Head to Head

For the longest time Toyota and Honda have been battling for the upper hand in the local SUV market, starting when SUVs were not yet a thing.

What we now call SUVs were then called recreational vehicles.

Remember the Rav4 and the CR-V, the vehicles that started the whole SUV craze in the country?

Over the years, Toyota and Honda have rolled out various models and variants of models of SUVs in bids to one-up the other.

These days, amid a very crowded local market for SUVs from brands from all over the world, Toyota and Honda are again in a face-off of sort in the subcompact SUV segment.

This time it's the Toyota Yaris Cross 1.5 V CVT against the Honda HR-V V Turbo CVT.

Dimensions

The Toyota Yaris Cross 1.5 V CVT is 4310mm long, 1770mm wide and 1615 tall, with 2620mm-long wheelbase and a 212 minimum ground clearance.

The Honda HR-V is longer at 4385 millimeters, wider at 1790 mm but not as tall at 1590 mm tall just clearing the ground by 181 mm.

Exterior

The All-New Yaris Cross looks all solid Toyota even with the dynamic design, the trapezoidal grille and the geometric rear lights.

Toyota Yaris Cross variants share the same essential exterior features - LED headlamps, daytime running lights, clearance lamps, front fog lamps, high mount stop lamp, rear combination lamp.

Also shared roof rails, rear spoiler, and fin type antenna, as well as front wipers with intermittent, mist, and time adjust function and rear wipers with intermittent and reverse linked function.

The 1.5 V CVT comes with outside mirrors with integrated turn lights that power adjust and fold and feature 18-inch Alloy Rims.

The Honda HR-V V Turbo doesn't lack for LEDs from the headlights with auto on/off function to the Daytime Running Lights, taillights with light bar, high mount stop lamp, projector type fog lamps, side turn signal lights integrated in the side door mirrors.

It also comes with shark fin antenna, tailgate spoiler, and rear intermittent wipers with washer.

Other distinguishing features include bumper with the Amp Up line, Black Mesh type grille, platinum headlight extension, dual tailpipe finishers, the Turbo emblem, and 17-inch Gray Alloy wheels wrapped by 215/60 R17 96H tires.

Interior Comfort & Convenience

The 1.5 V CVT shares much of what top of line Yaris Cross HEV CVT variant offers in interior amenities and driver assist and safety functions.

Synthetic leather with blue stitching for the seats. The driver's seat power adjusts 8 ways, the front passenger seat manually adjusts four ways.

The rear seat for three splits and fold flat 60:40.

The Instrument Panel and Center Cluster features a Black Soft Touch Panel and Blue Trim, and Digital Meter Cluster with 7-inch TFT Multi-Information Display.

The steering wheel comes with switches and controls for audio system, the MID, Cruise Control, Lane Tracing Assist, Drive Modes, and the Panoramic View Monitors.

The Yaris Cross comes with Smart Keyless Entry and Push Start, Power Windows, Speed-sensing Power Doorlocks, Power Tailgate with Kick-Sensor, and 10 beverage and cupholders.

Other convenience features include automatic single zone air-conditioning system with manually controlled rear vents.

The HR-V V Turbo CVT is equipped with Smart keyless entry with One Push Start system. The cabin features black and silver accents and leather-upholstered seats and shift knob.

The driver's seat slides, reclines and adjusts for height. The front passenger seat slides and reclines. The second row features Honda's patented ULT seating which splits and folds flat 60:40 and comes with a rear armrest.

The leather-wrapped steering wheel tilts and telescopes and features controls for audio, the HFT, and the Multi-Information Display. The instrument panel comes with a 7-inch Digital Display.

Other comfort and convenience features include power windows and doorlocks, auto power-folding door mirrors, single zone automatic airconditioning with the new air diffusion system and rear air vents, Electronic Parking Brake, ambient cabin lighting, four grab rails, four bottle holders, four cupholders, 12-volt accessory socket, sunvisors with illuminated mirrors, map lights, cargo area lights, tonneau cover, auto-dimming rear view mirrors and two rear USB charging ports.

Infotainment

The Yaris Cross infotainment system features a 10.1-inch Display, Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Audio, Bluetooth and Voice Command.

The Yari Cross also comes with wireless charger as well as Type A and Type C USB ports up front, and a 12-Volt Socket. Rear passengers have access to two USB ports.

The HR-V Turbo infotainment system uses an 8-inch touchscreen system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, BlueTooth, Hands Free Telephone, Audio-Streaming, USB-input, and six speakers.

Powertrain And Chassis

The Yaris Cross 1.5 V CVT is powered by a 1496cc in-line 4-cylinder gasoline engine that delivers 106 horsepower and 138 Newton meters of torque and mated to a Continuously Variable Transmission that drives the front wheels.

Stopping power comes from a brake system using front ventilated and rear solid discs.

The top-of-line Honda HR-V is powered by a turbocharged 1498cc, 4-cylinder VTEC engine that generates 177 PS and 240 Newton-meters of torque, mated to a continuously variable transmission that drives the front wheels.

The HR-V uses McPherson struts in front and Axle Type suspension in the rear.

It comes with an all-wheel disc brake system, ventilated in front.

Driver Assist & Safety

The All New Yaris Cross 1.5 V CVT comes with Toyota Safety Sense, a suite of driver assist and safety functions that include Pre-Collision System, Automatic High Beam, Lane Tracing Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, and Adaptive Cruise Control.

It is equipped with Blind Spot Monitor, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Anti-Lock Brake System with Brake Assist, Vehicle Stability Control, and Hill-Start System.

Standard safety and security equipment include 3-point ELR seatbelts for five, Dual Airbags, Side Airbags, and Curtain Shield, a Child Restraint System with two ISOFIX Tether Anchors, Emergency Brake Signal, and Toyota Vehicle Security System with alarm and immobilizer.

Parking the 1.5 V CVT is also made easier and safer by a Panoramic View Monitor as well as two front clearance and two back sonars.

The HR-V comes standard with Honda SENSING, a suite of driver assist technology that includes Collision Mitigation Braking System, Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow; Lane Keeping Assist System; Road Departure Mitigation System with Lane Departure Warning, Auto High-Beam and Lead Car Departure Notification System.

It also comes with an Anti-lock Braking System with Electronic Brake-Force Distribution, Vehicle Stability Assist, Hill Descent Control, Hill-Start Assist, Auto Brake Hold, and Agile Handling Assist, as well as a Multi-View rear camera.

Standard for safety are 3-point ELR seatbelts with reminder for five; front and side airbags, speed-sensing door locks, and ISOFIX child seat anchors.

Toyota lists the Yaris Cross V CVT at 1.306 million pesos while Honda lists the HR-V V Turbo CVT at 1.649 million pesos. After checking out what both offers at those prices, which would you rather?