2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid vs 2025 Jeep Wrangler

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid, with its base price of $48,909, presented a more affordable option for those seeking an electrified SUV. Its exterior, featuring black 18-inch wheels and blacked-out trim, offered a sporty look, though the interior remained basic. The Touring Hybrid, priced at $50,909, was the top-tier model, showcasing a Canyon River Blue paint job. The CR-V's design was conservative, with a technical front resembling an angry robot, which might not appeal to everyone. However, the rear quarter view, with Volvo-like taillights, gave it an upscale appearance. Inside, the Touring trim boasted leather seats with orange stitching and a sophisticated cabin feel, thanks to details like a soft-touch dashboard and metal mesh air vents.

In contrast, the 2025 Jeep Wrangler Sport S, with its black-on-black colour scheme, was less appealing in a tropical climate. Despite this, the Wrangler's design, rooted in its military heritage, remained fundamentally appealing. The Sport S model, priced at $66,070, included a black hardtop and a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The Wrangler's interior was functional, with grey fabric dashboard trim and metallic accents, but lacked sophistication. Its design prioritized off-road capability, with high ground clearance and four-wheel drive, making it popular despite its rough ride and three-star rollover resistance rating.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid featured a fourth-generation two-motor hybrid drive system, combining a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with two electric motors. This setup delivered 204 horsepower to all four wheels, providing a relatively quiet and compliant ride. However, the hybrid system's complexity resulted in a fuel economy of 8.7 L/100 km during testing, falling short of the expected 6.4 L/100 km. The CR-V's handling was predictable, with impressive grip and brakes, though the steering felt unusually heavy.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler offered a choice between a 3.6-litre V6 engine with a six-speed manual transmission and a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The latter produced 270 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, offering better fuel efficiency at 11.0 L/100 km. During testing, the Wrangler averaged 12.3 L/100 km. Its off-road capabilities were enhanced by standard four-wheel drive, high ground clearance, and generous approach and departure angles. However, the Wrangler's ride was rough, with slow steering and sloppy handling traits.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid excelled in form and function, offering quality materials, intuitive controls, and comfortable seating. The 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat provided excellent support, while heated front and rear seats and a heated steering wheel improved comfort. The CR-V's back seat was spacious, with generous legroom and adjustable backrest angles. The cargo area offered 1,028 litres of space, expandable to 2,030 litres with the back seat folded down.

In contrast, the 2025 Jeep Wrangler's high ground clearance and narrow door openings made entry and exit challenging. The Sport S trim's cloth upholstery was comfortable, with heated front seats and a heated steering wheel available as options. Rear-seat legroom was adequate, but taller passengers risked hitting their knees on the front seatback panels. Storage space was limited, with small bins and flimsy nets. The cargo area offered 897 litres of space, expandable to 2,050 litres, but accessing it was cumbersome due to the tailgate and rear window design.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid came equipped with a 9-inch infotainment display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless smartphone charging. The Touring trim added navigation and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. However, the voice recognition system was basic, and the tech faltered with conversational commands. The CR-V also featured a walk-away automatic locking system for added security.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's Uconnect 5 infotainment system featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Sport S trim included an eight-speaker stereo, with a nine-speaker Alpine system available as an option. The Convenience Group pack added a 7-inch digital display and passive entry and door locking. The Wrangler also offered Jeep Connect services for off-road navigation and a vehicle finder feature.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid included Honda Sensing, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems. Features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control were standard. The CR-V earned a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS, though it received a poor rating in the updated moderate overlap front test.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler added side curtain airbags as standard equipment. Advanced driver assistance systems were optional, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert available on most trims. The Wrangler received a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA. The IIHS rated it Good for side-impact protection but Marginal in the small overlap frontal-impact test.