So. Much. Cake.

HONDA FINALLY HAS A HYBRID SUV TO CHALLENGE TOYOTA'S DOMINANCE

- ZACH GALE

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 compromise-mobiles, consider this: The 2020 Honda CR-V and 2020 Toyota RAV4 hybrids 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 farther between fuel stops. The hybrid models of these segment-dominating rivals provide satisfying and guilt-free motoring. If you really are set on the best on the showroom floor, though, which of these two offers the best top-trim hybrid? The CR-V Touring or the RAV4 XSE?

Most folks who buy hybrids prioritize gas mileage, so we’ll start there. The Toyota (along with Ford’s new Escape Hybrid) wins the race for data-obsessed buyers, with an excellent 40 mpg combined EPA rating. But you’re reading MotorTrend, which means you understand there’s more to the picture than simply superb efficiency. The all-wheel-drive Honda falls a tiny bit behind the others in the economy race, with an EPA-rated 40/35 mpg city/highway to the AWD Toyota’s 41/38 mpg and the Ford’s 43–44/37 mpg (frontdrive or AWD). Our real-world results with the Toyota and Honda further reflected the former’s advantage.