2021 Audi Q3 vs 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid

The 2021 Audi Q3 showcased a design that fit well within the era of "postmodern automotive styling." Its massive corporate grille paired seamlessly with its stout, chunky styling, presenting an idea of utility and dynamic handling while primarily delivering on the latter. The cabin echoed this mechanical, modern aesthetic, with a dash design that framed the center touchscreen, making it a standout feature. However, the Q3's interior, once a standout design, began to feel less special as Volkswagen's non-luxury interiors caught up in design, albeit not as upscale.

The 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid, introduced with a two-motor hybrid powertrain in 2020, retained much of the standard gas-only variant's look. It featured "Hybrid" badges, blue Honda logos, sophisticated LED fog lights, and a different rear bumper. Inside, it had unique instrumentation showing battery-charge status, power regeneration, and power distribution. The paddles on the steering wheel managed the regenerative braking system. The CR-V Hybrid was available in EX, EX-L, and Touring trims, all with standard all-wheel drive (AWD).

The 2021 Audi Q3 came equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, sent through an eight-speed automatic transmission to Quattro all-wheel drive (AWD). The S-Line trim offered a more potent version of the same engine, tuned to 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. This engine provided a lively feel and solid power for passing, especially in Sport mode, which quickened throttle response and altered transmission mapping for harder acceleration. The Q3 also featured Audi’s Drive Select with Auto, Comfort, Dynamic, and Off-Road modes. The base engine, while having the same jump from a standstill, exhibited more pronounced turbo lag, especially under hard acceleration or highway passing. The Q3 balanced nimble handling with a comfortable ride, making it engaging and enjoyable without compromising ride quality.

The 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid paired a 2.0-liter gasoline four-cylinder engine with an electric assist motor and a generator/starter motor, producing a total system output of 212 horsepower and 232 pound-feet of immediate torque. It featured three driving modes—EV Drive, Hybrid Drive, and Engine Drive—automatically selecting the most appropriate one. Additionally, it had three driver-selected modes—Econ, Sport, and EV. The CR-V Hybrid's added weight of 194 pounds, carried low in the vehicle, improved its center of gravity and weight distribution. It retained the standard CR-V AWD model's 8.2 inches of ground clearance. The CR-V Hybrid was quick off the line, had plenty of power, and handled predictably, though it returned 33.7 mpg on the testing route, falling short of the EPA rating of 38 mpg in combined driving.

The 2021 Audi Q3 provided 48 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 23.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats. While the space behind the seats was decent for a subcompact luxury SUV, the cargo space with the rear seats folded was subpar for the class. However, the Q3 made up for this with its passenger space. The front seats were comfortable with plenty of deep cargo pockets, and the rear seats offered impressive headroom and legroom, making it comfortable for four passengers on a road trip, provided they packed light.

The 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid excelled in carrying people and cargo. The supportive front seats provided hours of comfort, with the driver's seat offering 12-way power adjustment. Heated front seats were standard, and the available leather was soft and high in quality. The rear seat room was remarkable, with adults enjoying cross-your-legs levels of space. The rear seats had air conditioning vents and 2.5-amp quick-charge USB ports, and a flat floor made it more accommodating for three passengers. The CR-V Hybrid offered 33.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 68.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, slightly less than the standard CR-V due to the battery pack.

The 2021 Audi Q3 featured an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system running Audi’s MMI system, with standard Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay. The upgraded system included a 10.1-inch touchscreen with navigation. Other available features were wireless device charging, satellite radio, and a Bang & Olufsen 15-speaker premium audio system. The Audi Virtual Cockpit, replacing the conventional instrument cluster with a customizable digital display, was also available.

The 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid's infotainment system, redesigned in 2017, featured a seven-inch touchscreen, which was smaller than many competitors. It lacked a tuning knob, and the voice-recognition technology was not user-friendly. The system supported wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but the navigation map display was cluttered. The Touring trim included wireless smartphone charging, though it took up significant space on the center console. The nine-speaker premium audio system in the Touring trim sounded good, and the infotainment system supported text messaging, SiriusXM satellite radio, and integrated Pandora internet radio.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came standard with Audi Pre Sense and Pre Sense Front, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian detection. Lane-departure warning was also standard. Optional driver assistance features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and traffic-sign recognition. Additional available features were a 360-degree camera system, front-and-rear parking sensors, and self-parking assist.

The 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid was equipped with Honda Sensing, which included adaptive cruise control with full-stop capability, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and Road Departure Mitigation. The CR-V Hybrid also included blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The CR-V Hybrid earned a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).