The all-new 2022 Honda HR-V takes a three-pronged approach to the Malaysian SUV market: buyers can choose between a naturally-aspirated engine, a turbocharged one, or a hybrid.

In this article, we’ll focus on the range-topping RS e:HEV variant, which goes toe-to-toe with the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid (RM 139,991), with a feature set and price tag to match too.

Powertrain: Both hybrids, but one is more powerful

In top RS form the HR-V gets a hybrid powertrain; much the same like its Thai counterpart, or closer to home, the City RS and City Hatchback RS duo. Analoguous to it is the Corolla Cross Hybrid, which rules that roost.

Also read: Review: 2022 Honda City Hatchback - X50 money for a 'small car', but it's big on value

That said, the i-MMD powertrain has been tweaked slightly for the HR-V. Two main changes: the high voltage battery has more cells now (60 cells, compared to 48 in the City/City Hatchback RS), and there's a power bump here too.

Its petrol engine – a 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated DOHC, port-injected four-cylinder mill – has been massaged to produce slightly more power, now with 107 PS and 131 Nm of torque. The traction motor has been uprated also, now with 131 PS and 253 Nm of instantaneous torque.

This is higher than in the hybrid City RS family, of which their engines make 98 PS/127 Nm, while their motor produces 109 PS/253 Nm. 

The HR-V RS’ e:HEV is a dual-motor, full-hybrid system, which works a bit differently than the series-parallel Toyota Hybrid System II (THS-II) that’s in the Corolla Cross Hybrid.

Also read: Here’s why the all-new 2020 Honda City RS with i-MMD doesn’t need a gearbox

For most of the time, it’s the electric traction motor that drives the HR-V RS, so there’s this smooth, EV-like driving experience, aided by the instantaneous 253 Nm torque generated by the 107 PS traction motor.

Meanwhile its Atkinson-cycle petrol engine only kicks in to either drive the generator to provide additional power for the motor, or to directly drive the wheels during high-speed cruising.

In the Corolla Cross, there's also three modes but it works differently: pure battery (EV), motor plus the engine driving the wheels, and both motor plus engine powering the car while charging the battery.

 In EV mode, the battery directly drives the motor, meaning at low speeds it's pretty much an electric vehicle. However, due to the small size of said battery, you won’t get very far before the engine kicks in.

Also read: Review: Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid - Come on HR-V, give it your best shot

Outputs are also different: the HR-V RS makes 131 PS / 253 Nm (motor only), while the Corolla Cross Hybrid churns out a combined 122 PS.

If outright speed is what you are looking for then the HR-V RS might do you better – our colleagues at Autofun Thailand managed to complete the 0-100 km/h sprint in the HR-V in 9.86 seconds, while we did 12.9 seconds in the Corolla Cross Hybrid.

Fuel consumption figures differ slightly too; Toyota quotes the Corolla Cross Hybrid to only sip 4.3 litres/100 km (5.1 litres/100 km as tested), while the Honda, 4.1 litres/100 km. 

ADAS: Sensing wins with EPB, Low-Speed Follow

Generally both cars are on the same level in terms of creature comforts, but we’ll hand a couple more points to the HR-V here if only for its standard-across-the-range electric parking brake (EPB).

It’s not just about the convenience of having auto brake hold or a cleaner footwell, but rather how it allows the HR-V RS to have true stop-and-go adaptive cruise control (ACC) functionality. Pair that with Low-Speed Follow (LSF), and you have a car that's friendlier in slow-moving traffic.

The Corolla Cross however only has a footbrake...which means you need to manually accelerate to resume ACC.

Also read: From foggy roads to congested cities, Honda Civic’s Sensing is one of the best

Speaking of which, both cars come standard with advanced safety features (ADAS), with the HR-V equipped with the Honda Sensing suite, while the Corolla Cross gets Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0).

Features are pretty much level-pegging between them, but the HR-V adds on Lead Car Departure Notification (LCDN), which is an audiovisual indicator that tells you the car infront has moved, and you should too.

On the passive safety front the HR-V gets 6 airbags, hill descent control (HDC), and stability control (VSC). The same are offered on the Corolla Cross Hybrid, but that has 7 airbags across the range.

