Click to enlarge.
Honda (7267.T and NYSE: HMC) said today that the 2026 model year CR-V in four trim levels adds More standard equipment, and there will be a new TrailSport Hybrid. It uses fourth-generation Honda two-motor hybrid system. The Honda CR-V lineup now includes three turbocharged trims: LX, EX and EX-L, plus four hybrid-powered trims: Sport Hybrid, the new TrailSport Hybrid, Sport-L Hybrid and the range-topping Sport Touring Hybrid. The hybrid-electric models are positioned at the top of the lineup and represent more than 50% of CR-V sales.*
“Our best-selling Honda CR-V is now even more of an industry benchmark with the addition of a rugged new TrailSport model, which has proven to be incredibly popular on our light trucks,” said Jessika Laudermilk, assistant vice president of Honda National Auto Sales. “The combination of rugged design elements and capabilities, incredible on-road dynamics and hybrid powertrain makes the Honda CR-V a more compelling SUV than ever before.”
Well-Equipped
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The 2026 Honda CR-V offers more standard items than ever, including improved in-car technology that includes a larger and easy-to-use 9-inch color touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto™ compatibility and a wireless phone charger. Higher trims, including CR-V EX-L, the new TrailSport Hybrid, Sport-L Hybrid and Sport Touring Hybrid, get a new 46% larger 10.2-inch full digital instrument display with user-selectable functions, such as Honda Sensing® settings, vehicle information .Additionally, the top-line Sport Touring Hybrid features CR-V’s first integration of Google built-in. This includes apps like Google Assistant, Google Maps and more on Google Play for a helpful, personalized and connected driving experience with a complimentary 3-year unlimited data plan.
The exterior design of CR-V is updated with more “aggressive” 18-inch wheel designs and a new TrailSport-exclusive Ash Green Metallic exterior color that debuted on the all-new 2026 Passport TrailSport. CR-V hybrid models, including the new TrailSport Hybrid, continue to have a claimed “bolder look” (versus non-hybrids) with “more aggressive” front and rear styling, polished stainless steel exhaust finishers and larger 19-inch wheels and tires on the top Sport Touring Hybrid trim.
To improve off-road performance, CR-V all-wheel drive models, including the new TrailSport Hybrid, also gain enhanced traction management at speeds below 9 mph. When a difference in the rotation speed of two of CR-V’s wheels is detected (one on each axle), the driving force transmitted to the two most tractive tires, and the braking force applied to the slipping wheels, are both increased significantly.
A new “Individual” drive mode has been added to the top Sport Touring Hybrid, enabling the driver to customize the driving experience through individual settings for characteristics such as throttle response and steering assist.
New for 2026 CR-V
- Larger 9-inch HD touchscreen (+2-inches) (Standard).
- Wireless Apple CarPlay® & Android Auto™ compatibility (Standard).
- Wireless phone charger (Standard).
- 2-inch full-digital instrument display (EX-L, Sport-L, TrailSport, Sport Touring.)
- Enhanced traction management off-road (AWD models).
- New TrailSport trim with exclusive rugged styling touches.
- Continental CrossContact ATR all-terrain tires (TrailSport).
- Available Ash Green Metallic paint (TrailSport).
- “Individual” drive mode (Sport Touring).
- Google-built in (Sport Touring).
CR-V Claimed Aspects
- Sporty, spacious and comfortable interior.
- Rugged and sophisticated exterior design.
- Responsive 1.5-liter Turbo engine (LX, EX, EX-L).
- Powerful 4th-generation two-motor hybrid system (Sport L, TrailSport, Sport Touring).
- Distinctive bolder styling for hybrid-powered trims.
- Optional real Time All-Wheel Drive with Intelligent Control™.
- Hill Descent Control.
- Snow driving mode.
- Honda Sensing® suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies.
- Next-gen front airbags.
- Standard front knee and rear passenger side-impact airbags.
The Honda CR-V is America’s best-selling SUV during the last 25 years and continues to set sales records, surpassing 400,000 units last year – an all-time best for the model. Increasing sales of hybrid-electric vehicles is key to the Honda electrification strategy. CR-V, hybrids now represent 30% of all Honda brand sales. CR-V also is America’s best-selling crossover since 1997 and the best-selling Honda vehicle every year since 2017. Honda TrailSport models now make up 20% of Passport, Pilot and Ridgeline sales combined.
