Compare the2025 Honda CR-VVS 2025 Lexus NX

The Honda CR-V has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The NX doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the CR-V deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The CR-V’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The NX’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

Both the CR-V and the NX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Honda CR-V is safer than the Lexus NX:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Honda CR-V is safer than the Lexus NX:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

There are over 4 times as many Honda dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the CR-V’s warranty.

On the EPA test cycle the CR-V gets better mileage than the NX running its gasoline engine:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda CR-V uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended with the 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder engine for maximum performance). The NX 350 AWD requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The CR-V has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The NX doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The CR-V stops much shorter than the NX:

The CR-V has a standard space-saver spare (not available on Hybrid) so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the NX; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

The CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid handles at .85 G’s, while the NX 350 AWD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The CR-V EX-L AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the NX 450h+ AWD (27.4 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the CR-V’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the NX’s (37.3 feet vs. 38 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CR-V has a greater minimum ground clearance than the NX 350 F Sport Handling AWD (8.2 vs. 7.7 inches), allowing the CR-V to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The CR-V’s minimum ground clearance is .1 inch higher than on the NX (8.2 vs. 8.1 inches).

The front grille of the CR-V uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The NX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The CR-V uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The NX doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The CR-V has 1.7 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front legroom, 1.6 inches more front shoulder room, 4.9 inches more rear legroom, .1 inches more rear hip room and 1.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the NX.

The CR-V has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the NX with its rear seat up (39.3 vs. 22.7 cubic feet). The CR-V has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the NX with its rear seat folded (76.5 vs. 46.9 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the CR-V easier. The CR-V’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 28 inches, while the NX’s liftover is 30.8 inches.

The CR-V’s cargo area is larger than the NX’s in almost every dimension:

The CR-V’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the NX’s (1000 vs. 0 pounds).

Consumer Reports rated the CR-V’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the NX’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The CR-V was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “5Best Trucks/10Best” for 2025 and 5 more times in the last 24 years. The NX has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

Motor Trend selected the CR-V as their 2018 Sport Utility of the Year. The NX has never been chosen.

The Honda CR-V outsold the Lexus NX by over five to one during 2024.