2020 Honda CR-V hybrid Crossover

The urge for the utilitarian prospects and practicality, the 5-seater comes in 4 trims and all of them are available in AWD. The rivalry of this hybrid begins against the power of the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Ford Escape Hybrid, and Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid. Starting at a price of some $27,000, the expense can go up to $37,000 exclusive of the additional options.

Just like the previous year, Honda offers the CR-V in four trims starting from the base LX trim going all the way to the top Touring trim. For the hybrid, all the trims come with the AWD system as standard. The base LX trim costs $27,850 and goes all the way up to 36,050 for the top Touring trim. Honda has cleverly divided the trim so you get exactly what you want and it sure does come in an affordable price range regardless of the trim. The LX trim gets additional packages like the Driver Assist suite and Honda Safety Sensing. The Lane Keeping Assist System has been given a priority in the EX-L trim. The Touring, being the top-dog, has been adorned with all that the mid and low-tier trims have with some extra benefits.

A host of safety and comfort features are available right from the base trim, and as you progress through the trims, you will see the addition of better tech and comfort features. The Regenerative Braking System has been kept consistent across all trims along with added Electric Parking Brake and Hill Hold Control. The CR-V has an impeccable cargo volume that really makes it stand apart from the crew. If comfort standard features are the priorities then the Dual-zone automatic climate control has been engineered throughout all the trims.

Which Trim should you buy?

The best choice to buy out of the four trims if you are on a budget would be the mid-tier EX trim. It comes at a very reasonable cost and has almost all the necessary features for making the ride reliable and safe. Moreover, the gap in the Touring and EX-L does not seem to affect the handling dynamics at the EX trim at all. So, saving of almost $2,000 and $6,000 from the respective levels can be achieved as well that can be further be used for availing of extra features.

The 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid offers more power than the gas engine and is also more fuel-efficient than the standard one. The engine comprises a 2.0-liter i-VTEC Atkinson cycle four-cylinder unit which on its own produces 143 horsepower. The total power output with the combined power of this engine and two electric motors top out at 212 horsepower and 232 pound-feet of torque. This is the same engine as seen in the Accord Hybrid and uses a CVT transmission which is made up of a lock-up clutch. It uses a proper all mechanical all-wheel-drive system. Moreover, 0-60 MPH comes up in 7.5 seconds and it has a top speed of 112 MPH, which is rather slower than the segment average.

The RAV4 Hybrid offers slightly more power than the CR-V but less torque and is also slower in the 0-60 MPH mark than the CR-V. The CR-V is undoubtedly impressive in its pick-up, the success can be defined to the low-end torque surge. Among all, the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid is the least dominant with a sluggish acceleration and underwhelming power comparison. The AWD has been integrated into all of them considering their Bodystyle instability on the paper. One should also value the fact that the Honda CR-V Hybrid does so with a lower capacity engine module.

How well does the 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid handle?

There is no lack of fun while driving the CR-V Hybrid. While the engine might not be able to reach high-top speeds, it sure is quick off the mark and would keep up with the traffic at highway speed with ease. The transmission does a pretty good job of keeping the engine at the right revs all the time, and Honda has been well praised for their CVT as it is not as lifeless as one would like to think. 

Honda adds three driving modes which are Eco, Sport, and EV. The Eco mode kills the fun as it pulls back on throttle response but returns high MPG in the city. The sport mode might get your recklessness in you and bring about the changes in the throttling response. Ride comfort overall is smooth, but you would feel a few vibrations while driving over rough and uneven roads.

2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid Braking Performance

Unlike any other hybrid, Honda CR-V Hybrid offers two paddles behind the steering wheel that control the deceleration generated due to regenerative braking. You can increase or decrease this, which helps provide high braking power even without pushing the brake pedal. This system feels a bit mushy at low speeds, but at high speeds offers excellent braking performance. Moreover, it gets 11.1” brake rotors in the front and 10.2” in the rear and the calipers are quite biting at them which may help it to achieve a desirable braking range. 

As a matter of fact, the Ford Escape Hybrid is the lightest of the lot, but still takes more distance than the heaviest Subaru to come to a complete stop. The most underappreciated among them is the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid which is extremely low rated in its braking prowess as the braking travel exceeds 130 ft marking a question on its high-speed maneuvering on the highways or even in the city. The CR-V Hybrid is expected to be [performing well in this segment but nothing concrete can be stated as per available data. 

Hybrid engines are well known to produce high fuel economy figures, and the CR-V hybrid is no exception. The EPA estimates that the CR-V would provide 40 MPG in the city and 35 MPG on the highway. This is just a bit shy of what the main rival Toyota RAV4 Hybrid delivers but is still above the segment average. Moreover, 40 MPG in the city is an exceptional figure and would not hurt your pocket much while driving around crowded cities. Even when you are stuck in traffic you won't have to worry about the fuel being used, as at lower speeds the car uses its electric motor only.

Subaru is the least fuel-efficient and comes with the smallest fuel tank which results in less range. The RAV4 offers the best in class fuel economy and thus offers a better range even with a similarly sized fuel tank like the others in the segment. However, the CR-V's MPG figures are slightly less than the Escape Hybrid and RAV4, it still manages to give a decent coverage in comparison to the former. On the whole, the CR-V Hybrid has a better overall powertrain prowess with a dominant performance and an almost comparable mileage. 

