2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid vs 2023 Honda HR-V

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid borrowed styling elements from Toyota's Tacoma pickup, notably in its trapezoidal grille and upright fascia, giving it a rugged appearance typical of midsized SUVs. However, the side profile introduced a softer character line that swooped over the rear wheel arch, a design flourish also seen on the Toyota Supra and Sienna. This added unnecessary visual weight, making the Highlander appear somewhat bloated. The rear design echoed the trapezoidal grille, but the overall body felt disjointed compared to more cohesive designs like the Kia Telluride or Honda Pilot. Inside, the Highlander's unconventional asymmetrical dash featured a metallic styling element that spanned the passenger side, creating a helpful storage tray. The infotainment touchscreen was positioned high on the dash, reducing driver distraction.

In contrast, the 2023 Honda HR-V underwent a significant styling update, shedding some of its predecessor's quirky charm for a more sophisticated and modern look. The lowered beltline and simplified detailing contributed to a sleeker appearance, with cleaner lines and fewer interruptions. The windshield wipers were tucked under the hood's lip, and the black molding strips on the roof were removed. The HR-V's interior featured new seats with black cloth and heated front seats as standard. The EX-L trim offered perforated leather seats with additional shoulder support, enhancing cabin comfort. The interior design followed the refinement trend set by the 2022 Civic, with a metal honeycomb grille hiding the vents and touch-sensitive reading lights adding a premium feel.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid was powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine paired with a hybrid system, delivering 243 horsepower. It featured a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and standard all-wheel drive (AWD) in Canada, utilizing a supplemental electric motor for the rear axle. Toyota estimated a 0-100 km/h time of just over eight seconds, slightly slower than gasoline-only SUVs in its class. The hybrid powertrain provided a quick but tepid response from a standstill, with the gasoline engine kicking in to maintain speed. The CVT's lack of gear shifts resulted in an uninspired drone during acceleration, particularly when climbing hills. The Highlander Hybrid offered a soft ride quality, with the suspension effectively smoothing over road bumps. The cabin remained mostly free of wind and road noise, contributing to a quieter driving experience.

The 2023 Honda HR-V featured a single powertrain option: a 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque, an improvement over the previous model. The updated CVT incorporated a Step-Shift function to mimic traditional automatic transmission sounds during acceleration. The HR-V offered Normal, Snow, and ECON drive modes, with Sport mode available by pulling the shifter back. Snow mode adjusted the transmission and throttle response for better traction, while ECON mode optimized fuel efficiency. Despite Honda's efforts to reduce cabin noise, the HR-V remained noticeably noisier at moderate and high speeds. The new front and independent rear suspensions, along with widened tracks, made the HR-V surprisingly fun to drive on mountain roads, though it lacked power compared to some competitors.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid's front seats were well-cushioned and adjustable for drivers of varying heights, though the driver's door armrest was awkwardly positioned. The interior offered ample storage, including a deep tray under the infotainment screen, a small shelf in front of the passenger, and a large centre armrest bin. The second-row seats provided generous head- and legroom, with captain's chairs that slid and reclined for added comfort. A second-row bench was available as a no-cost option, increasing passenger capacity to eight. The third-row seat was less accommodating, suitable for occasional use by children or smaller adults. Cargo space measured 453 litres behind the third row, expanding to 1,370 litres with the seatbacks folded and 2,387 litres with the second row stowed.

The 2023 Honda HR-V, a subcompact SUV, offered a well-thought-out interior despite its compact size. The centre console featured a shelf beneath the controls for drive modes and parking brake, with two USB ports for cord storage. The HR-V sacrificed a centimetre of rear-seat headroom for its fastback design, with front headroom measuring 1,002 mm (976 mm with the moonroof) and rear headroom at 965.3 mm (964 mm with the moonroof). Cargo space was 691 litres with the rear seats up and 1,559 litres with them folded, slightly smaller than the previous model. The HR-V's 60/40 split rear seats offered a higher seating position for easier entry and egress, creating a nearly flat floor when folded. Passenger volume varied by trim, with the EX-L interior growing slightly compared to the previous model.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid featured an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen as standard, with a 12.3-inch option available on top trims. The larger display's glossy surface could reflect the front passenger seat, obscuring the screen in bright conditions. The infotainment system was responsive, with logically organized menus and physical shortcut buttons for common features. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard across all trims, with wireless charging available on Limited and Platinum trims. Navigation and an 11-speaker JBL premium audio system were standard on the Highlander Hybrid Limited and Platinum trims.

In the 2023 Honda HR-V, the infotainment touchscreen was positioned tablet-style above the dash. The EX-L trim offered physical buttons for Home, Back, and Seek functions, while LX and Sport trims had different button arrays. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard across the lineup, with wired versions on LX and Sport trims and wireless versions on EX-L. All HR-Vs featured a 7-inch digital gauge cluster and a 7-inch colour touchscreen display, with the EX-L trim upgrading to a 9-inch display and adding a Qi-compatible wireless charging pad. The 9-inch system included six programmable shortcuts and a Smart Shortcuts feature that adapted to user preferences. Standard features included three USB-A ports, Bluetooth connectivity, keyless entry, remote start, and a four-speaker audio system, with Sport and EX-L trims offering upgraded audio systems.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid received a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with four stars for frontal collision and rollover protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named it a Top Safety Pick+, its highest honour. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, a blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high beams. A surround view camera system and head-up display were available on the top Platinum trim. The adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist systems could be improved, as they occasionally resulted in abrupt stops and excessive steering resistance.

The 2023 Honda HR-V came standard with the Honda Sensing suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) across all trims, including adaptive cruise control, collision-mitigation braking, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, road-departure mitigation, lane-departure warning, and forward-collision warning. Additional features included traffic-sign recognition, traffic jam assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. A blind-spot information system with rear cross-traffic alert was also standard, with EX-L trims adding front and rear parking sensors. The HR-V's safety features were generally unobtrusive and provided peace of mind. The 2023 HR-V received a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS, though the NHTSA had not yet rated it.