Which has lower long-term cost — Honda CR-V or Subaru Crosstrek?

Based on national-average assumptions, the Subaru Crosstrek is about $589 cheaper to own over 5 years. The breakdown includes depreciation, insurance, fuel or energy, maintenance, financing, and registration. Your localized total may differ based on state fuel prices, insurance rates, and EV registration fees.

Which is cheaper to insure — Honda CR-V or Subaru Crosstrek?

Insurance varies by state, ZIP code, age, and credit tier. Enter a ZIP to see a localized estimate; both vehicles' national-average premiums are shown on the compare page.

Which depreciates faster — Honda CR-V or Subaru Crosstrek?

Depreciation over the first five years is itemized in the cost breakdown. Luxury and EV models typically lose more value in early years; segment leaders and Toyota/Honda hold value better.

Is the Honda CR-V better than the Subaru Crosstrek?

It depends on how you drive. The compare page scores both vehicles across five pillars — cost of ownership, powertrain, driver assistance, livability, and safety — combined into one MotiveGrid Score, alongside a 5-year cost breakdown and a clear verdict. Pick the one whose strengths match how you actually use a car.

Why do these two vehicles get different ADAS (driver-assist) scores?

Our ADAS scale weighs sensor stack (radar + camera vs camera-only), hands-free operating domain (highway vs any divided road), driver-monitoring quality (eye-tracking vs torque sensor), and whether the system gets OTA improvements. Two vehicles can advertise the same feature names and still score 20+ points apart once operating envelope and update cadence are accounted for.

Head-to-head · vehicle level

Honda CR-V vs. Subaru Crosstrek

Honda CR-V 75Subaru Crosstrek 75on the MotiveGrid ScoreSubaru Crosstrek about $589 less over 5 years

The verdict

The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek is the cheaper one to own — roughly $589 less over five years. The Honda CR-V counters with more cargo room (39.3 vs 20 cu ft).

Go with the Subaru Crosstrek for the better long-term value; consider the Honda CR-V if you prioritize more cargo space.

Last updated July 2026 · National-average estimates

Honda CR-V vs. Subaru Crosstrek

MotiveGrid scores, key specs, and five-year cost comparison: 2026 Honda CR-V versus 2026 Subaru Crosstrek.
Metric	Honda CR-V	Subaru Crosstrek
MotiveGrid Score	75	75
Cost of Ownership	90	91
Powertrain	59	63
Driver Assistance	43	32
Livability	56	61
Safety	72	72
5-Year Cost to Own	$39,538	$38,949
Depreciation (5-yr)	$9,431	$9,502
Fuel / Energy (5-yr)	$11,225	$11,610
Insurance (5-yr)	$9,650	$9,195
Maintenance (5-yr)	$1,915	$2,095
Tires (5-yr)	$1,750	$1,650
Financing (5-yr)	$4,652	$4,062
Registration (5-yr)	$915	$835
Starting Price	$30,920	$26,995
Horsepower	190 hp	180 hp
MPG (combined)	30 mpg	29 mpg
Cargo volume	39.3 cu ft	20 cu ft
Seating	5	5
Drivetrain	FWD	AWD

Gas

2026$30,920

2026 Honda CR-V SUV in three-quarter front view

MSRP

$30,920

Mo · 5yr

$659

$39,538 / 5 years

Best for families

Gas

2026$26,995

2026 Subaru Crosstrek subcompact SUV in three-quarter front view

MSRP

$26,995

Mo · 5yr

$649

$38,949 / 5 years

Best for long-term savings

01 · The MotiveGrid Score

Five measured pillars, weighted into one score.

Cost, Powertrain, Driver Assistance, Livability, and Safety — each scored against its class, then combined into a single MotiveGrid Score. Built by our engineering team and benchmarked against independent sources like NHTSA, IIHS, and CarEdge. How it’s calculated →

Honda CR-V

/ 100

Subaru Crosstrek

/ 100

CostFive-year all-in cost to own, benchmarked against the class median.

CR-V

Crosstrek

Winner: Crosstrek

$589 cheaper / 5 yrs

PowertrainEnergy efficiency paired with long-term ownership confidence.

CR-V

Crosstrek

Winner: Crosstrek

+4 pts

Driver AssistHighway driving support, parking convenience, and hands-free automation.

CR-V

Crosstrek

Winner: CR-V

+11 pts

Strong highway driving support

LivabilityPassenger space, cargo room, and everyday maneuverability.

CR-V

Crosstrek

Winner: Crosstrek

+5 pts

Easy to maneuver and park

SafetyCrash-test protection plus standard crash-avoidance features.

CR-V

Crosstrek

Evenly matched

Compare safety features →

Which vehicle is right for you

🏆

Subaru Crosstrek is the better pick for long-term ownership — about $589 cheaper over 5 years with stronger fundamentals on running cost.

Honda CR-V still wins if your priority is best for families.

Daily commuter

Honda CR-V

Lowest energy cost per mile

Budget-focused

Subaru Crosstrek

Cheapest to own across 5 years

Family hauler

Honda CR-V

Substantially more cargo room

Highway driver

Honda CR-V

Better adaptive cruise + lane keep

City driver

Subaru Crosstrek

Easiest to park and maneuver in tight spots

Cost of Ownership

Monthly running costs — national baseline.

Adjust for your situation

State

Miles/yr15,000

Loan rate7%

Down payment20%

Honda CR-V

Monthly · 5-Year avg

$659

$39,538 total / 5 years

Total · monthly$659/mo

Subaru Crosstrek

Monthly · 5-Year avg

$649

$38,949 total / 5 years

Total · monthly$649/mo

💡

On fuel + maintenance alone, the pricier Honda CR-V would need 34.7 years to recoup its $3,925 price premium ($113/yr in savings) — longer than most people own a car. Depreciation and insurance aren’t included in this payback view.

Frequently asked questions

Subaru Crosstrek comes out about $589 cheaper over 5 years on running costs (depreciation, fuel/energy, insurance, maintenance, financing). The gap shifts with your state, annual miles, and loan rate — use the "Adjust for your situation" panel above.

Honda CR-V vs. Subaru Crosstrek

Five measured pillars, weighted into one score.

Which vehicle is right for you

Cost of Ownership

Frequently asked questions

Where these rank

What each one costs at the counter

Helpful guides