If you like the interior of the 2020 Honda CR-V, then you will like the CR-V Hybrid because, quite frankly, they are not much different. That is not a bad thing. After all, the CR-V was named the 2018 MotorTrend SUV of the Year. It was a winner for the way it put the whole package together, including a well-executed and swanky interior.
The CR-V Hybrid has been available in other markets such as Japan and Europe, but for the U.S. it just started arriving in dealerships March 1. It becomes the fastest, most powerful, and most efficient CR-V in the lineup.
There may be some buyers who expect leafy greens to sprout inside their new eco-friendly hybrid, while being vegan and gluten free. Sorry to disappoint, but the CR-V Hybrid is none of the above. But it is well done, functional, comfortable, and attractive.
Let's take a closer look.
There are some cosmetic changes and badging on the outside to show the world your CR-V is the hybrid. Inside, there are also a few telltale changes in a five-passenger crossover that is well packaged, logical in its layout, and has the prerequisite tech.
The model we crawled around has comfortable gray leather seats with lighter gray perforated inserts. The bucket seats up front are comfortable with sufficient padding and light bolstering. Heated seats are available. Honda uses a nice grain on the plastics so it doesn't look cheap, and surfaces are soft where they need to be, such as the middle armrest and the portions of the door that arms and legs come in contact with. The dash also has padded leather on this trim level. The mix of materials includes attractive simulated wood trim on the door, dash, and center console, and a piece of glossy black trim across the dash. The headliner is cloth, and the stitching is fake, but none of it looks cheap or cheesy. The fit and finish is top notch.
Thoughtful Touches Inside the 2020 CR-V Hybrid
The interior feels like it is loaded with amenities, and everything is well placed, thoughtful, and functional. There's plenty of storage space up front in the doors and center console. Honda changed the storage bin between the driver and passenger with a sliding shelf that flips forward and up, making room for a large purse or bag. The electronic parking brake frees up space and is conveniently placed to the left of the push-button shifter. Easy to find and use.
Rear doors open wide to get in and out, and there's ample head- and legroom in the second row as well as vents in the center console. Although it is a five-passenger vehicle, the short straw goes to the narrow middle seat in the back.
Honda did not scrimp on materials for those in the second row, although the top of the door is hard whereas it is padded for the front-seat passengers. The CR-V is one of the few vehicles in the segment to offer a 60/40 split second-row seat that folds flat. You can pull handles on the backrests or go to the cargo area and grab one of the two levers there. That might sound trivial, but it's truly convenient. A cargo cover is now standard.
The batteries for the hybrid are under the low cargo floor so they don't impede interior space. There is an impressive 39 cubic feet of space behind the second-row seat and 75.8 cubic feet when the seat is folded down. No compromise for having batteries on board.
Crisp Graphics but Not a Benchmark Infotainment Screen
Whereas the base model has a tiny 5.0-inch screen, most trims have the 7.0-in touchscreen integrated in the center of the dash with a combination of touch pads and real knobs for controls. Sort of. There is a knob for volume but not tuning. All are within easy reach, and additional controls on the steering wheel are intuitive and unobtrusive.
It does not come across as the most modern infotainment system, but it's compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and you can get a navigation system on top models. No auxiliary input, but there are four USB ports: two up front, positioned nicely above the wireless phone charging pad, and two more for those travelling in the back.
The infotainment screen is not stuck atop the dash—a personal pet peeve—but it could be better integrated. The graphics are bright and crisp, and the home screen is not overcrowded or overwhelming and is relatively easy to use.
The digital gauge cluster in front of the driver provides the normal array of information like fuel, time, temperature, whether the driver needs a coffee break, and driving range, but also a hybrid-specific power-flow meter for those who like to gauge whether they are consuming or regenerating electricity at any given moment.
Two Powertrain Options
The hybrid has Honda's latest generation of its two-motor hybrid technology, which has been further refined and offers more range in pure electric mode. The hybrid powertrain is similar to the one in the Accord. It combines a 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine with two electric motors to produce 212 hp and 232 lb-ft of torque. All-wheel drive is standard on the hybrid.
The conventional CR-V has dropped the base 184-hp, 180-lb-ft 2.4-liter naturally aspirated inline-four, leaving the 1.5-liter turbocharged I-4 that generates 190 hp and 179 lb-ft of torque and is paired with a continuously variable transmission. It drives either the front or all four wheels.
Switching Up the Transmission Shifter
While the conventional CR-V puts the shifter on the dash at the bottom of the center stack, the hybrid has a new push-button transmission shifter and steering wheel paddles to increase or decrease the regenerative braking power. The new shifter requires you to push for park, push down for reverse, push in for neutral, and push a big button for drive.
To the right of the buttons for gears are more buttons for drive modes that can be manually selected, or you can let the vehicle make the selection for you to optimize performance and efficiency. Modes include Sport, EV, and Econ, which essentially dictates whether the vehicle is using EV drive, hybrid drive, or engine drive.
Left of the steering wheel is the panel of buttons for liftgate release, parking aid, stability control, and lane keep assist. There is an old-school little compartment to tuck coins. It is a contrast to the modern, brightly lit red button to start the car that says "power" instead of "start."
Overall, the interior of the CR-V Hybrid duplicates the masterful packaging of the conventional crossover with a few nods to the electric propulsion it brings to the equation. Pricing of the hybrid starts at $28,897 for the LX with the top-trim Touring starting at $37,070. It makes it a formidable competitor to its main rival, the Toyota RAV4, as well as others in the field (hybrids and non-hybrids) such as the Ford Escape, Nissan Rogue, Kia Sportage, and Volkswagen Tiguan.
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