The Next Honda CR-V Is Going All-Hybrid

A quarter of a century ago, hybrid cars were niche propositions. Now they’re mainstream. This plug-free fuel-sipping tech has matured to the point where it’s a relatively inexpensive, reliable way of boosting fuel economy and saving drivers real cash at the pumps. Just about every automaker’s going in on the tech, but some are going harder than others. Honda has just announced that the next Honda CR-V, arriving next year, will drop pure combustion in favor of an all-hybrid lineup.

For the 2028 CR-V, Honda’s targeting at least a 10 percent increase in hybrid fuel efficiency, which should theoretically result in an EPA combined fuel economy rating of 44 MPG for front-wheel-drive models. In theory, that would put the marque’s best-selling model in America ahead of its closest rival, the Toyota RAV4, when it comes to fuel-sipping.

Details on the new powertrain are scarce, but it is a two-motor setup, and Honda claims to have found efficiencies “through advancements such as expanding the range where the engine operates most efficiently and an increase in the driving efficiency of the hybrid unit.” At the same time, all-wheel-drive models will feature what Honda calls “a newly developed electric AWD unit,” which sounds like it’s following Toyota’s lead of replacing mechanical all-wheel-drive with an electric motor on the rear axle. While great for efficiency, this sort of setup can have its drawbacks in absolute traction depending on motor output.

So why’s Honda taking this route? Sales mix could definitely play a role, as 54 percent of all CR-Vs sold in America this year feature hybrid powertrains. Cost and reliability could also have a hand in this decision, as hinted at by the line “The Anna Engine Plant also is retooling an existing production line to produce the next generation 4-cylinder Atkinson-cycle engine powering the CR-V and future vehicles built in North America” in the press release. Both the standard 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and the two-liter engine used in current hybrid CR-V models haven’t exactly enjoyed the smoothest lives. A 10-year/150,000-mile warranty extension has been put out on the head gaskets in both engines due to a pattern of premature failure, and when engineering a next-generation powertrain to get past such an issue, it makes sense for Honda to put all its eggs in the hybrid basket.

Plus, just take a look around. The Toyota RAV4 has already gone all-hybrid. Mazda has a hybrid CX-50 and is working on a hybrid CX-5, Subaru already has a hybrid Forester, Hyundai has the Tucson Hybrid, Kia has the Sportage Hybrid, Jeep has the Cherokee Hybrid, and all of these rivals are seeing solid demand. The compact crossover market is ruthless, and making every trim a hybrid has the potential to attract drivers of competitors in an age when the average gas price is nearly $4 a gallon.

There’s still plenty we don’t know about the next-generation CR-V, but it will continue to be built in three plants across North America: One in East Liberty, Ohio; one in Greensburg, Ind.; and one in Alliston, Ont., Canada. Expect to learn a whole lot more next year, when Honda reveals the latest iteration of its American best-seller.

Top graphic image: Honda