Affordable 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid Takes Electrification Mainstream in US

The # 1 selling SUV of all time arrives at dealerships for 2020 with a Hybrid model offering. That’s good news for drivers demanding high fuel efficiency while not driving 100% electric. Honda Motor Company sees the broader environmental benefits of taking CR-V electric. 

For some, Honda’s latest pullback on across the brand electrification may seem a bit counter to the maker’s mission to electrify 75% of the lineup by 2025. There’s some logic to it.

In 2021 we’ll see mainstay compact car Honda Fit dropped from American Honda Motor Company offerings, as well as the short lived 100% electric Clarity EV..

However, it could be argued that electrifying CR-V will have a greater environmental impact. In fact, 2020 Honda CR-V takes automotive electrification mainstream in the U.S.A., while remaining financially profitable for the manufacturer, and financially attainable for the consumer.

In addition to exceptional fuel economy there’s some real performance benefits to electrification, such as increased torque, electric-only drive range, lower emissions, and more, as Honda holds the bottom line on consumer car purchase cost. When considering the reduced cost of operation, (fuel use) the hybrid option is effectively free of charge.

Honda pitches the Fit and kills Clarity EV

Looking to Auto sales volume the sub compact car is dead once again in North America. No doubt, this factoid is supported by slumping consumer demand for subcompacts, as the ever popular compact and midsize crossover, SUV segment outsells all other configurations with the exception of the pickup truck.

So, Fit goes the way of Honda’s CRX, with Clarity BEV killed for lack of per charge drive range, and car buyer interest.

As to Clarity Electric: Although an exceptional driver by any measure, very limited range has killed Clarity EV, with Clarity PHEV and Clarity passive hybrid remaining in the lineup; good news for Los Angeles and San Francisco commuters — the largest market for the Japanese owned, yet mostly manufactured in North America Auto maker.

According to our American Honda insider: Honda may expand the consumer retail availability of Clarity in the future, in line with market demand. In the meantime Honda Accord, Insight, and the just released CR-V Hybrid will carry electrification forward for Honda in the US, alongside MDX SUV and NSX in the uptick Acura lineup.   

Looking at the numbers. Why CR-V? 

Following the successful launch of the Accord Hybrid, and compact sedan Insight, Honda suggests that the quickest route to reducing total fleet produced hydrocarbons is by electrifying the # 1 selling retail SUV in the United States — that just happens to be Honda CR-V.

On average, 30,000 CR-V’s roll off the assembly line every month. As reported in February 2020, Honda Motors rightfully claims the lowest Hydrocarbon pollution fleet average in North America

Honda anticipates no fewer than 10% of 2020 CR-V’s sold to be Hybrid, perhaps higher. This will place an additional 30,000 or more electrified Honda’s on North American roads in 2020 alone. Putting this number into perspective, American Honda sold 4078 electrified cars for February 2020. 

How Electrifying CR-V benefits the consumer. More power, less fuel

In the standard 1.5 liter turbocharged powered offering Honda CR-V is a comfortable near midsize 2 row SUV with all-wheel-drive weather foul capabilities. For 2020, Honda CRV comes to market with an electric Hybrid propulsion option shared with Accord Hybrid.

Powerful, torque rich and cabin quiet, CR-V Hybrid loses no interior volume to control module and battery, yet gains horsepower, torque and fuel efficiency. CR-V Hybrid is arguably the most powerful non-turbocharged SUV in the compact class, stating a combined 212 HP and 232 lb-ft torque — utilizing a normally aspirated 2.0 L direct fuel injected DOHC i-VTEC Atkinson cycle 4 cylinder gasoline engine, and 2 rare earth, brush-less electric motor propulsion system. 

I’m impressed by CR-V Hybrid’s segmented CVT-like 3- drive mode non transmission; affording Sport, EV or economy drive choices. Honda’s CR-V Hybrid claims an in-city EPA MPG of 40, and 35 highway on regular gasoline, astounding! Yet, being Honda, there’s more.