Interior: Snazzy cabin in the HR-V, more comfortable in the Corolla Cross

While outputs and features separate the two, the gap is brought closer in the cabin. Both five-seaters get dual-zone air-conditioning, and specific interior touches (red stitching for the HR-V RS, blue ambient lighting for the Corolla Cross Hybrid).

Rear air-cond vents are a shared feature too, as are leather seats (8-way power-adjustable for the driver too), a drive mode controller, and a multi-function steering wheel.

Also read: Post-SST, here are the new 2022 prices for Toyota models - up by RM 2k to RM 17k

Gaining one extra point for the HR-V is the air-diffusing vents in the cabin. Turn the knob to the top-most position (Diffusion mode), and the vent now works like an air curtain to reduce heat entering from the side windows. This also eliminates the odd feeling of having the air blasted directly to your face.

That said, the Corolla Cross also has its strong points. Yes, for all the glitz the HR-V's cabin has, the 'Cross proves to be the comfier one. It's an airier cabin because of its conventional, higher roofline, while the HR-V feels a little claustrophobic due to its sloping rear and smaller roofline.

The Corolla Cross also has amazing front seats that we daresay are among the best in the business. So pleasurable they are to sit in, they make long distance journeys a cinch, and can give premium cars a run for thier money too.

Infotainment: No fight from Toyota

Infotainment-wise both models offer wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity; though the touchscreen is an inch larger in the Corolla Cross compared to the HR-V’s 8-inch unit that's a familiar sight if you've been in the City and City Hatchback.

Speaking of which, execution of in-car entertainment is way better in the Honda. There's more aural depth compared to the relatively flat audio in the Toyota, and the headunit is snappier too. Yes, though Lanewatch takes over it in some situations, you can easily return to navigation by the touch of a button.

That's something not quite possible in the Toyota, as the turn-assist cameras comes on when you indicate at lower speeds, and you can't turn it off. The headunit being tad slower also means you can lose crucial moments of navigation.

Practicality: Fit way more stuff in the Honda

Despite having to contend with stuffing a battery pack under the boot floor, both cars still maintain a reasonably-sized boot.

The Corolla Cross Hybrid's 440-litres is unchanged from its pure-petrol counterparts, and while we don't have the exact volume for the HR-V, we'd still wager you won't be left wanting for more space anyway.

Litres, however tell only one half of the story - though the Cross has a bigger boot in theory, the HR-V has minimal intrusion of the wheel wells in the boot (flatter walls), which means the difference in cargo space between these cars are minimal at best.

Also read: Just how practical is the 2022 Honda HR-V? Let us show you in 20 photos

But that difference is widened because Honda has a trick up their sleeves for this one. For those IKEA trips perhaps the HR-V would do you one better; what not with its multi-way foldable Ultra Seats that allow for long and tall items to be put in your car.

The Corolla Cross offers regular 60:40 split-folding rear seats, useful for transporting long items.

Aftersales: Better warranty by Toyota

The Honda HR-V is covered by a 5-year/unlimited mileage warranty. For the e:HEV RS variant, the high voltage hybrid battery is covered by an 8-year/unlimited mileage warranty, which only covers the battery.

Toyota offers a 5 year/unlimited warranty for the rest of the car too, but their battery warranty (also 8 years, unlimited mileage) covers not only the high voltage battery, but also the inverter and hybrid vehicle control computer.

Toyota also has a better reputation when it comes to excellence in after-sales services, and that is an important factor to consider too.

It can also be extended to a 10-year/unlimited mileage warranty for an additional RM 2,950. Honda doesn't offer such extensions.

Conclusion: Tough fight 'till the end

When all’s said and done, both cars have their fair share of what’s hot and what’s not. The HR-V, being the (slightly) newer, more fleshed-out product, seems to have got the Corolla Cross beat in terms of what it has on paper – but then again, it has an appearance that some may be divisive to some, and not to forget, the slightly weaker warranty package.

Also read: Review: 2022 Honda HR-V RS - Maybe you'd want to hold the Corolla Cross booking first...

How the Malaysian-spec HR-V handles our roads is also still a question mark (our review was in Thailand), and the Corolla Cross Hybrid has set a very high standard on that front. For what its worth though, the long wait times both cars command mean you can't go wrong either way.