- First CR-V in South Africa with Honda’s 2.0-litre e:HEV Self-Charging Hybrid
- Electric Motors Deliver 135 kW and 335 Nm
- All-Wheel Drive Now Standard
- Returns to a Practical Five-Seat Layout
- RS Specification Inside and Out, Plus New Blazing Red Pearl Colour
- Priced at R949 900, R91 400 Less Than the Outgoing Model
- Launched in the CR-V’s Anniversary Month, on Sale from 14 October 2026
Last year, the Honda CR-V turned 30. This October, in the model’s anniversary month, Honda’s flagship SUV in South Africa begins its next chapter. The new CR-V RS e:HEV AWD is the first CR-V in the country with hybrid power, it comes with All-Wheel Drive as standard, and it costs R91 400 less than the model it replaces.
Few nameplates carry as much weight for Honda. Since its launch in Japan in 1995, the CR-V has grown into a global success, sold in around 150 countries. Cumulative sales passed 5 million in 2011, 10 million in 2018 and 15 million in August 2025, and the CR-V remains Honda’s best-selling car worldwide over the last decade.
The new model carries that legacy forward. Honda’s 2.0-litre e:HEV two-motor hybrid gives the CR-V instant electric response, with its motors delivering 135 kW and 335 Nm. The cabin returns to five seats, and RS styling sets it apart inside and out. Priced at R949 900, the CR-V goes on sale at selected Honda dealers nationwide from 14 October 2026.
Every change began with listening. South African customers, Honda dealers and the wider market told Honda what they wanted from the CR-V: All-Wheel Drive capability, more performance, more practicality and a sharper price. The new CR-V answers all four.
2026 Honda CR-V | e:HEV Hybrid Powertrain
Key Powertrain Features
- New 2.0-litre direct-injection Atkinson-cycle petrol engine: 106 kW and 189 Nm
- Two electric motors: 135 kW and 335 Nm
- e:CVT with no conventional multi-speed gearbox
- Self-charging: never needs to be plugged in
- Three drive modes selected automatically
Honda’s Two-Motor e:HEV System
The CR-V’s new e:HEV system pairs a 2.0-litre direct-injection Atkinson-cycle petrol engine with two electric motors and a lithium-ion battery. The engine produces 106 kW and 189 Nm, while the electric motors deliver 135 kW and 335 Nm. That is a significant step up in performance and refinement over the outgoing 1.5-litre turbo model.
Unlike many hybrids, e:HEV does not blend engine and motor power through a complex planetary gearset. Instead, it is built around five main components:
- Traction motor – connected directly to the driveshaft. It drives the wheels in almost all everyday driving and recovers energy when slowing down.
- Generator motor – connected directly to the engine. When the engine runs, it turns that output into electricity for the traction motor or the battery.
- 2.0-litre Atkinson-cycle engine – tuned for high thermal efficiency, because in most situations its job is to generate electricity rather than drive the wheels.
- Lock-up clutch – links the engine directly to the wheels at cruising speeds, through a fixed ratio equivalent to the top gear of a manual gearbox.
- Power Control Unit and battery – manage the flow of electricity between the motors and the lithium-ion battery.
Because the wheels are driven by either the electric motor or a direct engine connection, the e:CVT has no conventional multi-speed gearbox, belts or pulleys. Honda says this simplicity reduces friction losses and gives smooth, seamless acceleration.
Three Drive Modes, Selected Automatically
The system switches between three modes depending on speed, load and battery charge:
- EV Drive – when pulling away and in town, the CR-V runs on the traction motor alone, using battery power with the engine switched off. It drives like an electric vehicle: silent, instant torque, no fuel used.
- Hybrid Drive – under harder acceleration or when the battery needs charging, the engine starts and drives the generator motor. The electricity goes to the traction motor, topped up by the battery for strong acceleration. The wheels are still driven electrically; surplus power recharges the battery.
- Engine Drive – at steady highway speeds, where a petrol engine is more efficient than a motor spinning at high revs, the lock-up clutch engages and the engine drives the wheels directly. The traction motor can still add power for a quick overtake.
When the driver lifts off or brakes, the traction motor works as a generator. This regenerative braking turns energy that would otherwise be lost as heat into electricity stored in the battery.
The result is a hybrid that combines the strengths of series and parallel hybrids: electric drive across most of the speed range, and direct engine drive where the engine is most efficient.
2026 Honda CR-V | All-Wheel Drive
Key All-Wheel Drive Features
- Real Time AWD with Intelligent Control System
- Torque sent to the rear wheels before slip occurs
- Front-to-rear torque redistribution through corners
Real Time AWD with Intelligent Control System
All-Wheel Drive is standard on the latest CR-V 2.0L RS e:HEV, answering one of the most frequent requests from customers and dealers.
The system is electronically controlled and sends torque to the rear wheels before slip occurs, for example when pulling away or climbing a hill. It also reacts quickly when the road surface changes, and redistributes torque between front and rear axles through corners for added stability and control.
Combined with the instant torque of the electric traction motor, this gives the CR-V confident traction on wet tar, gravel roads and steep driveways.
2026 Honda CR-V | Design, Interior and Technology
Key Design, Interior and Technology Features
- Five-seat layout with more luggage space
- RS styling: gloss-black bumper accents and dual exhaust outlets
- Panoramic Sunroof
- RS-style leather upholstery and white ambient lighting
- Improved noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) suppression
- Head-up display, LaneWatch camera and Honda SENSING™
Five Seats, More Luggage Space
The CR-V returns to a five-seat layout, restoring the boot space and everyday practicality CR-V buyers have traditionally valued.
RS Exterior and Refined Interior
The latest CR-V carries forward the sporty, modern and spacious design direction, with fine craftmanship, premium materials and upscale touches.RS-specification styling brings gloss-black bumper accents and dual exhaust outlets. Inside, the cabin features RS-style eco-friendly leather upholstery, white ambient lighting and a clean, minimalist layout. Improved NVH suppression makes the most of the quiet electric drive.
Technology and Safety
The latest CR-V retains the key features of the outgoing CR-V Petrol range:
- Head-up display
- LaneWatch camera
- Honda SENSING™ driver-assist suite, including Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) and the Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™)
- 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system & 10.2” TFT Information Display
- Wireless phone charging and USB-C connectivity
Warranty and Service Plan
Service Plan: 5-Year / 90,000 Km
Service Intervals: 15,000 Km
Warranty: 5-Year / 200,000 Km
Hybrid System Warranty: 8-Year / 200,000 Km
Roadside Assistance: 3 Years
Price (MSRP):
2.0L RS e:HEV AWD R949 900 incl. VAT
The new CR-V e:HEV AWD is on sale locally
