2020 Honda CR-V gets U.S.-built hybrid powertrain

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Honda’s electrified vehicle sales in the U.S. market are on track for the third consecutive year. For the first 8 months of 2019, cumulative sales of Accord Hybrid, Insight and Clarity have reached 42,270 units, propelling Honda electrified vehicle sales to year-over-year gains of 67.9 percent. In 2018, Honda sold 49,914 electrified vehicles in the U.S., which were nearly double of 2017 results.

Joining that electrified product range is the 2020 CR-V Hybrid, Honda’s first electrified SUV in America. The CR-V is one of the most important vehicles for Honda globally, and is in the U.S. market for over two decades. The new CR-V Hybrid will be built at the company’s Greensburg, Indiana plant alongside the Insight hybrid sedan. Honda said that the company will invest $4.2 million and add 34 new jobs in the plant to support the production of the CR-V Hybrid.

2020 CR-V and CR-V Hybrid

Styling updates for the 2020 model year are minor, which includes restyled bumpers and wheels. EX, EX-L and Touring trims get circular LED fog lights, while the Hybrid models in the same trims get bar-type fog lights with five LED elements. The Hybrid models will also get hybrid badging and a distinctive blue Honda logo in the center of the grille.

All CR-V EX and EX-L trims, including Hybrid, get newly designed 18-inch wheels with a dark gray and machined finish, and Touring trims get a new, larger 19-inch wheels. Three new exterior colors are available for 2020: Sonic Gray Pearl and Radiant Red Metallic on standard and Hybrid models, and new Aegean Blue Metallic is available exclusively on non-hybrid models.

Inside, the three switches next to the push-button gear selector on the centre console distinguishes the Hybrid from non-hybrid models. The Econ mode alters throttle inputs to maximize fuel efficiency, while the Sport mode enhances the throttle response for a more aggressive feel, with the engine sound enhanced by Active Sound Control for a sportier note. There’s also an EV mode, which is self-explanatory.

The instrument cluster also is unique to CR-V Hybrid models and features a display for power/charge status, as well as a driver-selectable display for power distribution and regeneration. The Hybrid models also get paddles on the steering wheel to increase or decrease the amount of regenerative braking from the hybrid system’s electric motor when decelerating.

The CR-V Touring trims now come standard with Qi-compatible wireless smartphone charging. Other features include an optional 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and the optional Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System. Also available are remote engine start, dual-zone climate control, Electric Parking Brake (EPB), rear USB charging ports, 4-way power adjustable front passenger seat, 8-way power adjustable driver’s seat with 4-way power lumbar support, and heated front seats.

For the 2020 model year, all CR-V models come standard with Honda Sensing suite of advanced safety and driver-assistive technologies. These include Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) with Forward Collision Warning (FCW), pedestrian sensing capability, Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) with Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), and Lane Keeping Assist (LKAS).

The Hybrid model combines two electric motors with a 2.0-litre Atkinson cycle gasoline engine. The ICE is claimed to have more than 40 percent thermal efficiency, the highest for any mass-produced Honda engine. The total system output is 212 hp. The CR-V Hybrid also marks the first application of all-wheel drive to Honda’s two-motor hybrid system in the U.S.

The battery pack and its control systems are mounted under the cargo floor, allowing the Hybrid model to retain cargo space, including a 60/40 split rear seatback with a flat load floor. More details on the Hybrid variant are available at a later date.

The non-hybrid models including the LX, are powered by a 190 hp 1.5L turbocharged gasoline engine. Available in FWD or AWD configurations, power is transmitted through a CVT.