10 Alternatives To The Honda CR-V Hybrid

The Honda CR-V Hybrid is an accomplished crossover option for those who want a comprehensive list of standard comfort, safety, and convenience features. It also offers the perfect blend of performance and economy via its naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors. This unit delivers a combined 204 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque to the front or all four wheels using an e-CVT. The lithium-ion battery pack holds a modest 1.4-kWh capacity which aids it in achieving a 43/36/40 MPG (city/highway/combined) MPG. Opting for the all-wheel drive package results in a 40/34/37 MPG result.

There is very little reason to discredit the Honda CR-V Hybrid as a class-leader, but the competition in this segment has gotten significantly tougher with the rise of gasoline-electric hybrid crossover options in the USA. Consumers looking for a comfortable, spacious, and sporty crossover with an electric motor fitted to make it more frugal are now spoiled for choice. Manufacturers from all corners of the world have tapped into the gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain technology. This has resulted in some great alternatives to the Honda CR-V Hybrid. The options listed here may fall under different crossover segments, but they all feature some level of hybridization.

Date, fuel consumption figures, and other information quoted in this list was sourced from various manufacturers, Car and Driver, Road and Track, MotorTrend, and other esteemed publications to compile this list of alternatives to the Honda CR-V Hybrid.

Related: 10 Best Three-Row Hybrid SUVs

1 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

Starting price: $31,225

Toyota is considered to be one of the major pioneers of gasoline-hybrid electric world. What started off with the first-generation Prius in 1997 has evolved into this accomplished Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. It uses a larger naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle engine mated to electric motors positioned at the front and rear axles. A combined 219 horsepower and 252 pound-feet of torque is transferred to the wheels via an e-CVT.

Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Specs

The result of this is an EPA-rated MPG result of 41/38/40. The RAV4 Hybrid range starts at $31,225 but $43,090 will have to be spent to get in the driver’s seat of the more effective RAV4 Prime PHEV which boasts more power but marginally less impressive 40/36/38 MPG rating.

2 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid

Starting price: $31,350

The Hyundai Tucson Hybrid offers consumers a futuristic exterior design, impressive handling characteristics, and frugal MPG returns. All trims use the company’s turbocharged 1.6-liter engine connected to an electric motor. This produces a combined 226 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque to all wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission. The EPA claims this will return 37/36/37 MPG but opting for the more efficient Blue trim yields an improved 38/38/38-MPG result.

Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Specs

Energy is stored in a 1.49-kWh battery pack but opting for the PHEV trim increases this to a 13.8-kWh capacity together with an increase in power but worse MPG results. The benefit of this configuration is that the crossover can drive on electric power for 33 miles. Prices for the range starts at $31,150 for the Hybrid and $38,475 for the PHEV.

Related: 10 Hybrid SUVs That Are Perfect For Long Road Trips

3 Kia Sportage Hybrid

Starting price: $27,490

The Kia Sportage Hybrid range is one of the more competitively arranged packages in the segment with a very appealing starting price of $27,490. A turbocharged 1.6-liter gasoline engine sits under the hood. This works with an electric motor to churn out a combined 227 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to the wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission. Astute readers will recognize this to be the same drivetrain used in the Hyundai Tucson.

Kia Sportage Hybrid Specs

The Hybrid powertrain of the Sportage affords the crossover a 42/44/43 MPG rating for the front-wheel drive while the optional all-wheel drive model returns a 38/38/38 MPG result. The Kia Sportage Hybrid range sweetens the deal with its class-leading spacious interior dimensions despite carrying a lofty battery pack.

4 Ford Escape Hybrid

Starting price: $33,340

The Ford Escape Hybrid takes a straightforward approach to the HEV crossover segment as it employs Ford’s naturally aspirated 2.5-liter engine fitted to a pair of electric motors. This results in a combined power output of 192 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque delivered to the front-wheels via an e-CVT. All-wheel drive is available at an additional cost. This may be a lower power output than most of the crossovers featured on this list, but the trade-off is a respectable 44/37/41 MPG estimate from the EPA.

Ford Escape Hybrid Specs

The Ford Escape Hybrid range starts at $33,340. The base trim is the fairly comprehensive ST-Line which is packed with comfort, convenience, and safety features that should satisfy most consumers. The flagship of the range is the PHEV option which starts at $40,500. This uses the same engine with a larger battery to produce 210 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque.

