The Honda CR-V has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.
Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the CR-V deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The CR-V’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.
When descending a steep, off-road slope, the CR-V’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.
The CR-V’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.
Both the CR-V and the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Honda CR-V is safer than the Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid:
|
CR-V |
Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid |
|
Driver |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
4 Stars |
HIC |
211 |
221 |
Neck Injury Risk |
17.1% |
34.5% |
Neck Stress |
181 lbs. |
303 lbs. |
Leg Forces (l/r) |
217/317 lbs. |
349/594 lbs. |
|
Passenger |
|
STARS |
4 Stars |
4 Stars |
HIC |
357 |
360 |
Chest Compression |
.5 inches |
.5 inches |
Neck Compression |
37 lbs. |
99 lbs. |
Leg Forces (l/r) |
408/341 lbs. |
509/328 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Honda CR-V is safer than the Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid:
|
CR-V |
Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid |
|
Rear Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
71 |
103 |
|
Into Pole |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
4 Stars |
Max Damage Depth |
12 inches |
14 inches |
HIC |
302 |
360 |
Hip Force |
753 lbs. |
970 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.
Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Honda CR-V is safer than the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid:
|
CR-V |
Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid |
Overall Evaluation |
GOOD |
ACCEPTABLE |
Structure |
GOOD |
GOOD |
|
Driver Injury Measures |
|
Head/Neck |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Neck Compression |
45 lbs. |
67 lbs. |
Torso Max Deflection |
1.3 in |
1.34 in |
Torso Deflection Rate |
7 MPH |
7 MPH |
Pelvis |
ACCEPTABLE |
ACCEPTABLE |
Head Protection |
GOOD |
GOOD |
|
Passenger Injury Measures |
|
Head/Neck |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Head Injury Criterion |
119 |
542 |
Head Peak Forces |
no contact |
104 G’s |
Neck Tension |
45 lbs. |
312 lbs. |
Neck Compression |
89 lbs. |
223 lbs. |
Torso |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Shoulder Force |
223 lbs. |
290 lbs. |
Torso Deflection Rate |
7 MPH |
8 MPH |
Pelvis |
GOOD |
GOOD |
Head Protection |
GOOD |
MARGINAL |