (car1) lies in powertrain output, where car2 delivers 180 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque compared to car1's 158 hp and 138 lb-ft. This 22 hp advantage suggests superior acceleration for the Crosstrek. Fuel economy is nearly identical, with car2 achieving 29 combined MPG versus car1's 28 combined MPG, though car2 ekes out an extra highway MPG (33 vs 32). In terms of utility, the HR-V (car1) offers substantially more storage, boasting 24.4 cubic feet of cargo space compared to the Crosstrek's 19.9 cubic feet. Price disparity is minimal, with car1 at an MSRP of $25,400 and car2 at $26,995. The Crosstrek standardizes All-Wheel Drive (AWD), whereas the base HR-V operates in Front-Wheel Drive (FWD).

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2025 Honda HR-V

The Honda HR-V (car1) secures the commuter win due to its slightly lower MSRP of $25,400 and marginally better highway MPG of 32.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2025 Honda HR-V

The 2025 Honda HR-V provides 24.4 cu ft of cargo capacity, significantly exceeding the Crosstrek's 19.9 cu ft, benefiting family hauling needs.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2026 Subaru Crosstrek

The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek is the clear choice for enthusiasts, offering 180 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque, substantially higher than the HR-V's 158 hp and 138 lb-ft.

💰 Best Value

2026 Subaru Crosstrek

Despite a $1,595 higher MSRP, the Crosstrek's inclusion of standard All-Wheel Drive justifies its cost over the FWD standard configuration of the HR-V.

Choose the Honda HR-V if...

Your primary concern is minimizing initial purchase cost, as the MSRP is $1,595 lower at $25,400.
Maximum enclosed storage space is essential, given its 24.4 cu ft capacity versus the Crosstrek's 19.9 cu ft.
You primarily drive in conditions where All-Wheel Drive is unnecessary, as the FWD configuration offers better efficiency on paper (28 combined MPG).

Choose the Subaru Crosstrek if...

Superior on-road performance is desired, supported by 180 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque.
All-weather capability is a necessity, as the Crosstrek comes standard with All-Wheel Drive.
You prioritize highway efficiency slightly, with the Crosstrek achieving 33 MPG highway compared to the HR-V's 32 MPG.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Honda HR-V	Subaru Crosstrek
Length	179.8"	176.4"
Width	72.4"	70.9"
Height	63.4"	62.8"
Wheelbase	104.5"	105.1"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Honda	Subaru
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	✓	✓
Pre-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Post-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Dual Rear Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Front Head Airbags	✓	✓
Rear Head Airbags	✓	✓
Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation	✓	✓
Electronic Stability Control	✓	✓
Traction Control System	✓	✓
LATCH System	✓	✓
Rear Door Child Safety Locks	✓	✓
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)	4-Wheel	4-Wheel
Front Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Rear Solid Disc Brakes	✓	—
Brake Assist	✓	✓
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	✓	✓
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Daytime Running Lights	✓	✓
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Headrests	3	3
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	✓	✓
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	✓
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓
Rear Ventilated Disc Brakes	—	✓
Brake Preparation System	—	✓
Adaptive Headlights	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Honda	Subaru
Base Engine Displacement	2.0 L	2.5 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	flat 4
Base Engine Type	gas	gas
Horsepower	158 hp @ 6500 rpm	180 hp @ 5800 rpm
Torque	138 lb-ft @ 4200 rpm	178 lb-ft @ 3700 rpm
Number of Valves	16	16
Camshaft Type	Double overhead cam (DOHC)	Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Variable Valve Timing	Variable	Variable
Fuel Injection Type	—	✓

Drive Train

Feature	Honda	Subaru
Transmission Type	continuously variable-speed automatic	continuously variable-speed automatic
Drivetrain Type	front wheel drive	all wheel drive
Hill Descent Control	✓	✓
Center Differential Type	—	Limited Slip

