2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid vs 2024 Land Rover Defender

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid, with its base price of $48,909, presented a sporty exterior with black 18-inch wheels and blacked-out trim. Despite its conservative styling, the CR-V's design was somewhat weighed down over the front wheels, and the tusks framing the lower air intake did not enhance its appearance. The best view was from the rear quarter, where the taillights and tidy design gave it an upscale look. Inside, the Touring trim featured leather seats with orange stitching and a sophisticated cabin, highlighted by a soft-touch dashboard and metal mesh air vents.

In contrast, the 2024 Land Rover Defender combined a classic boxy profile with modern features like angular headlights. Its interior was more rugged and adventure-ready, akin to a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco, but with softer materials. The Defender was available in three body styles: the two-door 90, four-door 110, and extended-wheelbase 130, each offering various trims. Our test vehicle, the Defender 110 S, came with a U.S. specification visual package. Standard features included 19-inch alloy wheels, heated seats, and a panoramic glass roof, with options for premium leather and additional climate control features.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid featured a two-motor hybrid system with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 204 horsepower to all four wheels. Despite its complexity, the system operated smoothly, though it fell short of its fuel efficiency claims, achieving 8.7 L/100 km in testing. The CR-V offered a quiet ride with predictable handling, but its steering was notably heavy, and it lacked off-road capabilities.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered multiple powertrains, starting with a 296-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder. Our P400 test model had a 395-horsepower mild-hybrid inline-six. The Defender also offered two V8 options, with the most powerful delivering 518 horsepower. All engines used an eight-speed automatic transmission with full-time 4WD. The Defender excelled off-road, especially with features like adaptive air suspension and Terrain Response 2. It could tow up to 3,500 kg and accelerated from zero to 96 km/h in 5.1 seconds.

The Honda CR-V Hybrid excelled in comfort and practicality, with quality materials and a spacious interior. It featured a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and heated seats throughout. The rear doors opened wide, making it easy to install child seats. Cargo space was generous, with up to 2,030 litres available with the seats folded down.

The Land Rover Defender balanced luxury and functionality, with soft-touch materials and practical features like rubberized floors. Seating capacity varied, with the Defender 130 offering up to eight seats. Cargo space was ample, with the Defender 130 providing 2,155 litres with seats folded. The Defender 110 and 90 offered varying capacities, with practical hard plastic surfaces in the cargo area.

The Honda CR-V Hybrid came with a 9-inch infotainment display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The voice recognition system was basic, but the walk-away automatic locking feature was appreciated.

The Land Rover Defender featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.4-inch touchscreen with navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The straightforward setup was complemented by a 10-speaker Meridian stereo system, providing a refined yet utilitarian interior experience.

The 2024 CR-V Hybrid included Honda Sensing, with features like forward collision warning and adaptive cruise control. It received a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS but lacked NHTSA ratings.

The Defender offered extensive safety features, including forward collision warning and a 360-degree camera system. However, its lane-keeping assist was overly sensitive. It had not been crash-tested by IIHS or NHTSA.