In recent years, car camping has gained popularity as a flexible and adventurous way to enjoy the great outdoors and spend some quality time with your loved ones.
However, the quality of your trip is decided by the type of vehicle you choose for your camping adventures. For 2024, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and Honda CR-V Hybrid emerge as two of the top contenders in the compact SUV segment, each offering a blend of fuel efficiency, cargo space, and technology.
Both these eco-friendly rides are suitable for car camping, but how do they compare when it comes to accommodating your outdoor adventures?
In this blog, we will compare 2024 Hybrid RAV4 vs Hybrid CRV car camping key aspects like space, fuel economy, comfort, and other features to help you decide which one is better for your next car camping trip.
Weight & Dimensions
For car camping, size can impact both interior comfort and how easy it is for you to navigate tight trails or parking spots.
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid: The RAV4 Hybrid weighs in at around 3,800 pounds, with dimensions of 180.9 inches in length, 73.0 inches in width, and a height of 67.0 inches. Its compact size makes it easier to maneuver in tight campsites or narrow trails while still offering a comfortable interior.
Honda CR-V Hybrid: The CR-V Hybrid is slightly larger and heavier, with a curb weight of about 3,900 pounds. It is 184.8 inches long, 73.5 inches wide, and 66.2 inches high. While the extra size provides more cargo and passenger space, it may feel a bit bulkier on narrow trails. However, if you prioritize interior space the most, this trade-off might be worth it.
Winner: The RAV4 Hybrid offers better maneuverability for exploring tight spaces, while the CR-V Hybrid provides more room for gear with its larger dimensions.
Engine & Performance
For car camping, you need a ride with a capable engine and good performance. These features are essential, especially if you are going on long road trips and off-road adventures.
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid: This ride features a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor, generating a combined 219 hp. Its Electronic On-Demand AWD system enhances off-road capabilities, and the hybrid system provides smooth acceleration. It is well-suited for both highway driving and light off-roading, making it a versatile option for car campers like you.
Honda CR-V Hybrid: This one also uses a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with two electric motors, delivering a total output of 204 hp. It also comes with AWD, but its power output is slightly lower than RAV4 Hybrid. In addition, it may feel a bit less punchy on steep inclines or rugged terrain. Despite this, this ride is more than capable for most camping trips on paved or gravel roads.
Winner: The RAV4 Hybrid’s higher horsepower and smoother off-road performance make it the stronger choice for tackling a variety of terrains.
Fuel Efficiency and Driving Range
When heading out for a camping trip, fuel efficiency is crucial, especially if your destination is in remote areas and you will have to drive for long hours.
One of the biggest advantages of considering a hybrid SUV for car camping is their impressive miles per gallon.
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid: This model is known for its excellent fuel economy. It offers an impressive EPA-estimated 41 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway. Its hybrid powertrain makes it both fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly. In addition, with a fuel tank capacity of 14.5 gallons, this ride gives you a potential driving range of around 550 miles on a full tank, allowing you to travel to remote campsites without worrying about frequent refueling.
Honda CR-V Hybrid: The CR-V Hyrbid delivers slightly lower fuel efficiency, offering 40 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway. It comes with a fuel tank capacity of 14 gallons and can give you a driving range of around 490 miles on a full tank.
Winner: The CR-V Hybrid is an efficient ride; however, its fuel economy does not quite match the RAV4 Hybrid. The latter is efficient and offers longer range, making it a better option for longer trips.
Interior Space
In this battle of CRV vs RAV4 car camping, interior space and comfort play a very crucial role. A comfortable cabin is non-negotiable for resting on your camping trips, whether it’s taking a nap or sleeping overnight.
Both the RAV4 and CR-V hybrids offer generous room, but there are some obvious differences.
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid: This stylish vehicle features a well-designed interior with comfortable seating for up to five. The rear seats are easily foldable, creating a spacious area for your sleeping setup. However, taller individuals might find the space a bit tight for fully stretching out.
Honda CR-V Hybrid: This Honda SUV is known for its versatile and spacious interior. Its cabin is slightly roomier, giving you more comfortable sleeping space. Here, the rear seats are also foldable, but you get a more comfortable car-camping sleeping experience due to its larger dimensions.
Winner: The Honda CR-V Hybrid takes the win here as it offers a bit more space for comfortable long trips and overnight camping.