Related: 10 Hybrid SUVs That Are Perfect For City Driving

5 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

Starting price: $39,845

The only electrified option for the Mitsubishi Outlander is a plug-in hybrid priced at $39,845. This uses a naturally aspirated 2.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine mated to an e-CVT and a pair of electric motors. The powertrain delivers a combined 248 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque to all four wheels and covers an EPA-rated 74 MPGe on a combined cycle.

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Specs

The Outlander PHEV employs a 13.8-kWh battery pack which provides it with an all-electric range of 24 miles. The cabin and cargo areas offer preferable interior space thanks to its larger dimensions. This includes a third row of seats positioned towards the rear of the cabin, but recent road tests have criticized it to be compact in comparison to other seven-seater hybrids.

6 Volvo XC40 Mild-Hybrid

Starting price: $36,350

The Volvo XC40 Mild Hybrid is a more premium option consumers can consider. This is reflected in the $36,350 starting price which can be justified when you look at its performance and capability. The turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine works with a mild-hybrid electric motor coupled to the automatic transmission. The front-wheel drive option produces a combined 194 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. The all-wheel drive option bumps this up to 247 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque.

Volvo XC40 Mild-Hybrid Specs

The EPA estimates that the front-wheel drive model offers 24/32/27 MPG while the all-wheel drive returns a slightly worse 24/32/26 MPG. The XC40 is more compact than the CR-V, but it is known to have a softer ride, quieter cabin, and improved standard safety specification.

Related: 10 Most Affordable Hybrid SUVs In 2023

7 Mazda CX-90 PHEV

Starting price: $47,445

The CX-90 PHEV is a relatively left-field alternative to the CR-V Hybrid because it competes in a larger segment. The drivetrain isn’t all too different from other cars found on this list. Under the hood sits a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with one electric motor to generate a combined 323 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The EPA estimates that the seven-seater SUV will return a 56 MPGe consumption which makes it one of the more frugal crossover options to appear on this list.

Mazda CX-90 PHEV Specs

The CX-90 PHEV uses a fairly large 17-kWh battery pack which can carry the crossover for 26-miles before needing assistance from the ICE. The starting price may come across as steep to some, but it is justified when its comprehensive level of standard specification and premium and spacious cabin is considered.

8 Dodge Hornet R/T Hybrid

Starting price: $41,590

Die-hard Dodge devotees were let down when the historic American manufacturer announced that the iconic Hornet moniker was being revived to grace the tailgate of a compact crossover based on the Alfa Romeo Tonale. Pricing for the PHEV starts at a costly $41,590 considering that it is a smaller crossover than the CR-V. This price is motivated by the new crossover’s performance capabilities rather than its size.

Dodge Hornet R/T Hybrid Specs

The Hornet R/T Plug-In Hybrid employs a downsized turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine mated to an electric motor. These work together to generate a combined 288 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque to an all-wheel drive system via a six-speed automatic transmission. The 15.5-kWh battery pack maintains enough juice to carry the compact crossover for 30 miles without any assistance from the ICE.

Related: 10 Gamechanging Hybrid Vehicles That Hit The Market

9 Lexus NX 350h AWD

Starting price: $44,205

The hybrid Lexus NX 350h AWD makes use of conventional mechanical parts from Toyota with a luxurious touch. The naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine works in conjunction with a series of electric motors to produce a combined 240 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque to all wheels using an e-CVT. The EPA claims that the NX 350h will deliver a 41/37/39 MPG consumption.

Lexus NX 350h AWD Specs

Those happy to increase their budget to $59,405 can opt for the 450h+ AWD plug-in hybrid option which uses the same ICE with an electric motor to generate a combined 304 horsepower. This results in an impressive EPA-rated 84 MPGe consumption figure.

10 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid

Starting price: $36,845

The Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid is the only option featured on this list that uses a boxer engine until it is replaced by the all-new 2024 model. The 2.0-liter flat-four engine works with two electric motors to produce a combined 148 horsepower and 134 pound-feet of torque to the wheels via the brand’s Symmetrical all-wheel-drive system and CVT. The EPA claims that this will deliver a fuel consumption of 90 MPGe.

Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid Specs

Electric power is sourced from a compact 8.8-kWh battery pack that powers the crossover without assistance for 17 miles. The Crosstrek Hybrid is a more compact alternative to the CR-V Hybrid, but some adventurous users may appreciate its capable chassis and drivetrain over a multitude of surfaces.