Electric cars are the new big thing. They are stylish, they are environmentally friendly, they are quiet, and they are fast. I could go on, but I will end there. There is one downside, however: they are unfamiliar to most drivers. Gasoline vehicles, while having the potential for high-performance capabilities, do not have the electric car charm. They are, however, familiar. So, what to do for the person who wants the electric car experience without fully transitioning to an EV right now? A solution: The 2022 Honda CR-V Hybrid. By combining a gasoline engine with an electric motor, the CR-V Hybrid allows drivers to get a taste of both. If it turns out that electric driving isn’t your thing, you’ve still got the gas engine. If it turns out electric driving is your thing, then you can make the leap when you buy your next vehicle. But, before going electric or even hybrid, you have to learn more; so, here we go.
Gas and Electric Power
One of the big questions about electric vehicles is whether or not they can perform as highly as fossil-fuel vehicles. What some people may be surprised to learn is that many EVs outperform their traditional counterparts. The 2022 Honda CR-V Hybrid finds a healthy balance between the two. The combination of its DOHC i-VTEC Atkinson-cycle gas engine and its electric motor allows the vehicle to perform at 212 horsepower. While this is not the greatest horsepower number on the market, that is a very impressive number for a vehicle of its size and class. In fact, the CR-V Hybrid is a step up from the standard CR-V, which offers a maximum of only 190 horsepower. With the e-CVT transmission, you will feel the electric element of this vehicle in a unique way. Of course, the presence of an electric motor and more horsepower means that the hybrid has better acceleration than the non-hybrid.
Additionally, a huge benefit of a hybrid vehicle is its fuel economy; with an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 40 MPG city, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more efficient vehicle with a traditional engine anywhere. All environmental arguments aside, the cold, hard truth is that gas costs money, and you’ll be buying less of it with a hybrid. Managing fuel purchases will be made easy as the Driver Information Interface displays which power source is at work: the gasoline engine, the electric motor, or both. To clarify this point, the CR-V Hybrid does make it possible to exercise either the engine or the electric motor exclusively by way of three drive modes.
The ECON mode works to improve fuel efficiency, while the Sport mode increases engine performance, and the EV mode operates exclusively on the electric motor (under certain conditions). So, as I said before, if you find that electric driving is your thing, you can totally own it in the CR-V Hybrid, and if you find it’s not for you, then you can stick with what you’re used to.
Incredible Hybrid Capability
With great power comes great capability. Isn’t that how it goes? Something like that. Regardless, this is true when it comes to the 2022 Honda CR-V Hybrid. The vehicle is equipped with Real Time All-Wheel-Drive with an Intelligent Control System. Want more good news? This highly-responsive system comes standard on the vehicle! You want a vehicle that is responsive without being overly sensitive, and the CR-V Hybrid finds that balance. A unique feature brought about by the vehicle’s electric powertrain is regenerative braking.
While every vehicle has steering-wheel-mounted levers, most cars don’t have deceleration selectors. What do these do, you ask? These selectors allow you to increase or decrease the regenerative braking effect? What’s the regenerative braking effect, you ask? Wow, a lot of questions. I love the enthusiasm. The regenerative braking effect uses the electric motor to slow the vehicle when the accelerator pedal is released, recharging the battery in the process. As fancy as the name may sound, it is actually quite self-explanatory: while the vehicle is braking, it is regenerating its battery power. Now, that’s efficiency.
Extra Benefits
While the hybrid powertrain is, of course, the main draw to the CR-V Hybrid, it holds its own on the more basic vehicle factors as well. With 102.9 cubic feet of passenger space (a fantastic number by any standard) and 40.4 inches of rear legroom, the vehicle provides a comfortable ride. While the vehicle’s 33.2 cubic feet of rear cargo space is not the most impressive of all time, it is certainly better than many of its SUV counterparts, and ultimately the amazing passenger space outweighs the importance of cargo space…just ask your guests.
The presence of a moonroof will keep passengers’ eyes up and on the excitement of the experience while they enjoy the generous amount of passenger space. What’s more, the remote start engine is paired with Walk Away Auto Lock, meaning that your CR-V Hybrid can always be warm or cool (depending on where you live) and secure; a very good combination, if I do say so myself.
The Big Benefit
Why go with the CR-V Hybrid? Why not either go all-electric instead or just stick with a regular gasoline engine? Well, the automotive industry is slowly moving in the EV direction. It certainly won’t be all-electric tomorrow or the next day, or even next year for that matter, but the movement is beginning nonetheless, so you may as well get on board. Still, fully electric vehicles are arguably more environmentally friendly, and they are also more impressive in their capabilities than a hybrid. The problem? At this point in time, they are expensive. No matter how affordable the brand, an EV will likely be the most expensive vehicle in the brand’s lineup.
While it is possible that as electric vehicles become more accessible over the coming years, there will be more affordable options, the fact of the matter is that to purchase a new electric vehicle at this point in time is a major expense. A hybrid allows you to get the benefit of the electric experience without draining your bank account on an all-electric vehicle. The 2022 CR-V Hybrid has a starting MSRP of $31,610[a], which is about average (or just above average) for an SUV in 2022.
On the 2022 CR-V, as previously mentioned, you can drive all-electric under certain conditions, so you are able to save some big bucks rather than spend them while still getting a mostly-electric experience. If you’re looking to go electric while still paying the rent, then a hybrid is the way to go. And why not the CR-V Hybrid?
Feel the Movement
As I said previously, the auto industry is going electric. It certainly is not, nor will it ever be, an overnight transition, but you will be hard-pressed to find a mainstream brand that has not adopted some sort of zero-emissions campaign. This movement is not merely a self-righteous attempt to “save the world,” as it were; people are realizing more and more that electric vehicles are more exciting, more fun, and more dynamic than gasoline-engine vehicles. Why not make the move that is better for our common home and also give yourself a better driving experience? Well, all new things take some getting used to, and a great way to get used to an EV is to start by going hybrid.
[a]MSRP may change without notice. See dealer for complete details.
