2026 Honda CR-V Hybrid: Still the top of the hybrid heap?
The small SUV with the efficient powertrain gets a new, more rugged look for 2026, but most of it remains the same.
2026 Honda CR-V Hybrid AWD Sport Touring vs. Kia Sportage Hybrid: A challenger for the hybrid crown?
This week: Honda CR-V Hybrid
Price: $42,550 for the trim level (which is top of the line)
What others are saying: “Highs: Civilized and efficient hybrid powertrain, roomy interior, new larger standard infotainment touchscreen. Lows: Price premium over nonhybrid CR-V, could use a few more ponies,” says Car and Driver.
What Honda is saying: “The hybrid that gives you more.”
Reality: The Honda is still in the running.
What’s new: When you have a vehicle Mr. Driver’s Seat rated as “so nice,” you’re wary of updates. Are they going to make this better?
They haven’t changed too much about the underpinnings of this model — same powertrain, but with a new look. A TrailSport model gives it more Passport-type off-roady features.
It really looked like a Passport parked in the driveway.
Competition: In addition to the Sportage Hybrid, competitors include the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, Mazda CX-50 Hybrid, Mitsubishi Outlander Hybrid, Subaru Forester Hybrid, and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid.
Up to speed: The CR-V Hybrid feels like a surprisingly quick little SUV. The two-motor hybrid system creates 204 horsepower and is coupled to a 2-liter four-cylinder engine that gets updates for 2026.
It got to 60 mph in 7.1 seconds, according to Car and Driver, about average for the vehicle type, and surprisingly almost a second quicker than the 2023 model with the same powertrain.
In any case, the CR-V has a nice feel of momentum as it goes about daily driving, even if the hard numbers are actually kind of soft.
Shiftless: A Honda with a shift lever continues to excite me far more than it really should. But that’s how disappointed I was with the old buttons. I just found them unattractive and cumbersome.
The power band is fairly even in this hybrid version of the CR-V; gasoline-powered Hondas with CVTs can be a little uneven.
On the road: The CR-V appeared quite mannerly and easy to drive.
And then I found Sport mode. This really turns the small SUV into a Volkswagen or Mazda competitor. It doesn’t quite have the fun factor but it really wiggles through the curves nicely. Cornering is a real bright spot, as I made some left turns at stoplights far more enthusiastically than I’d have thought possible, and the tall SUV never even flinched.
The CR-V also rates highly for maneuverability. With a backward-garage at Chez Sturgis, a lot of three-point runs happen, and the CR-V let me go from one corner to another in one swoop, much like the smallest vehicles out there.
Driver’s Seat: The seat seemed a little stiff at first, and my time in the Civic Hybrid made me paranoid — Civic seats tend to jab me just the wrong way. But no Mr. Driver’s Seats were harmed in the making of this review, and a comfortable time was had by almost all.
The gauges are clear and the default offers pretty much all the info you’ll need, which is how it should be.
A heated steering wheel comes courtesy of the Sport Touring trim.
Friends and stuff: The rear seat is where happy Honda seat dreams go to, well, not exactly die, but suffer a little bit. The seat back is flat except for an annoying lumbar bump near the bottom. At least there are several recline choices.
Legroom is fantastic, as is foot room, while headroom is snug, about an inch from Mr. Driver’s Seat’s head.
Cargo space is a whopping 36.3 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 76.5 with the seat folded; the seat bottom folds down with the back rest to maximize cargo space.
In and out: It’s a slight step up into the CR-V. Not too much of a climb.
Play some tunes: After experiencing true audio joy from the Honda Odyssey stereo once upon a time, I keep expecting dynamite sound from Hondas, but often I’m disappointed. The Bose premium system in the CR-V Hybrid Sport Touring performs OK, an A- or a B+. Sigh.
Operation of the system is not bad, with dials for volume and tuning. Sound adjustments are in the larger 9-inch touchscreen but are unavailable when the vehicle is moving. This is a precaution I like for you and all the other drivers out there, but I’m special and don’t need it.
Keeping warm and cool: Dials control temperature and fan speed while buttons handle the rest. It’s a pretty easy setup.
Fuel economy: The CR-V hybrid averaged 35.2 mpg for almost the entire visit, a nice reward for the hybrid premium, and just the overall chance to feel smug.
Where it’s built: Greensburg, Ind.; East Liberty, Ohio; and Alliston, Ontario.
How it’s built: Consumer Reports predicts the CR-V Hybrid reliability to be a 4 out of 5.
Next week: How does the Kia Sportage Hybrid compare?