Advanced Safety Suite, Intelligent AWD, dial select drive modes and more  

Coming to market in March 2020 with a LX base model MSRP of $27,750, CR-V Hybrid remains a measurable value. This year CR-V features Honda SENSING, a comprehensive driver assist accident avoidance electronic safety suite, as well as Real Time All Wheel Drive with Intelligent Control System, all standard features.  

Without question 2020 is a great year for Honda CR-V. I recommend test driving this Hybrid, Green minded or not, to anyone considering the lease or purchase of a compact or midsize 2-row SUV. 

Bullet Point or two 

Improved off the line acceleration

Greatly improved in-city and highway fuel economy: 40/35/38 combined

Standard Honda SENSING safety suite

Greater “electric only” cruising range

Led Headlamps, automatic high beam dimmers

Automatic cabin climate control

Next generation Real Time AWD with Intelligent Control System 

2020 CR-V Hybrid Pricing & EPA Data

Model / TrimMSRP1MSRP1 Including $1,120 Destination ChargeEPA Mileage Rating(City/Hwy/Combined)2
CR-V Hybrid LX$27,750$28,87040 / 35 / 38
CR-V Hybrid EX$30,260$31,38040 / 35 / 38
CR-V Hybrid EX-L$32,750$33,87040 / 35 / 38
CR-V Hybrid Touring$35,950$37,07040 / 35 / 38

Photo attributions AHMC 2020

Honda’s most fuel efficient 2018 Civic Hatchback not available in the U.S.

2018_Honda_Civic_Hatchback_Diesel
2018 Honda Civic Deisel Hatchback presented in Britian.

Honda Motors is a world-brand, and as such, caters to the unique market conditions dictated by regional specificities. One critical consideration when designing a mass-marketed car or light truck is fueling infrastructure, and more specifically, the fuel of choice within a specific geological region. Unlike the United States, when driving in the European Union, one encounters diesel engine powered cars and trucks with regularity, many of them manually shifted.

As a side note, 55% of all on-road-grade Diesel fuel refined in the United States is exported to Great Britain, Europe, and beyond; where nearly half of all passenger cars roll on Diesel power.

As announced Monday by Honda U.K. Introducing the 2018 Honda Civic Hatchback 1-DVTEC

The latest and final variant of the 10th generation world-platform Honda Civic will be Diesel engine powered, and initially, manually shifted. 2 years prior we reported on a Diesel engine powered Civic Touring Hatchback that broke the Guinness Book of Record’s “most miles driven on one gallon of fuel,” where a team of Honda associates hyper-miled their way to a world record. At that time I read from our European Honda fans of real-world fuel efficiency approaching 70 MPG, adjusted. While I haven’t personally confirmed the claim, it’s impressive, just the same.

Today I expound on Honda’s most fuel-efficient Civic Hatchback variant in Torque News. Check it out, and let me know what you think. Would you buy a diesel-powered Civic Hatchback if it was available in the U.S.? Honda’s EarthDream i-DVTEC turbocharged 4-cylinder diesel engine rolls worldwide. Why not in the United States?

In other Honda News: Yet another accolade for 2018 Honda CR-V

Earlier in January, our Honda News was dominated by C.E.S. Las Vegas. Honda attended the world’s premier Consumer Electronics Show and presented cutting-edge Robotics, some rolling some stationary. Me, I like Honda’s Autonomous work-horse 4-wheeler. Pre-programmed and controlled remotely through an app, this 4-wheel quad-like platform can be modified for work, and homesite labor saving tasks.

As to human mobility and mental health, yes, Honda has that covered too. On the Automotive side of C.E.S., Edmunds Auto, in conjunction with C.E.S., award 2018 Honda CR-V its inaugural ” Most Innovative SUV” award. Read how and why 2018 Honda CR-V beats all comers in the compact SUV segment with superior standard features, available Honda SENSING, and superior ride dynamics.

