Honda Should Bring The CR-V Plug-In Hybrid To The US Market

A new powertrain for the 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid was just announced by the automaker, adding a plug-in option to the popular crossover. As with the standard hybrid, the PHEV uses a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with direct injection and an Atkinson cycle, but Honda doesn't mention if the larger battery adds any extra power. For reference, the CR-V Hybrid produces 204 horsepower from its electric motor and engine combination. Honda does say there's an electric range (on the WLTP rating) of 51 miles, which would likely translate to a still-impressive 40-plus mile on the EPA cycle.

If Honda could sell the CR-V PHEV in the US with over 40 miles of electric range, it would be competitive with the Toyota RAV4 Prime, which gets 42 miles from its 18.1 kWh battery. There are no details about the battery size for the CR-V, but Honda says it will take as little as 2.5 hours to charge on a Level 2 outlet.

Since this was a European announcement, there is no guarantee that Honda will offer the PHEV option in the US market. We wouldn't rule it out though, as Honda recently showed off a Civic Hybrid months before announcing it will be sold stateside. Honda has not offered a PHEV in the US since the Clarity went out of production in 2021. It wasn't the prettiest vehicle out there, but it offered an impressive 47-mile range that would only be outmatched by a few high-dollar luxury models even today.

Selling the CR-V PHEV in the US seems like a no-brainer if Honda wishes to be competitive with the likes of the Ford Escape, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Mitsubishi Outlander, and Toyota RAV4. Out of that list, the RAV4 Prime has the best electric-only range, so it wouldn't be impossible for Honda to enter the segment with class-leading electric performance.