The Honda CR-V SUV lineup will no longer include gas-engine-only variants in Canada when the model undergoes its next redesign. The automaker has announced that the seventh generation of its compact SUV will arrive in 2027 as a 2028 model, featuring a hybrid powertrain across all trims.
The revamped 2028 edition will coincide with the 30th anniversary of the CR-V's commercialization in Canada. We’re told to expect substantial developments, such as a new platform, a new hybrid system and a redesigned body. However, Honda has not yet released pricing or full technical specifications for the model.
A new hybrid system
The 2028 CR-V will debut the fifth generation of Honda's two-motor hybrid system. The automaker promises an increase in standard horsepower alongside improved energy efficiency.
Notably, Honda is targeting a more than 10-percent improvement in fuel consumption for its next-generation hybrid model. For now, that remains a target, with no official fuel consumption ratings forthcoming as yet from Honda.
To get to where they want to get, Honda’s engineers are widening the operating range in which the internal combustion engine runs most efficiently, in addition to revising the hybrid unit. A new electric all-wheel-drive unit has also been announced. According to Honda, it will allow the electric motor to be controlled with greater precision and responsiveness.
The brand has yet to provide any numbers attached to horsepower, torque or towing capacity for the upcoming CR-V.
A new shared platform
The redesign will also introduce a platform based on a modular architecture that will allow components to be shared across multiple models. Honda says it worked to combine a lightweight structure with high body rigidity.
The CR-V is part of a broader hybrid vehicle offensive in North America running through 2030. The automaker is also preparing a system destined for larger vehicles, comprising a V6 engine, new drive units and a new battery. That powertrain is intended for other models and is distinct from the one announced for the CR-V.
Hybrid already the majority choice in Canada
The transition to an all-hybrid lineup extends a trend already well established among CR-V buyers. According to Honda Canada, nearly 70-percent of currently units sold are hybrids. The automaker notes that the CR-V Hybrid was the best-selling hybrid model in Canada in 2025.
All CR-V trims currently sold in Canada are assembled in Alliston, Ontario. The plant has been producing the model since 2012 and serves as its primary manufacturing hub in North America.