Toyota RAV4 vs. Honda CR-V Cabin Tech Comparison: One of These SUVs Is a Clear Winner

• What's new: Toyota debuted a totally redesigned RAV4 this year with a new generation of software, so we're pitting it against Honda's stalwart CR-V.
• Why it matters: These are two of the most popular small SUVs in the country, and for a lot of buyers, the onboard tech matters more than how these cars drive.
• Edmunds says: The RAV4 is the clear tech winner, but the CR-V does have a couple of slight advantages.

As for charging, a wireless charging pad is standard, and all but the base model get a pair of USB-C ports up front and a couple more in the back. Unless you've got a full car and everyone's phone and second phone die at the same time, you should be in good shape. 

Toyota RAV4: Great tech, less great subscription costs

Things are a little different for the RAV4. Not only did Toyota totally redesign this car for 2026, it's also where the automaker debuted its next-gen infotainment software, which has since rolled out to the Tundra, Sequoia and Lexus ES. 

In the RAV4, most trims get a 10.5-inch touchscreen (pictured below), but the RAV4 XSE and Limited get a 12.9-inch display. Both screens run the same new software. We've tested both, and the smaller screen has everything you need. The buttons are still large enough to see and use while driving, and the 10.5-inch option has less of that iPad-on-the-dash look than the larger display. If you were considering a higher trim level just for the big screen, it's not worth the extra cash.

With either screen, Toyota's software is great. Yes, you get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, both wireless, but when you're using the car's native software, the experience is a lot better than in the Honda. Clean-looking widgets on display keep useful info like weather, phone calls, media and maps handy. It all feels faster and more modern than what you get in the CR-V. Unlike the Honda, the top-trim RAV4 offers a head-up display, which is a rare and much-appreciated option among SUVs like this.

Likewise, every RAV4 gets a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster that's a lot more customizable than the partially digital instrument cluster options in the Honda. My favorite feature is that the display can show navigation maps. You can also configure loads of different views to show you the speedometer only, the speedometer and power meter, driver aids or a fuel consumption graph. There are even different visual themes for each drive mode. This is a clear win for the Toyota.

Plus, all trim levels get an integrated dashcam as standard. The system records via a front camera mounted just behind the top center of the windshield, as well as the backup camera (and side cameras if you have an XSE or Limited with the 360-degree camera), and stores footage on internal storage or a USB thumb drive. It automatically records a 20-second clip when it detects a potential incident and can also be triggered manually. Toyota is currently the only company in the compact SUV segment with this feature; we hope other automakers take note.

That top-trim Google-equipped Honda does have a couple of slight advantages, though. In the RAV4, you don't get full Google Maps for navigation, but you do get Google points-of-interest map data, which is practically just as useful, and the "Hey Toyota" virtual assistant is nearly as effective as Google Assistant. And although Toyota offers native apps for Spotify and Apple Music, if you want the same breadth of apps available natively in the Honda, that's got to be through Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. 

But navigation, smart voice assistance, and music streaming take data, and data costs money. All RAV4 models get a 30-day trial for streaming music, but there's no trial for navigation and the virtual assistant unless you get the highest trim level. After that, it's $15 a month for music streaming, $15 a month for navigation and virtual assistant, or $25 a month for both. In the Honda, you've got to spend $45K to get the good features, but at least they give you a three-year trial. In both cars, if you don't want to pay extra to use native navigation, music streaming, or a voice assistant, you can use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

For keeping devices topped up, you get three USB-C ports up front standard. If you skip the entry-level RAV4 LE, you get 45-watt fast-charging ports up front capable of charging a laptop or iPad, plus a pair of extra USB-C ports in the rear. Most trim levels get a wireless charging pad up front just below the touchscreen, and the range-topping Limited gets two wireless charging pads. 

RAV4 vs. CR-V: Which has better cabin tech?

We've spent a lot of time with the tech in both these cars, and the Toyota RAV4 clearly has better tech than the Honda CR-V. Yes, you get bigger screens, but they're also running better-looking, more intuitive software with features you can't get in the Honda, including the ability to view maps in the instrument cluster. The RAV4 also has superior charging options and that standard integrated dashcam.

Yes, Honda is much more generous with its data trial, and Google Maps, Google Assistant and the Google Play Store do represent slight advantages over what's on offer in the RAV4, but that's only on the most expensive trim level, and the rest of the experience still lags behind. The screens are smaller, they can't show as much information, and the Honda is a few years behind the curve when it comes to feature availability.

Of course, tech is only a small part of deciding which one of these cars makes more sense for you. Check out our comprehensive big-picture comparison to see which of these two we recommend overall.