Cargo Space
The cargo space is a crucial factor for car camping, especially when you are packing gear, food, and sleeping bags for more than one person. Whether you are bringing camping chairs, a tent, or an inflatable mattress, having a ride with ample cargo hold is necessary.
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid: The RAV4 offers a cargo capacity of about 37.6 cubic feet behind the second row. However, it easily expands to 69.8 cubic feet with rear seats down. This is an ample space and can easily fit your camping gear, coolers, and even an air mattress for two if you’re planning to sleep inside. Additionally, the lower floor of this model from one of the most reliable car brands in the world makes the packing and unpacking easier, which especially comes in handy when you’re setting up your camp.
Honda CR-V Hybrid: This Japanese car offers about 39.3 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats, which you can extend up to 76.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down, giving it a slight advantage over the RAV4. The extra space could be beneficial if you need more room for more equipment or you have a tall companion who prefers to sleep in your vehicle. This can even be a decent ride for your cross-country road trips.
Winner: Again, the CR-V Hybrid edges out the RAV4 Hybrid with its larger cargo capacity, providing more flexibility for campers with lots of gear and comfortable in-car sleeping.
Comfort and Sleeping Setup
Comfort is key when you’re thinking of spending the night in your vehicle, especially after a long day of outdoor activities. Both the RAV4 and CR-V hybrids offer spacious interiors, but their comfort features surely vary.
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid: Here the interior is designed with comfort in mind. It features high-quality materials and adjustable seats that can be folded flat, making it easy to set up a sleeping area. Some RAV4 models also come with dual-zone climate control, which can be a lifesaver on hot or cold nights.
Honda CR-V Hybrid: This one also offers a well-crafted interior with soft materials and a versatile seating arrangement. However, its lower cargo height might make sleeping slightly less comfortable for taller campers. Despite that, the CR-V’s seats fold down easily, and the flat cargo area is suitable for an air mattress or sleeping pad.
Winner: Both vehicles offer comfortable interiors, but in the CRV Hybrid vs RAV4 Hybrid 2024 comparison, the RAV4 Hybrid may have a slight advantage with its better climate control options and more spacious cargo area for sleeping setups.
Exterior Style & Functionality
The exterior design of any vehicle, whether an all-wheel-drive minivan or a camping SUV, not only reflects your personal style but can also affect practicality during your camping trip.
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid: It has a rugged, outdoorsy design with bold lines and an adventurous stance. Its high ground clearance and pronounced fenders give it a more off-road-oriented appearance. The roof rails come standard on most trims, making it easy to add extra gears. The available two-tone color schemes and sporty appearance are also appealing for those who want a stylish yet capable SUV.
Honda CR-V Hybrid: The CR-V Hybrid sports a more refined and elegant design, with a smoother, more aerodynamic exterior. Its sleek lines give it a modern look, but it might not feel as rugged as the RAV4 Hybrid. However, you get roof rails and other camping-friendly features, such as an available hands-free power tailgate, making it a practical choice for outdoor enthusiasts.
Winner: The RAV4 Hybrid’s rugged and adventure-focused design makes it a better fit for campers who prioritize functionality and an off-road look, while the CR-V Hybrid appeals to those who prefer a more refined exterior.
Off-Road Capability
While neither the RAV4 Hybrid nor the CR-V Hybrid are hardcore off-roading vehicles, their all-wheel-drive systems and decent ground clearance make them capable of handling dirt roads and light off-road trails that lead to your camping sites.
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid: The RAV4 Hybrid comes standard with Electronic On-Demand All-Wheel Drive (AWD), providing added traction and better control on uneven terrain. Its ground clearance of 8.1 inches is ideal for navigating unpaved roads and light off-roading, eliminating the worries about damage to the vehicle’s underbody.
Honda CR-V Hybrid: The CR-V Hybrid also offers Real-Time All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) as an option, but its ground clearance is slightly lower at 7.8 inches. While it’s capable of handling light off-road trails, gravel roads, or uneven surfaces, it is not as rugged and capable as the RAV4 Hybrid.
Winner: The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid offers superior off-road capability, making it better suited for outdoor enthusiasts adventuring to more challenging locations.
Tech Features For Camping Convenience
Technological features in a vehicle can make your camping trip more convenient; from remote start to in-cabin climate control and a panoramic roof, they ensure you are comfortable whether inside or outside the car.
