3 Compact SUVs Consumers Report Higher Ratings Than Honda’s 2026 CR-V – Jalopnik

The Honda CR-V remains a popular choice if you’re in the market for a compact SUV, as it was the second best-selling car in the segment in 2025 – and the 2026 edition improves things even further, in the form of the new-for-model-year TrailSport Hybrid trim of the Honda CR-V. 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 segment is filled with good choices. For example, Consumer Reports recommended both the hybrid and non-hybrid 2026 CR-V, but did the same for 20 other compact SUVs. The magazine even published an article titled “5 reasons not to buy a Honda CR-V now” in the summer of 2025, after the 2026 CR-V debuts. The bottom line is that while the Honda may still make sense, it has a few drawbacks compared to today’s impressive lineup of compact SUVs.

That brings us to the only rivals that outperform the higher-scoring CR-V, the hybrid model. We think there were three: the Subaru Forester, Toyota RAV4 and the Mazda CX-5. Consumer Reports – because it treats hybrids and non-hybrids as different models – lists four: the Subaru Forester Hybrid, Subaru Forester, Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid and Mazda CX-5. We discuss them all, noting that the non-hybrid CR-V’s overall score was lower than ten of its compact SUV rivals.

First, keep in mind that Consumer Reports had not tested the 2026 Mazda CX-5 when the rankings were published, but instead listed the 2025 model. Looking at the tape story between this and the gas-only CR-V, we learn that a key difference between them is predicted reliability. The Mazda CX-5 achieved best-in-class results in this metric, which is based on Consumer Reports’ annual membership survey of hundreds of thousands of vehicles. The CR-V wasn’t exactly left behind either, as CR’s predicted reliability score was nearly 25% lower than the CX-5.

That said, it was the CR-V with a noticeably better driving experience, despite the Mazda’s continued zoom-zoom capabilities. However, they had about the same owner satisfaction ratings.

The 2026 CR-V will also face an all-new CX-5 when Mazda moves its small SUV into the next model year. However, the 2026 Mazda CX-5 will no longer be as small as before. One of the many things that has changed is the CX-5’s length, with overall length and wheelbase increasing by about 4 inches each. What might confuse shoppers is that despite its new length (184.6 inches) and low starting price – $31,485 (including destination) – the CX-5 is still more expensive than the slightly larger CX-50 at 185.8 inches and $31,395 (again including destination).

As with the Mazda CX-5, the Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid was a model year behind in Consumer Reports testing when the 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, since Honda doesn’t sell a plug-in version.

The RAV4 Plug-in scored a slightly higher overall score, thanks to better marks for both reliability and customer satisfaction. While only one other compact SUV scored better than the RAV4 Plug-in in predicted reliability – the Mazda CX-5 – the CRV Hybrid tied for ninth in this metric, similar to the Buick Envision. Significantly more RAV4 Plug-in owners would go back and repurchase the vehicle, based on the history of their current vehicle, than would repurchase the CR-V Hybrid. (This is how CR measures overall customer satisfaction.)

The reason the CR-V Hybrid keeps its overall score so close to the RAV4 Plug-in is Honda’s healthy on-road advantage. Some of this undoubtedly had to do with the Toyota’s brakes CR described as ‘sensitive’ and with stopping distances it considered ‘a bit long’, but the CR-V Hybrid also received high praise, with the second-best test scores in its segment. Number 1 was the 2026 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, which was one point ahead of the CR-V Hybrid in terms of driving experience and tied for the overall score.

The future looks bright for both RAV4 hybrids when the 2026 models go on sale. Our Daniel Golson says that they should not innovate, but continue to dominate.

Since Consumer Reports considers the same models with different powertrains to be distinctly different vehicles, it’s no surprise that it follows this template with the 2026 Subaru Forester – owner of the second-best overall CR score among compact SUVs. (That means the Forester Hybrid, No. 1 in the rankings, is covered below.)

Subaru’s position at the top of the compact SUV segment makes sense, of course, as it was also the top name in the industry on CR’s list of brands that make the best cars. The gas-only Forester stands out with an overall score and test results a few points higher than the gas-only CR-V, but the outcome was the other way around when comparing predicted reliability. The main factor that differentiated the two, according to Consumer Reports, was owner satisfaction; the Forester finished with a double-digit points advantage over the CR-V. Zoom in even further, the Forest ranger have also been pointed out Honda rivaling in the specific sub-categories of driving experience, comfort, value and styling.

The Forester also has a fairly large price advantage. The starting point for the Subaru is $31,445 with standard all-wheel drive (including destination), but a comparably equipped CR-V costs $33,870 (including destination). In fact, the AWD Forester is cheaper than the front-drive CR-V, which opens at $32,370 (again with destination).

Before we see how the 2026 Subaru Forester Hybrid compares to the CR-V Hybrid, let’s first see how it compares to the gas-only Forester in a few relevant aspects. That current-generation non-hybrid Forester comes with a 2.5-liter boxer four-cylinder engine that makes 180 horsepower with EPA ratings of 26 mpg city/33 mpg highway/29 mpg combined. The Forester Hybrid adds an electric motor to increase power to 194 horsepower with an EPA-line of 35/34/35.

From Consumer Reports’ perspective, this is the No. 1 compact SUV in terms of overall score versus the No. 5 CR-V Hybrid (which actually tied for fifth with the 2026 Kia Sportage Plug-in Hybrid and the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid). The biggest contributor to the CR-V’s lower overall score? There was actually a common thread running through all of our Honda CR-V comparisons today, and they were weak owner satisfaction numbers.

The CR-V, both hybrid and non-hybrid, not only lagged behind the entire quartet of today’s main rivals in overall score, but also in owner satisfaction, except for the Mazda CX-5. Focusing on the Forester Hybrid and CR-V Hybrid, we see a fairly typical result: the two vehicles achieved very good road test scores and predicted reliability, yet the Subaru had a double-digit lead when it came to keeping owners happy.

While this may come as a shock, the CR-V hydrogen fuel cell car doesn’t do 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 due to possible leaking fuel cell stacks.