Ever since the arrival of the fifth-generation Honda CR-V Hybrid to the United States market back in 2017, it has been considered one of the best offerings of the segment. The impressive fuel efficiency figures, a reliable powertrain, and superb driving dynamics made it a favorite amongst the family SUV buyers. It also comes loaded with all the bells and whistles, across its three trim lineups.
Coming in for a base selling price of $31,610, the 2022 Honda CR-V Hybrid comes with no changes from the outgoing model, as Honda will launch the all-new generation in the coming months. The 2-liter engine with the dual electric motor is pretty decent in terms of performance, and the model is also one of the most spacious in the segment. There is quite a lot of optional extras on offer too. Competing with the likes of Hyundai Tucson Hybrid and Ford Escape Hybrid, here are 10 things you need to know before buying the 2022 Honda CR-V Hybrid.
10 Not The Fastest In The Segment
The Honda CR-V has never been synonymous with its performance, and the same is the case with this 2022 iteration as well. Coming with the same 2-liter naturally aspirated inline-4 motor mated to two electric motors, the 2022 CR-V produces a combined 212 hp and 129 lb-ft of torque. The transmission duties are handled by a CVT automatic and come standard with the AWD drivetrain.
This compact crossover SUV's hybrid motor has impressive city drivability, and the mid-range torque is better than some of the rivals. However, it is not going to excite anyone out there and the fast overtakes would need a bit of planning. The 0-60 mph time of 7.5 seconds and the quarter-mile timing of 16.1 seconds are not the best either. The same is also the case with the towing capacity of 1,500 lbs.
9 Interior Comes With All The Bells And Whistles
Being a compact family SUV, the feature-list is not something Honda usually skimps on. Even though the 2022 Honda CR-V Hybrid doesn't get any major changes from the outgoing 2021 model, mainly due to the brand-new iteration going to be launched later this year, it is still packed with all the bells and whistles you could think of at such a low base price.
Coming in with three hybrid trims, the base EX trim comes with heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, an 8-speaker audio system, a powered moonroof, and the impressive 7" touchscreen audio system. If you want all the features, then we would recommend the Touring trim which comes with wireless charging, leather upholstery, heated steering wheel, etc as standard.
8 Fuel-Efficient Powertrain
One of the main reasons for people to opt for the hybrid variant is due to the superb gas mileage on offer. With the soaring gas prices, the 2022 Honda CR-V Hybrid makes a lot of sense as it offers the versatility of a family SUV without being a gas guzzler. This model managed to do 40 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway, which equates to 38 mpg combined.
With its 14-gallon fuel tank capacity, the car also managed a decent 490 miles on the highway on a full tank of fuel. However, both the Ford Escape Hybrid and the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid offer a slightly better combined gas mileage of 40 mpg. They also could do better range on the highways.
7 One Of The Most Spacious
The 2022 Honda CR-V Hybrid is a 5-seater compact SUV, and we found it to be one of the most spacious and comfortable offerings of the segment. Get into the wide and accommodating front seat, and you would be happy with the superb headroom, legroom, and shoulder room. The seats are well-bolstered and the under-thigh and lower back support is excellent too.
The higher trims also come with leather upholstery and a heated steering wheel, both of which increase the comfort factor even further. Heated front seats are standard across the lineup. When it comes to the rear seat, the wide cabin coupled with above-average headroom and legroom means that even the taller folks would be comfortable. There is a wide armrest on offer too. However, the cargo capacity of 33.2 cu ft is the lowest of the segment.
6 Refinement Level Is Better Than The Gasoline Variants
One of the biggest gripes we had with the gasoline-powered Honda CR-V was the mediocre refinement levels it had. Drive at the highway speeds and the paltry sound deadening coupled with clattery inline-4 engine note makes the traveling experience sub par. The wind noise and road noise were also the highest of the segment.
However, when it comes to the 2022 Honda CR-V Hybrid, we were pleasantly surprised with the superior refinement level. The improved sound deadening coupled with active noise cancellation provided by the audio system means that most of the road noise, tire noise, and engine noise are removed.
5 Pliant Ride Quality
Coming with an independent front and rear suspension system with coil springs and anti-roll bars, the 2022 Honda CR-V Hybrid sees no changes to its comfortable cruiser characteristics. Like the older model years, take the car at any speed and the car feels supremely comfortable throughout the journey.
While driving through the city streets, the suspension that is tuned to the softer side takes care of all the bumps and potholes. Only the deepest of the potholes get into the cabin. Even when driving through the highways, the car manages to retain the calm and composed ride quality, making it one of the best offerings of the segment for doing road trips.
4 Sure-Footed Driving Dynamics
The 2022 Honda CR-V Hybrid turned out to be a surprisingly competent corner carver, which is not something you would expect from a family SUV. When compared to the Ford Escape Hybrid and the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, this SUV managed to corner pretty flat with minimal understeer and oversteer. The grip from the AWD drivetrain was also excellent.
The electric power steering of the 2022 Honda CR-V Hybrid is pretty accurate and sharp in response. We were also pretty happy with the excellent feel and feedback on offer, which is not something that you get from most of the rivals. The sharp braking performance is another USP of this SUV.
3 Infotainment System Is Not The Smoothest
All three trims of the Honda CR-V Hybrid come with the 7" touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and SiriusXM radio support. There are quite a lot of optional features like navigation, a 9-speaker audio system, and many more. All the other entertainment and connectivity features are onboard too.
However, we found this infotainment to be a bit lackluster in comparison to the similarly priced rivals, especially when it comes to the interface. There was quite a bit of lag and stutter, and the interface also felt a bit dated. Some of the features are hidden deep inside the settings and that does need a bit of getting used to. There is no aux input on offer either.
2 Sharp Braking Performance
The braking hardware sees no changes from the outgoing model year. All the braking features like ABS, EBD, automated emergency braking, brake assist, etc are standard across the three trim configurations. All of these help the car to do the 70-0 mph braking in just 170 feet, which is slightly better than the rivals.
We were also very satisfied with the pretty aggressive regenerative braking on offer, which helps the car to shed speed with no issues. The brakes were overall pretty sharp, with superb initial bite and more than adequate progression. The front end-dive is minimal, and so is the brake fade under prolonged brake usage.
1 Top-Notch Safety
Like the outgoing 2021 model year, the 2022 Honda CR-V Hybrid managed to receive the highest 5-star rating in the overall crash safety section of the NHTSA crash test. The regular 2022 Honda CR-V received the 2022 top safety pick title from the IIHS, with a good rating in most of the subsections, too.
The exceptional build quality on offer helps the car to showcase rigid exterior panels. This does help the car to receive excellent crash safety ratings. Along with that, it also comes with all the driver-assistance features like forward-collision warning, automated emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, etc as standard.