Honda CR-V vs Jeep Cherokee

2026 Honda CR-V vs 2026 Jeep Cherokee — two rivals compared on efficiency, size, safety and reliability.

Honda CR-V

2026 Honda CR-V

Midsize Station WagonsAWD/4WDHybrid/EV
VS3 – 3Tie: 3 categories each
Jeep Cherokee

2026 Jeep Cherokee

Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WDAWD/4WDHybrid/EV

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The short version

The Honda CR-V is more fuel-efficient: 40 vs 37 MPG combined in its best version.

That works out to about $100 a year less in fuel for the Honda CR-V (EPA estimate, 15,000 miles).

The Jeep Cherokee is the bigger car, about 4 inches longer.

Across all model years since 2005, the Jeep Cherokee has had fewer recall campaigns (43 vs 60).

The two cars

The 2026 Honda CR-V is a midsize station wagon offered with 2 engines (2.0L 4-cyl and 1.5L 4-cyl turbo), including a hybrid version and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. It measures about 185 inches long and 74 inches wide on a 106-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,635 lb (4dr SUV AWD).

The 2026 Jeep Cherokee is a standard SUV offered with a 1.6L 4-cyl turbo engine, including a hybrid version and all-wheel drive. It measures about 188 inches long and 75 inches wide on a 113-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,295 lb.

Buying used? The 2022 CR-V and the 2023 Cherokee have the fewest problems in our data; avoid the 2018 CR-V and the 2015 Cherokee.

Basics

Midsize Station Wagons
Class
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Hybrid, eFCV, Regular Gasoline
Fuel
Hybrid
2.0L 4-cyl, 1.5L 4-cyl turbo
Engines
1.6L 4-cyl turbo
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Drivetrain
All-Wheel Drive

Efficiency

40 MPG
Best combined MPG
37 MPG
43 city
City / highway MPG (best)
39 city
$1,700
Fuel cost per year (EPA)
$1,800

Performance & space

190 hp
Horsepower (most powerful)
210 hp
184.6 in
Length
188.2 in
73.6 in
Width
74.8 in
66.1 in
Height
67.3 in
3,525 lb
Curb weight (lightest)
4,295 lb

Safety & reliability

14
Driver-assist features standard
14
2
Recalls (2026)
4
60
Recalls, all years since 2005
43
177
Owner complaints (latest year)
9

Interest

36,497
Wikipedia views, 30 days
12,175

Buying used

Best used year
Year to avoid

Green = clearly better. Prices are not included. How we calculate this →

Which one should you choose?

Choose the Honda CR-V if…

  • You want lower fuel bills (40 vs 37 MPG)
  • You want something easier to park (4 in shorter)

Choose the Jeep Cherokee if…

  • You want more power (up to 210 vs 190 hp)
  • You want more room (4 in longer)
  • You put reliability history first (43 vs 60 recalls since 2005)

Pros & cons of each

2026 Honda CR-V

  • Excellent fuel economyUp to 40 MPG combined — 56% better than the average 2026 midsize station wagon (25.7 MPG).
  • Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
  • AWD / 4WD available
  • Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.

2026 Jeep Cherokee

  • Excellent fuel economyUp to 37 MPG combined — 85% better than the average 2026 standard SUV (20 MPG).
  • Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
  • Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.

Full 2026 Honda CR-V specs →Full 2026 Jeep Cherokee specs →Compare fuel costs for your driving →Compare size & garage fit →