Hybrid midsize SUVs are becoming increasingly popular as new car buyers prioritize interior space, safety and efficiency, even if it means spending more money. The Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 are long-standing options in this segment, resulting in a solid reputation that many American consumers have come to swear by.
Honda is strengthening its lead in the hybrid SUV sales race
According to Honda’s official sales report for October 2025, the Japanese brand managed to achieve 31,696 individual sales. The hybrid model accounts for 52 percent of this, which amounts to approximately 16,482 units. This reflects a 2.8 percent year-on-year sales increase. For 2025, Honda confirms 339,197 individual sales to date, reflecting a 3.5 percent increase in sales.
How this compares to the RAV4’s performance
When looking at the Specific RAV4 Hybrid rangeToyota highlights that it was able to sell 15,031 individual units of the petrol-electric mid-size sedan in October 2025, reflecting a 15.7 percent drop in sales compared to October 2024. This year, the Japanese brand has sold 154,477 units so far.
If we include sales of 1,098 units of the PHEV model in October 2025, the Honda CR-V Hybrid still comes out on top. However, the entire RAV4 range, including the ICE, scored 39,663 individual sales in October and 397,797 for the year to date, which is far more than the total sales of the Honda CR-V range, including its ICE counterpart.
A higher starting price does not detract from the success of the CR-V
The CR-V Hybrid range from model year 2026 starts at $35,630 for a base Sport derivative in front-wheel drive. For reference, the RAV4 Hybrid range starts at $32,850, but this base model isn’t as well equipped as the Honda. The $38,800 Trailsport hybridAvailable exclusively with all-wheel drive, it is based on the entry-level model, but with a more adventurous aesthetic to satisfy potential adventurers. The Sport-L is essentially a premium extension of the base model, raising the price to $38,725. The Sport Touring sits at the top of the range with a starting price of $42,250, excluding options. These prices do not include Honda’s $1,450 destination charge.
The base model comes standard with 18-inch gloss black alloy wheels, roof rails, full LED headlights and dual exhaust tips. In the cabin you will find fabric upholstery with orange stitching for the seats, heated front seats, electronic adjustments for the driver’s seat, a one-touch electronic sliding roof and dual-zone climate control. You also get a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system connected to a 240-watt six-speaker audio system, with the added benefit of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Trailsport adds the following items on top of the above features:
- Custom 18-inch alloy wheels
- Floor mats for all seasons
- All terrain tires
- An electronically folding tailgate
- A 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster
- A heated steering wheel
- A 320-watt audio system with eight speakers
The Sport-L adds leather seat upholstery with orange stitching, memory functions for the driver’s seat and a wireless smartphone charger. The Sport Touring includes a hands-free tailgate function, a Google-based operating system and additional driving modes including Snow, Sport, Economy and Individual. You also get 19-inch gloss black alloy wheels, a Bose premium audio system and satellite navigation. Standard color options include Canyon River Blue Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl, Meteorite Gray Metallic and Solar Silver Metallic. For $455 you can specify Platinum White Pearl, Radiant Red Metallic or Urban Gray Pearl.
Honda also falls short in the power department
Honda offers the CR-V Hybrid with a choice of front or drivetrains on all wheelsboth of which produce a combined output of 204 horsepower and 247 pound-feet at the wheels via a direct-drive eCVT. The brand claims a 0-62mph time of eight seconds for the front-wheel drive model and a time of 7.6 seconds for the all-wheel drive variant. This is a less powerful and therefore slower option compared to the RAV4 Hybrid range.
Honda limits both powertrains to a top speed of 180 km/h. The brand opts for a conventional drivetrain to the rear wheels for its four-wheel drive. This is in contrast to applying an additional electric motor to the rear axle and explains why the model’s power remains the same regardless of your preferred setup. In terms of towing, this isn’t necessarily the best option to consider, as the brand limits its capacity to just 1,000 pounds.
Front-wheel drive makes it more efficient
The Honda CR-V’s hybrid system uses an additional 1.1 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, resulting in a pretty impressive 43/36/40 MPG EPA fuel economy estimate on city/highway/combined cycle for the front-wheel drive option. The all-wheel drive model returns a slightly worse result of 40/34/37 MPG.
The 14-gallon gas tank provides a range of 560 miles in front-wheel drive guise, which is reduced to 518 miles by the all-wheel drive system. Honda’s hybrid system is one series-parallel variationmeaning the electric motor can work independently. The eCVT operates on a clutch-based system, allowing the engine to act as a generator for auxiliary functions, including the starter and climate control.
Low long-term costs and good reliability
The Honda CR-V maintains a strong reputation in the US market thanks to its longstanding and consistent performance as a cost-effective and reliable family SUV that suits both urban and active lifestyles. Thanks to this, it benefits from impressive value retention, making it a viable investment for those who only need one for less than ten years.
According to Edmundsthe basics Honda CR-V Sport Hybrid loses $10,941 off the base MSRP of $35,630 over five years and 90,000 miles, which is incredible value retention by mid-size SUV standards. Additional costs include spending $5,580 on maintenance, $601 on repairs and $5,814 on fuel.
Using the same statistics, AutoEdge indicates that the exact same model loses 34 percent of its value, resulting in a value of $23,507. It may also cost you $5,580 in maintenance, $601 in repairs, and $5,814 in fuel.
2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid True Cost of Ownership
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance | $678 | $702 | $726 | $752 | $778 | $3,636 |
| Maintenance | $126 | $632 | $353 | $2,098 | $2,371 | $5,580 |
| Repairs | $0 | $0 | $87 | $209 | $305 | $601 |
| Taxes and fees | $1,861 | $93 | $93 | $93 | $93 | $2,233 |
| Financing | $2,230 | $1,799 | $1,337 | $839 | $305 | $6,510 |
| Depreciation | $3,558 | $1,797 | $1,701 | $1,996 | $1,889 | $10,941 |
| Fuel | $1,095 | $1,128 | $1,162 | $1,197 | $1,232 | $5,814 |
| Real cost of ownership | $9,548 | $6,151 | $5,459 | $7,184 | $6,973 | $35,315 |
iSeeCars has a similar sentiment with the CR-V hybridhighlighting that it will lose 43 percent or $14,755 of its value after five years, resulting in the Japanese HEV SUV achieving a value retention score of 8.0/10. Please note that these are market estimates. JD power gives the same model a score of 85/100 for resale. Participating in this is an 83/100 driving experience, 84/100 quality and reliabilityand a dealer experience score of 81/100, bringing the overall consumer-verified rating to 83/100. Figures for the 2026 model have yet to be released, but these are the 2025 figures for reference.
Sources: Edmunds, iSeeCars, AutoEdgethe EPAAnd JD power
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