Honda UK has released details of the grades, partial specification and pricing of the CR-V hybrid. Following the launch of the petrol version in the summer, the hybrid is expected in dealerships from February next year and will start from £29,105 for a 2WD S grade and top out at £37,255 for an AWD EX, before any discounts are applied.
Due to the encroachment of the battery pack and the electric drive system, the new model is available with five seats only in eCVT (electronically-controlled constantly variable transmission) form, with a choice of two and all-wheel drive. The hybrid version of the CR-V follows the standard Honda trim grades, rising from the entry level S to SE, SR and finishing with the top of the range EX.
As with the petrol version, standard across all grades is Honda SENSING, which is Honda’s suite of safety features that include a collision mitigation braking system, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, road departure mitigation, adaptive cruise control and traffic sign recognition. The SE grade adds parking sensors and a rear view camera, while the SR and EX will also feature blind spot warning and cross traffic monitoring, while low speed following on the cruise control is available across all grades.
Traditionally the sportier of the trims, SR grade, also adds a security conscious smart entry and start, leather interior and active cornering lights. The more luxurious EX incorporates a heated steering wheel, head-up display, hands-free access power tailgate, heated rear seats and panoramic glass sunroof.
Head of Car at Honda UK, Phil Webb, commented: “The CR-V hybrid is the first step in achieving our objective of electrified powertrains accounting for two-thirds of our European sales by 2025. In a marketplace that is going to become increasingly competitive as time goes on, we consider that the CR-V is well placed to achieve strong sales results and we have high expectations for this car.”
Unfortunately, with a 120g/km (4WD: 126g/km) CO2 rating and £155 annual road tax (no official fuel economy figures have been released), it does appear that Honda’s next hybrid offering, while marginally ‘greener’ than the regular petrol versions, yet carrying a price premium for the new electric hardware, may prove more difficult to amortise. The system is not of a ‘plug-in’ type, which, had it been, could provide CR-V with an up-to-35-miles EV range, further reducing the up-front running costs.