The 4th-generation Honda two-motor hybrid-electric power unit is built* by associates at the Honda Transmission Plant in Ohio and paired with a 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine made at the Anna Engine Plant in Ohio. All major components in the engine, including the block, cylinder head, crankshaft, connecting rods and camshafts, are manufactured at the Anna Engine Plant.
CR-V Manufacturing
The 6th-generation CR-V continues to be built* in three Honda plants in North America, including the East Liberty Auto Plant in Ohio, the Indiana Auto Plant, and the Alliston Auto Plant in Canada. Since 2006, Honda has produced more than 3 million CR-Vs in the U.S. * using domestic and globally-sourced parts
*AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Honda 2026 CR-V Adds New TrailSport Hybrid
Click to enlarge.
Honda (7267.T and NYSE: HMC) said today that the 2026 model year CR-V in four trim levels adds More standard equipment, and there will be a new TrailSport Hybrid. It uses fourth-generation Honda two-motor hybrid system. The Honda CR-V lineup now includes three turbocharged trims: LX, EX and EX-L, plus four hybrid-powered trims: Sport Hybrid, the new TrailSport Hybrid, Sport-L Hybrid and the range-topping Sport Touring Hybrid. The hybrid-electric models are positioned at the top of the lineup and represent more than 50% of CR-V sales.*
“Our best-selling Honda CR-V is now even more of an industry benchmark with the addition of a rugged new TrailSport model, which has proven to be incredibly popular on our light trucks,” said Jessika Laudermilk, assistant vice president of Honda National Auto Sales. “The combination of rugged design elements and capabilities, incredible on-road dynamics and hybrid powertrain makes the Honda CR-V a more compelling SUV than ever before.”
Well-Equipped
Click for more.
The 2026 Honda CR-V offers more standard items than ever, including improved in-car technology that includes a larger and easy-to-use 9-inch color touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto™ compatibility and a wireless phone charger. Higher trims, including CR-V EX-L, the new TrailSport Hybrid, Sport-L Hybrid and Sport Touring Hybrid, get a new 46% larger 10.2-inch full digital instrument display with user-selectable functions, such as Honda Sensing® settings, vehicle information .Additionally, the top-line Sport Touring Hybrid features CR-V’s first integration of Google built-in. This includes apps like Google Assistant, Google Maps and more on Google Play for a helpful, personalized and connected driving experience with a complimentary 3-year unlimited data plan.
The exterior design of CR-V is updated with more “aggressive” 18-inch wheel designs and a new TrailSport-exclusive Ash Green Metallic exterior color that debuted on the all-new 2026 Passport TrailSport. CR-V hybrid models, including the new TrailSport Hybrid, continue to have a claimed “bolder look” (versus non-hybrids) with “more aggressive” front and rear styling, polished stainless steel exhaust finishers and larger 19-inch wheels and tires on the top Sport Touring Hybrid trim.
To improve off-road performance, CR-V all-wheel drive models, including the new TrailSport Hybrid, also gain enhanced traction management at speeds below 9 mph. When a difference in the rotation speed of two of CR-V’s wheels is detected (one on each axle), the driving force transmitted to the two most tractive tires, and the braking force applied to the slipping wheels, are both increased significantly.
A new “Individual” drive mode has been added to the top Sport Touring Hybrid, enabling the driver to customize the driving experience through individual settings for characteristics such as throttle response and steering assist.
New for 2026 CR-V
CR-V Claimed Aspects
The Honda CR-V is America’s best-selling SUV during the last 25 years and continues to set sales records, surpassing 400,000 units last year – an all-time best for the model. Increasing sales of hybrid-electric vehicles is key to the Honda electrification strategy. CR-V, hybrids now represent 30% of all Honda brand sales. CR-V also is America’s best-selling crossover since 1997 and the best-selling Honda vehicle every year since 2017. Honda TrailSport models now make up 20% of Passport, Pilot and Ridgeline sales combined.
The 4th-generation Honda two-motor hybrid-electric power unit is built* by associates at the Honda Transmission Plant in Ohio and paired with a 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine made at the Anna Engine Plant in Ohio. All major components in the engine, including the block, cylinder head, crankshaft, connecting rods and camshafts, are manufactured at the Anna Engine Plant.
CR-V Manufacturing
The 6th-generation CR-V continues to be built* in three Honda plants in North America, including the East Liberty Auto Plant in Ohio, the Indiana Auto Plant, and the Alliston Auto Plant in Canada. Since 2006, Honda has produced more than 3 million CR-Vs in the U.S. * using domestic and globally-sourced parts
*AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.