The interior fitting and build quality are very refined. Moving up to the higher trims you also get leather upholstery which completes the overall look of the interior and gives a slightly upscale feel to it. The design and build of the cabin are made in such a way that it is practical and ergonomic for the occupants. The most noticeable feature inside the 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid that separates it from the standard variant is the absence of a gear shift knob, which is replaced by a push-button gear selector and 3 buttons for the 3 drive modes.

The CR-V hybrid undoubtedly has the most cabin space, followed by the Ford. The RAV4 lacks in terms of cabin space and also has a smaller cargo area than the CR-V. Subaru comes with the smallest cargo area but is impressive in its front row spacing. Utilitarianism is best achieved with the Honda CR-V Hybrid practicality. Moreover, this 5-seater makes up for nice family-friendly machinery. The CR-V has exceptional space management flexibility with its 60-40 Folding Setback seats. The highlights of this section are:

• Automatic Air Conditioning
• Piano Black Instrument Panel Insert
• Remote Engine Start
• Engine Immobilizer

What’s there to keep you entertained?

One thing that Honda needs to upgrade to make the CR-V the best crossover is their infotainment system which has now started to look and feel a bit dated. The rivals have better systems on offer, especially Ford and Toyota. Although it has all the modern-day features like Android Auto, Apple CarPlay smartphone integration, wireless charging pad in the topmost trim, it still needs some revisit at its end. 

The graphics and interface of the system have started to feel outdated as well. A highlight of the Hybrid model can be seen in the driver’s information cluster which features a unique display that gives power/charge status and a selectable display that lets the driver see information about power distribution and regeneration. Other features of the infotainment system include:

• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• SiriusXM
• HD Radio
• Bluetooth connectivity
• 12-volt power outlet

Honda has a typical design language that is a no-nonsense smooth flowing design for their cars. A flat-lined roof completes the overall look of the 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid which also provides more headroom. Features like LED headlights, panoramic sunroof, rear privacy glass and LED fog lights are available in all the trims except the base LX. The wheel sizes are also different for different trims, while the base trim has to make do with 18-inch alloy wheels, the top touring trim comes with 19-inch wheels. Moreover, LED daytime running is standard across the entire hybrid lineup.

The Ford Escape Hybrid is the lightest of them all while the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid is the heaviest which gives one the advantage in weight transfer and body leaning while other struggle. All the cars remain almost identical in every other aspect with little variations. As on paper, the Subaru Crosstrek is the most compact one that makes up for its huge weight. The Honda CR-V Hybrid seems to follow the same path as that of Crosstrek with lesser dimensions than the others which also assists in its overall handling and dynamics. Some of the features are:

• Spare Tire Mobility Kit
• Metal-Finish Bumper
• Lip Spoiler
• Programmable Aero-Composite LED headlamps
• Fully Galvanized Steel Panels

Honda has given extra attention to the safety of the CR-V. It comes loaded with features right from the base trim, and the features just keep on increasing as you move up the trim. Not only does it offer features, but also scores well in the crash tests conducted by the top safety institutions. NHTSA gave it a full five-star rating in its crash test, while the IIHS gave it a top rating of ‘Good’ in all the tests, making it grab its ‘Top Safety Pick’. 

The hybrid model features a unique Acoustic vehicle alerting system (AVAS) which is designed to alert the pedestrians present around the car while it drives on electric power. The standard list of safety features includes traction control, stability control, ABS and EBD, and six airbags. The advanced safety features that are included in the CR-V include :

• Forward collision warning system with pedestrian detection
• Collision mitigation braking
• Lane Departure warning
• Lane keep assist
• Adaptive cruise control

2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid vs 2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

The Toyota RAV4 hybrid is the arch-nemesis of the CR-V Hybrid. The RAV4 offers better MPG and also offers more advanced and modern infotainment features, while the CR-V offers better comfort and more space inside. Both the cars offer a long list of standard active and passive safety features. The competition remains neck to neck but with the winner being a result of personal choice.

2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid vs 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid

Both the Ford Escape Hybrid and the Honda CR-V Hybrid come at a similar price and have almost every feature. There is no lack of safety or infotainment tech in either of the cars. Honda offers more power and better cabin space than the Escape, thus, making the CR-V comparatively more practical and desirable.

2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid vs 2020 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid

The Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid is the smallest car in the crossover segment and offers the least fuel economy which is a major drawback for a hybrid car. The Crosstek, however, comes in a single trim which makes it stack up on a lot of standard features but also hikes the price. For the price of the Crosstrek, you can buy the CR-V Touring which comes fully equipped and offers better MPG and performance.

The Honda CR-V Hybrid is a highly fuel-efficient and comfortable crossover. It comes with a lot of features as standard both for the infotainment and safety sections. It also has the most comfortable and spacious cabin as well as a large cargo area making it more practical than similar rivals of the segment. Although some rivals offer more MPG and better infotainment tech, they lack the driving dynamics and build quality offered by Honda.