Although Honda has sold its CR-V Hybrid in Europe and China for more than a year, for the 2020 model year the hybrid compact crossover becomes the brand's first electrified SUV in the United States—and it's expected to become its best-selling hybrid. Honda's hybrid lineup in the U.S. consists of a sedan and two hatchbacks, the Insight, Accord Hybrid, and Clarity plug-in hybrid, and the brand moved fewer than 59,000 hybrids last year. The CR-V Hybrid should have no problem taking Honda's hybrid-sales crown, what with the hybrid version of the top-selling CR-V bringing refinement, competitive pricing, and impressive EPA fuel economy to a rapidly expanding segment.
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| © Honda 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid |
Familiar Hybrid Tech
The CR-V Hybrid is clearly aimed at Toyota's best-selling hybrid, the RAV4. Last year, about 92,000 RAV4 Hybrids were sold. In the CR-V Hybrid, Honda uses a two-motor hybrid system that we've praised in the Accord Hybrid but with a few tuning changes to smooth out its operation and improve efficiency. It combines an Atkinson-cycle 2.0-liter inline-four with two motor-generators and a relatively tiny 1.4-kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
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| © Honda 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid |
The CR-V is Honda's first hybrid to have all-wheel drive. Unlike Toyota's hybrid all-wheel-drive system that puts an electric motor in the rear end to assist the otherwise front-drive RAV4, the CR-V uses the same system that's in the non-hybrid. Which is to say there is a clutch that engages the rear axle when the stability-control system detects slippage or when sending torque to the rear axle is otherwise advantageous, such as ascending a steep grade.
Honda has also tweaked the naturally aspirated 2.0-liter inline-four. This Atkinson-cycle engine uses the same higher compression ratio setup as the Accord Hybrid (13.5:1) and a new exhaust-gas recirculation system. The system's combined outputs of 212 horsepower and 232 lb-ft of torque are the same as the Accord hybrid, too. The hybrid could be considered a performance version since it makes more power than the 190 horsepower and 179 lb-ft you get from the CR-V's turbocharged 1.5-liter four. For comparison purposes, the RAV4 Hybrid makes 219 horsepower and the Ford Escape hybrid has 209 ponies.
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| © Honda 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid |
As in the Accord, the four-cylinder engine is primarily used as a generator of electricity. There are conditions when a clutch engages and the four-cylinder drives the car on its own (low load, think highway cruising) or in collaboration with the drive motor (maximum acceleration). The juice generated by the engine is usually sent to the electric motors to move the vehicle, but it can also be diverted to charge the battery pack. There is an electric-only EV mode, but the small battery limits the range to a mile or two. Regenerative braking recoups some electricity by using the electric motors as generators when decelerating. The amount of regeneration, which affects how quickly the CR-V slows when you lift off the accelerator, is adjustable with a tap of the steering wheel's paddle shifters.
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| © Honda 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid |
A Better Driving Experience
The additional hybrid hardware increases the CR-V's curb weight by about 200 pounds over the standard model. Unfortunately, the battery's placement beneath the rear cargo floor eliminates the spare tire, and the load floor can no longer be lowered to expand its capacity. To deal with the extra mass, Honda has firmed up the suspension, which lends the CR-V Hybrid a solid, substantial feel on the road. Its ride remains compliant, however, even on the Touring's standard 19-inch wheels. The SUV showed exceptional stability and secure and capable manners on Arizona's wavy desert two-lane highways. The hybrid system's operation is smooth, quiet, and unobtrusive. A well-insulated cabin and the audio-system's active noise-canceling system help keep engine drone to a minimum at full throttle.
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| © Honda 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid |
But it's the hybrid system's extra power and responsiveness that improves the CR-V's driving experience. The torque of the electric motor makes it feel livelier, especially in Sport mode, as the powertrain reacts to small accelerator inputs more quickly. Full-throttle acceleration feels about the same (the last CR-V we tested hit 60 mph in 7.6 seconds), but around town the CR-V Hybrid has a punchy quality that the regular model lacks. And the EPA fuel-economy estimates jump from 27 mpg city and 33 highway to 40 mpg city and 35 highway. However, those numbers aren't the best in the class. The RAV4 hybrid returns 41 mpg city and 38 highway in EPA testing, and the Ford Escape hybrid is rated 43 mpg city and 37 highway.
Badged To Impress
Four trim levels are available on the CR-V Hybrid: LX, EX, EX-L, and Touring. Honda expects only 10 percent of buyers to choose the base LX model, which starts at $28,870. That's $2700 more than the base CR-V, yet only $190 more than the non-hybrid CR-V EX. At $31,380, the CR-V Hybrid EX is expected to be more popular. Its additional equipment includes 18-inch wheels, blind-spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert, a sunroof, a larger infotainment screen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a multi-angle backup camera, and dual-zone automatic climate control. If you want leather and a power liftgate, you'll have to step up to the EX-L hybrid.
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| © Honda 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid |
The hybrid Touring is at the top of the range and costs $37,070. Touring models add wireless phone charging, navigation, and an audio-system upgrade. Although its costs nearly $3000 more than the regular CR-V Touring, it undercuts a loaded RAV4 hybrid Limited by about $2000. The Honda Sensing suite of active driver aids is standard on all models and includes collision-warning and autonomous braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and traffic-sign recognition.
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| © Honda 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid |
Every 2020 CR-V gets updated front and rear ends and a redesigned center console with additional storage. Hybrid models are distinguished by blue Honda badges, three hybrid badges—including one on each fender—and LED fog lights. Inside, there's a unique gauge cluster without a tachometer and a battery cooling duct between the back seat and the right rear door. Unfortunately, the hybrid is equipped with the same dated infotainment system as every other CR-V.
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| © Honda 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid |
"I didn't think we needed all the badging," said one Honda rep during our drive. "Pretty soon the majority of our cars will be hybrids. So, this won't be the CR-V Hybrid, it'll just be the CR-V. We might as well start thinking that way now." Today, just seven percent of all Honda models sold in the world are electrified, but the company says that will grow to two-thirds by 2030. More Honda hybrid SUVs are undoubtedly on the way. We hope they're all as good as the CR-V Hybrid.
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