2022 Honda CR-V Hybrid SUV

　　

2022 Honda CR-V Hybrid Review

byMichael CantuCorrespondent

　　Michael Cantu has worked in the automotive industry since 2014. He has written over 800 car-related articles and tested and reviewed over 100 vehicles over the course of his career. Michael is a contributor at zzdcar and has also contributed to MotorTrend, Digital Trends and InsideEVs. Michael was featured on a few InsideEVs YouTube channel videos on the topic of electric vehicles. Michael was a MotorTrend Car of the Year judge for 2019 and was a driver in MotorTrend's World's Greatest Drag Races 7 & 8.

　　The 2022 Honda CR-V Hybrid is part of the growing class of small SUV hybrids. It faces off against the well-established Toyota RAV4 Hybrid as well as more recent additions such as the Ford Escape Hybrid and Hyundai Tucson Hybrid. Since the CR-V Hybrid is based on the regular CR-V, it naturally shares many great qualities such as a roomy cabin and comfortable ride.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2022 Honda CR-V Hybrid EX 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.06 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$101/mo  for CR-V Hybrid EX

　　CR-V Hybrid EX

　　EX 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) - $32,010 MSRPEX-L 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) - $34,600 MSRPTouring 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) (Most Popular) - $37,800 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　Of course, the main appeal to buying the Hybrid over the regular CR-V is the promise of superior fuel economy. The EPA estimates it gets 38 mpg in combined driving. That's an attractive 31% boost over a regular CR-V with all-wheel drive; it gets an estimated 29 mpg. Although, if you continue reading, you'll see we achieved lower real-world average fuel economy during testing and with our long-term CR-V Hybrid. There's a lot to like about this two-row hybrid SUV, including its seamless powertrain, but we also found some negatives when we tested it. For a complete review by our test team, check out the zzdcar' Expert Rating below. 

　　

What's it like to live with?

A 2021 CR-V Hybrid joined our long-term testing program so that we can see what it's like to live with for a year. Our team of experts provide updates that cover the CR-V Hybrid's real-world fuel economy, maintenance and repairs, tech, how it's like to drive and more. If you want to know how the hybrid SUV performed, check out zzdcar' long-term road test here.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.9

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the CR-V Hybrid drive? The CR-V Hybrid sets the standard for this class thanks in large part to the unparalleled smoothness from its hybrid powertrain. The transition from the electric motor to the gas engine is seamless and rivals that of systems typically found on luxury cars costing twice as much.

　　The brakes are equally as smooth and deliver confident stops up to a traffic light or in a panic-braking situation. At our test track, the CR-V Hybrid showed excellent consistency, stopping from 60 mph in 125 feet. That's 6 feet shorter than the RAV4 Hybrid we tested.

　　But the CR-V Hybrid is let down by its lackluster acceleration. Even though it's more powerful than a standard CR-V on the spec sheet, our testing showed otherwise. The 0-60 mph sprint took 8.5 seconds, which is a full second slower than the non-hybrid model. Climbing longer grades takes a heavy foot, and you can hear the underpowered gasoline engine struggling to hold a steady speed.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the CR-V Hybrid? It's difficult to find fault here. From its accommodating seats to its extremely well-sorted ride, the CR-V Hybrid is comfortable for a wide variety of people. The climate control system has no trouble maintaining a comfortable temperature and can adequately cool rear passengers too.

　　Oddly enough, because the engine and transmission are so smooth, the Hybrid exposes a real lack of sound insulation in the CR-V. Road noise from other vehicles on the road is prevalent, and wind noise is pervasive at highway speeds.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below