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid: This model’s interior comes standard with advanced tech features like remote keyless entry and dual-zone automatic climate control. In addition, features like proximity keyless entry, push-button start, a moonroof, and ambient lighting are available for extra charges.
Honda CR-V Hybrid: Honda offers this hybrid lineup’s interior with a 7-inch digital gauge cluster, dual-zone automatic climate control, remote start, push-button start, proximity keyless entry, and a moonroof as standard. A universal garage door opener and interior ambient LED lighting are also available, but as optional.
Winner: In this battle of Honda CRV Hybrid vs RAV4 Hybrid, in terms of interior convenience features, the CR-V hybrid is a clear winner with offering more standard features.
Infotainment Features For Complete Entertainment
Whether you are going on a short trip or a long one, to make your drive entertaining, you need a proper entertainment system along with good company.
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid: Toyota offers a 7-inch digital gauge cluster, an 8-inch touch screen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, navigation, a Wi-Fi hot spot, the ”Hey Toyota” virtual assistant, satellite radio, a six-speaker stereo, Bluetooth, and three USB ports as standard on the new RAV4 Hybrid. Options like a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, a 10.5-inch touch screen, wireless device charging, an 11-speaker stereo, and a 120-volt household-style power outlet are available for extra charges.
Honda CR-V Hybrid: You get a 7-inch touch screen, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a Wi-Fi hot spot, Bluetooth, four USB ports, and a six-speaker audio system as standard on this Honda SUV. Your purchase gets better with optional features like a 7-inch digital gauge cluster, dual-zone automatic climate control, remote start, push-button start, proximity keyless entry, and a moonroof.
Winner: The RAV4 Hybrid offers more standard and optional infotainment features compared to the CR-V Hybrid, making it more tech-advanced and entertaining.
Safety Features
When heading into the wilderness or navigating highways, having reliable safety features is crucial for a worry-free camping trip. Both Toyota and Honda offer their modern hybrid SUVs with plenty of standard and available safety features.
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid: This automobile comes standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, which includes features like adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian detection. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are also standard across most trims. The RAV4’s robust safety suite ensures that you are safe during your on-road and light off-road drives.
Honda CR-V Hybrid: This one comes equipped with Honda Sensing, which offers similar features to Toyota’s system, including adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation braking, and lane-keeping assist. Additionally, the CR-V Hybrid includes a traffic sign recognition system, which can be useful in unfamiliar areas. However, some advanced features like blind-spot monitoring may only be available on higher trims.
Winner: Both these SUVs offer excellent safety features, but the RAV4’s standard blind-spot monitoring gives it a slight edge.
Trim, Price, and Value
Price is one of the biggest considerations when choosing a vehicle. The good news is that both the RAV4 and CR-V Hybrids come with competitive pricing.
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid: This model is available in seven trim levels, ranging from $31,725 to $40,000. The addition of off-road packages and luxury features can increase the price significantly.
Honda CR-V Hybrid: The CR-V Hybrid comes in three trim levels, ranging from $34,050 to $40,200. The price might be slightly higher than the RAV4 Hybrid, but the CR-V Hybrid’s extra cargo space adds value, justifying the price.
Winner: It’s a tie in terms of pricing, as both the RAV4 Hybrid and CR-V Hybrid offer impressive value for car campers.
Warranty
A good warranty can offer peace of mind, especially if you are taking your vehicle into more remote areas for camping.
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid: Toyota provides a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. Additionally, the hybrid components are covered under an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty, and the battery is covered for 10 years or 150,000 miles, offering you long-term peace of mind.
Honda CR-V Hybrid: Honda offers a similar warranty package with a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. There is also an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty on the hybrid components, ensuring coverage for major parts of the vehicle.
Winner: Both SUVs offer comparable warranties making them tie in this category.
Conclusion
When it comes to the hybrid RAV4 vs CRV car camping face-off, both the 2024 models have their strengths. On one hand, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid excels in fuel efficiency and off-road capability, making it ideal for adventurous campers heading to remote locations. On the other hand, the Honda CR-V Hybrid offers more cargo space and a roomier interior, providing a more comfortable car camping experience for those bringing extra gear or planning to sleep in their vehicle.
Ultimately, your choice between these two Japanese SUVs depends on your camping style. If you prioritize off-road ability and efficiency, go with the RAV4 Hybrid. If comfort and space are more important, the CR-V Hybrid is the better choice.
