Honda has dropped full details about its 2019 CR-V Hybrid, the first hybrid SUV ever sold on the continent. The CR-V Hybrid packs Honda’s Multi Mode Drive technology (i-MMD) that combines two electric motors, an Atkinson-cycle gasoline engine, a lithium-ion battery, and a fixed-gear transmission. The automaker claims this setup provides “high levels of refinement, responsiveness, and efficiency.”

The 2.0-liter i-VTEC Atkinson-cycle gasoline engine produces 145 PS at 6,200 rpm and 175 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. The propulsion electric motor delivers 184 PS and 315 Nm of torque. The motor’s values are identical with the total system output.


Available in both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive formats, the 2019 CR-V Hybrid offers fuel economy figures comparable to diesel-powered SUVs. After all, it’s not a coincidence that the Hybrid replaces the previously-available CR-V Diesel.

The FWD CR-V Hybrid averages 5.3 l/100 km (53.3 mpg UK) and emits 120 g/km CO2, while the AWD model returns 5.5 l/100 km (51.4 mpg UK) and 126 g/km CO2. The figures correspond to the WLTP-correlated NEDC test procedure. Honda’s latest AWD software disconnects the rear axle when for higher efficiency when rear-wheel torque not required.


Performance-wise, the gasoline-electric powertrain enables the FWD CR-V Hybrid to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.8 seconds (9.2 seconds for the AWD model). The top speed in both cases is 180 km/h.

Honda claims off-road performance has improved as well thanks to the increased ground clearance. FWD models have a ride height of 182 mm while AWD models offer 192 mm. Both figures represent increases of 27 mm over the previous CR-V.


When it comes to driving, the i-MMD technology automatically switches between three modes: EV Drive, Hybrid Drive, and Engine Drive. In EV Drive, the lithium-ion battery supplies power to the electric propulsion motor directly. In Hybrid Drive, the engine supplies power to an electric generator motor, which in turn sends it to the electric propulsion motor. Finally, in Engine Drive the gasoline unit is connected directly to the wheels via a lock-up clutch.

The 2019 CR-V Hybrid is capable of pure-electric propulsion for distances of around 2 km, depending on the driving condition and battery charge. Customers can already place orders for the new model, with deliveries expected in early 2019.