2017 Honda CR-V Honored for Low Environmental Impact

 

2017_Honda_CR-V

Last week  the ACEEE honored Accord Hybrid and Honda CR-V Touring for their low environmental impact “green” attributes. This raises a bit of a question for me and others that embrace an electric motivated future for personal transportation. Amazingly enough, the turbocharged optioned Honda CR-V approaches near hybrid MPG, without the advantages of electrification, not an easy engineering task.

When considering the purchase of a new car or SUV, how often do we look to environmental impact as a weighing factor in the decision to lease or purchase? In a time where the average pump price of gasoline sits at or near a historical low, fuel efficiency, and related car emitted air pollution, may take a backseat to utility, interior accouterments, good looks, and engine acceleration performance.

Honda continues to lead the automotive world in fuel-efficient, super low emissions I.C.E ( internal combustion engine) technology. In practice, 2017 CR-V Touring ranks #1 in the compact crossover/SUV segment for average fuel efficiency. And, according to KBB.com, will lead the competition in long-term ownership residual value.

2017 Honda CR-V offers the best of all worlds through financially attainable MSRP, segment topping performance, and as acknowledged by the ACEEE,  (American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy) a reduced environmental footprint, as a “Greener Choices 2017” pick, with a top 11% efficiency rating when measured against all cars on the road today. This Honda Hybrid landed in the top 1.3%  2017_Honda_Accord_McCants

It’s good to be “Green”

How we measure such benchmarks:  Vehicles that qualify for the “Greener Choices 2017” list are restricted to widely available gasoline-powered cars and light trucks with automatic transmissions, which showcases the widespread availability of environmentally responsible vehicle choices in many segments of the market. The vehicles are ranked based on a full life-cycle analysis, looking at not only the environmental impacts from driving, but also from the manufacturing and end-of-life recycling of the vehicle.

As reviewed by McCants Auto News: While driving under real-world weather and road surface conditions, our turbocharged 2017 CR-V Touring averaged 28.9 MPG. That’s exceptional for a near midsize 2-row equipped with real-time all-wheel-drive, a high torque output turbocharged 4-cylinder gasoline engine, chunky-exterior design cue’s and what gained acknowledgement from the automotive press as the most refined, comfortable interior in the compact SUV segment. Read my latest 2017 Honda CR-V drive review here.

Today from Honda-Torque News

Following yet another round of segment leading awards for Pilot, Ridgeline and the reinvented 2017 CR-V crossover, Honda- Torque News and yours truly take a look at the benefit of turbocharging Honda’s best selling compact crossover.

I had my first opportunity to experience Honda’s next best seller on the back roads and highways of San Francisco and Monterey Bay, California – stunning! And, so is Honda’s most refined compact CUV to date. In danger of reading like an advertisement for 2017 Honda CR-V, frankly, I found nothing but positive accolades for this much improved compact crossover segment best seller.

Following the lead of 2016 Honda Civic Touring, buyers will now find a turbocharged engine option as well as Honda’s much improved G-Shift logic CVT transmission. What turbocharging does for 2017 Honda CR-V performance.

Beyond the confines of arguably the most refined and ergonomically correct cabin found in the compact crossover/SUV segment, buyers will enjoy the much improved soft and hard touch surfaces, an enlarged center-stack touch screen, multiple cellphone O.S. pairing capabilities, an uptick sound system, and top of segment “Honda Sensing” active safety options.

For our readers living in colder climates, when equipped with all-wheel-drive, CR-V claims a 50% greater torque efficiency to rear wheels when traction loss is detected – seamlessly. I like that.

As to the 5th generation CR-V exterior look, I believe that the reinvented CR-V speaks for itself. Honda engineering injects the design language of the reinvented A.H.M.C. lineup into CR-V without loosing the essence of the made in America best seller. I’m impressed by the balance of line, the wide-track stance, available wheel selection and slightly increased ground clearance. The understated urbane fighter ‘look’ works very well .

For more details as to features, options and MSRP read my initial 2017 CR-V drive impressions here. In short, with Car and Driver voting 2017 CR-V “Best Compact SUV,” CR-V has earned your test drive when considering the purchase of a new fuel efficient compact crossover.