Honda has confirmed that the next-generation CR-V will be a hybrid-only SUV. The 2028 Honda CR-V, the seventh generation of the popular SUV, will arrive in the United States next year with no pure petrol version on offer.
The announcement was made by Honda of America on 12 November 2026. It is a big change for one of the best-selling SUVs in the US, which still offers a petrol engine today. The next model will not.
01. What Honda has confirmed
The new CR-V will be powered only by an all-new, fifth-generation two-motor Honda Hybrid system. Honda has not yet shared the power output, battery size or price of the new SUV.
The company says it is targeting a fuel efficiency improvement of more than 10 per cent over the current hybrid CR-V. The new SUV will also get a newly developed electric all-wheel-drive system, with an electric motor driving the rear wheels instead of a mechanical connection.
Honda has also confirmed a new platform for the seventh-generation CR-V, aimed at improving rigidity and reducing weight. A teaser image released by Honda shows only a redesigned CR-V badge in a new font, finished in what looks like a new metallic blue colour. The full design of the car has not been revealed yet.
02. Why Honda is going hybrid-only
Hybrid versions already account for more than half of CR-V sales in the US, according to Honda. That makes the decision to drop the petrol-only version a natural next step for the brand.
The CR-V is the first of several new hybrid models Honda plans to bring to the North American market by 2030. The move follows a similar decision by Toyota, which made its latest RAV4 hybrid-only.
03. How the current CR-V compares
The current CR-V is offered in the US with a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine that makes 190 hp and 243 Nm, paired with a CVT gearbox. The current hybrid version uses a 2.0-litre petrol engine with an electric motor, producing a combined 204 hp.
Honda has not said whether the new hybrid system will match or beat those figures. Engine size and power output for the 2028 model are still to be announced.
04. What is not confirmed yet
Honda has not shared a price, an exact launch date, fuel economy figures or the full design of the new CR-V. The announcement covers the North American market. Honda has not said when, or whether, the seventh-generation CR-V will come to India, or whether other markets will also lose the petrol option.
05. Frequently asked questions
Will the 2028 Honda CR-V have a petrol engine?
No. Honda has confirmed that the 2028 CR-V will be sold only as a hybrid in North America. There will be no petrol-only version of the new model.
When will the 2028 Honda CR-V launch?
Honda says the seventh-generation CR-V will arrive in the US in 2027 as a 2028 model. An exact on-sale date has not been announced.
What is new in the 2028 Honda CR-V?
The new CR-V gets a new platform, a fifth-generation two-motor hybrid system, and a newly developed electric all-wheel-drive unit. Honda is targeting more than 10 per cent better fuel efficiency than the current hybrid.
Will the new Honda CR-V come to India?
Honda has not confirmed anything about the new CR-V for India yet. The announcement so far covers the North American market only.
