Honda CR-V Goes 100% Hybrid for 2028: America's Best-Selling SUV Ditches the Gas-Only Option

Honda has confirmed that the seventh-generation CR-V, arriving as a 2028 model, will be offered exclusively with a two-motor hybrid powertrain. The gas-only variant is gone. For a vehicle on pace to top 400,000 U.S. sales for a third consecutive year, that is a decisive bet on hybrid demand.

Hybrids are already the majority

The decision is not a surprise in hindsight. Hybrid variants already account for more than 50% of CR-V sales and roughly 30% of total Honda brand sales in North America. Luis Guerra, Assistant Vice President of Honda National Auto Sales, framed the move plainly: "With a 100% hybrid powertrain, the next-generation Honda CR-V will further expand the appeal of America's most popular SUV as demand for hybrid-electric vehicles reaches record levels."

What's under the hood

The new fifth-generation hybrid system widens the operating band in which the engine runs at peak efficiency and adds a new electric all-wheel-drive unit. Honda targets a fuel-economy improvement of more than 10% over the current hybrid CR-V. The platform is modular, with increased body rigidity at lower weight and greater parts commonality across the lineup.

Where it will be built

• Hybrid powertrains: Honda's Ohio transmission plant, where system capacity is set to rise by 250%
• Engines: The Anna Engine Plant is being retooled for a new four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle unit
• Vehicle assembly: Honda of Canada Mfg. in Alliston, Ontario, and Honda's Indiana plant

Since 2006, more than seven million CR-Vs have been built in North America, roughly half in the U.S.

Why this matters for Canadian buyers

Following Toyota's decision to make the RAV4 hybrid-only, Honda's move signals that the hybrid is becoming the baseline powertrain for high-volume compact SUVs in North America. With U.S. fuel-economy penalties effectively eliminated, the shift is driven by consumer demand rather than regulatory compliance.

One caveat: removing the cheaper combustion entry point could push the CR-V's starting price higher at a time when affordability pressure is a top concern for buyers. Honda will need the new modular platform's parts commonality to keep the price competitive against rivals like the Toyota RAV4 and Hyundai Tucson.

The CR-V is the first of several new hybrids Honda plans to bring to North America by 2030. For Canadian shoppers, that means a deeper bench of efficient, lower-emission options in the segment that dominates new-vehicle sales here.

Compare current hybrid and EV incentives in your province in our EV rebates guide, or check how much you could save versus a gas-only SUV in our charging-cost calculator.

Looking for EV deals, insurance, or financing? Check out our partner deals and offers.

If you found this guide helpful, use our Tesla referral link for free Supercharging credits on a new Tesla purchase or lease in Canada.