Fuel

Feature	Honda	Subaru
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	26/32 MPG	26/33 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	28 MPG	29 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	364.0/448.0 mi.	431.6/547.8 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	14.0 gal.	16.6 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Honda	Subaru
Push Button Start	✓	✓
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Audio Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Cruise Control on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Electric Power Steering	✓	✓
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Adaptive Cruise Control	✓	✓
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Rear Door Pockets	✓	✓
Front Seatback Storage	✓	✓
Single Zone Climate Control	✓	✓
Rear Ventilation Ducts	✓	—
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Transmission Controls on Steering Wheel	—	✓
Rear Cupholders	—	✓
Interior Air Filtration	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Honda	Subaru
Infotainment Display	7.0 in	7.0 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Stereo Power	180W	—
Speaker System	4	4
Android Auto (Wired)	✓	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wired)	✓	✓
USB Port	✓	✓
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Speed Sensitive Volume Control	✓	—
Auxiliary Audio Input	—	✓
Satellite Radio	—	✓
Satellite Radio Trial Length	—	4 months

Power Feature

Feature	Honda	Subaru
One-Touch Power Windows	1	4
Remote Keyless Entry	✓	—
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓
Keyless Entry	—	✓

Frontseats

Feature	Honda	Subaru
Front Head Room	39.4 in.	39.8 in.
Front Leg Room	41.9 in.	42.9 in.
Front Shoulder Room	56.6 in.	56.8 in.
Front Hip Room	54.0 in.	55.1 in.
Seat Material: Cloth	✓	✓
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Manual Adjustments	6-way	6-way
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	4-way	4-way

Rearseats

Feature	Honda	Subaru
Rear Head Room	38.0 in.	38.0 in.
Rear Leg Room	37.7 in.	36.5 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	55.2 in.	55.3 in.
Rear Hip Room	47.4 in.	53.2 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Honda	Subaru
Wheel Material	Alloy	—
Wheel Diameter	17 in	—
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	215/60R H	P225/60R17
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	Inside Mounted	Inside Mounted
Wheel Finish	—	Painted Alloy
Wheel Size	—	17 x 7.0 in

Suspension

Feature	Honda	Subaru
Four-Wheel Independent Suspension	✓	✓
Front Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓
Rear Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓

Warranty

Feature	Honda	Subaru
Basic Warranty	3 yr./ 36000 mi.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	5 yr./ 60000 mi.
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	5 yr./ unlimited mi.	5 yr./ unlimited mi.
Roadside Assistance	3 yr./ 36000 mi.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.
Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance	2 yr./ 24000 mi.	—

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Honda HR-V and 2026 Subaru Crosstrek.

What is the exact difference in horsepower and torque between the two crossovers?

The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek (car2) produces 180 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque, giving it a 22 hp and 40 lb-ft advantage over the 2025 Honda HR-V (car1), which has 158 hp and 138 lb-ft.

Which vehicle is better for carrying large cargo items based on specifications?

The 2025 Honda HR-V (car1) is superior for cargo, providing 24.4 cubic feet of space, which is 4.5 cubic feet more than the 19.9 cubic feet offered by the 2026 Subaru Crosstrek (car2).

Does the difference in MSRP heavily affect the value proposition?

The HR-V starts $1,595 lower at $25,400, but the Crosstrek includes standard AWD, which significantly enhances its baseline value compared to the FWD configuration of the base HR-V.

How do the fuel economy ratings compare for daily commuting?

Fuel economy is highly competitive; the Crosstrek edges out the HR-V with 29 combined MPG (26 city/33 highway) compared to the HR-V's 28 combined MPG (26 city/32 highway).

Are there notable dimensional differences that impact maneuverability?

The HR-V is slightly longer at 179.8 inches, while the Crosstrek is narrower (70.9 inches vs 72.4 inches) and slightly shorter in height (62.8 inches vs 63.4 inches), suggesting subtle differences in garage fitment and road presence.

Is AWD standard on both models listed?

No, the 2026 Subaru Crosstrek (car2) includes All-Wheel Drive as its standard drive type. Conversely, the base 2025 Honda HR-V (car1) is listed with Front-Wheel Drive.