Compare the2024 Lexus NXVS 2024 Honda CR-V

With its standard Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, the Lexus NX is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Honda CR-V, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	NX	CR-V
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	-10 MPH
25 MPH	AVOIDED	-18 MPH
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	No Slowing
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-17 MPH
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	No Slowing
37 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-33 MPH
37 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	No Slowing
Warning Issued-Low beams	2.4 sec	No Warning

The NX offers an optional Panoramic View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The CR-V only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the NX has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert to warn the driver of approaching traffic and automatically engage the brakes to help avoid a collision. Honda charges extra for Cross Traffic Monitor on the CR-V and its not available on the LX and the CR-V’s Cross Traffic Monitor does not include automatic braking.

Both the NX and the CR-V have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and driver alert monitors.

The NX comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The CR-V’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the NX 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Honda covers the CR-V. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the CR-V ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The NX’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the CR-V’s (6 vs. 5 years).

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 19 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in long-term dependability. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Honda is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Honda vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus first in overall reliability. Honda is ranked fifth.

The NX has more powerful engines than the CR-V:

	Horsepower	Torque
NX 250 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder	203 HP	184 lbs.-ft.
NX 350h 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid	240 HP
NX 350 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder	275 HP	317 lbs.-ft.
NX 450h 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid	304 HP
CR-V 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder	190 HP	179 lbs.-ft.
CR-V Hybrid 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid	204 HP	247 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Lexus NX is faster than the CR-V Hybrid 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid:

	NX 350h	NX 350	CR-V
Zero to 30 MPH	2.8 sec	3 sec	3.3 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	7.6 sec	7.2 sec	8.4 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	4.8 sec	4.3 sec	5.4 sec
Quarter Mile	15.9 sec	15.5 sec	16.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	90 MPH	96 MPH	84 MPH

As tested in Motor Trend the NX 450h 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the CR-V Hybrid 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid:

	NX	CR-V
Zero to 60 MPH	5.5 sec	7.6 sec
Quarter Mile	14.1 sec	16.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	99.4 MPH	81.5 MPH

As tested in Motor Trend the NX 450h is faster than the Honda CR-V 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder:

	NX	CR-V
Zero to 60 MPH	5.5 sec	8.7 sec
Quarter Mile	14.1 sec	16.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	99.4 MPH	86.4 MPH

On the EPA test cycle the NX running on electricity gets better mileage than the CR-V:

			MPGe
NX
	AWD	450h Electric Motors	93 city/75 hwy
CR-V
			MPG
	FWD	2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	43 city/36 hwy
		1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	28 city/34 hwy
	AWD	2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	40 city/34 hwy
		1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	27 city/32 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the NX running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the CR-V:

			MPG
NX
	AWD	350h 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	41 city/37 hwy
		450h 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	38 city/33 hwy
CR-V
	AWD	2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	40 city/34 hwy
		1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	27 city/32 hwy

The NX 450h can travel with zero emissions for 37 miles. The CR-V can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

For better stopping power the NX’s brake rotors are larger than those on the CR-V:

	NX	CR-V
Front Rotors	12.9 inches	12.3 inches
Rear Rotors	12.5 inches	12.2 inches

The NX’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the CR-V are solid, not vented.

The NX stops shorter than the CR-V:

	NX	CR-V
60 to 0 MPH	123 feet	130 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	138 feet	147 feet	Consumer Reports

The NX’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the CR-V LX’s standard 65 series tires. The NX’s optional tires have a lower 50 series profile than the CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the NX has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the CR-V LX. The NX’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the NX can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The CR-V doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The NX has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The CR-V’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The NX offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The CR-V’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The NX 350 AWD handles at .81 G’s, while the CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The NX 350 AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.1 seconds quicker than the CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid (27.2 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 29.3 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

The NX has .7 inches more front hip room and .3 inches more rear headroom than the CR-V.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the NX’s optional rear seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The CR-V doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Maximum trailer towing in the Honda CR-V is limited to 1500 pounds. The NX offers up to a 2000 lbs. towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the NX uses the Vehicle Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The CR-V doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The NX has a much higher standard payload capacity than the CR-V (1125 vs. 850 lbs.).

The NX has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the CR-V (1205 vs. 850 lbs.).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Honda. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 62% lower rating, Honda is ranked 25th.

The NX’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The CR-V has neither an oil pressure gauge nor a temperature gauge.

The NX offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The CR-V doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The NX’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The CR-V’s standard rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

The NX’s standard Smart Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, unlock the cargo door, and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Pushbutton Start standard on the CR-V only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The NX offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The CR-V doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the NX offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The CR-V doesn’t offer cornering lights. The NX also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The NX’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Honda only offers heated mirrors on the CR-V EX/Sport.

When the NX is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The CR-V’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The NX’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The CR-V offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The NX has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats are only available on the CR-V EX/Sport/Touring. The NX 350/350h also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the CR-V.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the NX keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The CR-V doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The NX has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the CR-V EX/Sport.

The NX 350h/450h+’s optional Advanced Park can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The CR-V doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Lexus NX and the Honda CR-V, based on reliability, safety and performance.