2026 Honda CR-V vs 2025 Honda CR-V Review

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Future Honda of Citrus Heights presents a comparison: 2026 Honda CR-V vs 2025 Honda CR-V

Here at Future Honda of Citrus Heights, we know that choosing your next SUV is a big decision, and we’re here to make it easier! If you’re comparing the 2026 Honda CR-V to the 2025 Honda CR-V, you’re already looking at one of the best-selling compact SUVs in America—praised for its reliability, spacious comfort, high safety ratings, and strong resale value.  So, what’s new for 2026? While the 2025 Honda CR-V continued to impress drivers in Sacramento, Roseville, Folsom, Carmichael, and Elk Grove with its refined design, comfortable ride, and fuel-efficient powertrains, the 2026 Honda CR-V builds upon that strong foundation with thoughtful updates to maintain its leadership in the segment.  Both model years offer a choice between gas-powered and hybrid trims, delivering smooth acceleration and confident handling. Inside, the 2025 Honda CR-V set the standard with its modern, horizontal dashboard layout, ample rear legroom, and user-friendly tech including a 7-inch or available 9-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The 2026 CR-V interior builds on this by introducing subtle material upgrades and additional USB-C ports across more trims, enhancing practicality for families and commuters alike.  At Future Honda of Citrus Heights, we’re excited to help you choose between these two standout model years. In this review, we’ll break down their key specs, interior highlights, and any differences so you can confidently decide whether the 2025 Honda CR-V meets all your needs or if you’d like to step into the subtly refined 2026 Honda CR-V for your next adventure.

Performance Specs and Fuel Economy Comparison

When comparing the 2026 Honda CR-V to the 2025 Honda CR-V, some of the most notable differences start under the hood and extend to subtle refinements in efficiency. Both model years continue to offer versatile powertrain options that make the CR-V a leader in the compact SUV segment.  The 2025 CR-V comes standard with a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-four engine producing 190 horsepower and 179 lb-ft of torque, paired with a smooth continuously variable transmission. This setup provides a confident driving experience for daily commuting and highway cruising, achieving a respectable 0–60 mph time of about 8.3 seconds. Fuel efficiency remains excellent, with an estimated 28 mpg city and 34 mpg highway on front-wheel drive models.  The 2026 Honda CR-V carries over this same turbocharged engine for gas models, delivering similar horsepower and performance figures, but introduces slight refinements to the hybrid powertrain for improved efficiency and responsiveness. The hybrid trims in 2026 continue with the 2.0-liter gasoline engine paired with dual electric motors, delivering a combined 204 horsepower and 247 lb-ft of torque, just like the previous year. However, Honda has tuned the hybrid system for smoother transitions between electric and gas power, creating a more seamless drive.  When it comes to acceleration, both hybrid model years remain quick for their class with 0–60 mph times around 7.9 seconds, but the 2026 Honda CR-V Hybrid slightly improves fuel economy ratings, offering an estimated up to 43 mpg in the city, making it the most efficient option between the two.

Interior Comparison 

Dimensionally, the 2025 and 2026 Honda CR-V are nearly identical—both deliver the generous proportions that have made the CR-V a family favorite for years. Passengers enjoy nearly 104 cubic feet of passenger volume, providing ample headroom and legroom for everyone on board. Cargo capacity remains a highlight too: you’ll have 39.3 cubic feet of storage behind the second row, and folding the rear seats down opens up a generous 76.5 cubic feet of cargo space, ideal for road trips, DIY projects, or weekend adventures.  What really sets the 2026 Honda CR-V apart are the small but meaningful updates to interior styling and tech. It carries forward the sleek, horizontal dashboard design that debuted on the current generation, but adds upgraded soft-touch materials in more trims, extra USB-C charging ports for both rows, and available new interior color options for a fresh feel. The 2026 model also features an enhanced version of Honda’s infotainment system with snappier response and updated graphics.  Both the 2025 and 2026 Honda CR-V offer upscale features like a power-adjustable driver’s seat, dual-zone automatic climate control,  and standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.The 2026 model, however, sets itself apart with a standard 9-inch touchscreen (compared to a standard 7-inch for 2025), and a standard wireless charging pad. Higher trims continue to offer leather upholstery, heated front seats, and an available 12-speaker premium sound system for an even more refined experience.

Trim Options

Another notable difference between model years is in how the trims are offered.  The 2025 Honda CR-V is offered in six trims: LX, EX, Sport, EX-L, Sport-L, and Sport Touring. The LX, EX, and EX-L feature a turbocharged engine, while the Sport, Sport-L, and Sport Touring are hybrid-powered. All-wheel drive comes standard on the Sport Touring and is optional on other trims.  The base LX trim comes with 17-inch wheels, LED headlights, cloth seats, automatic climate control, a 7-inch digital gauge display and infotainment screen, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Honda Sensing safety features.  Stepping up to the EX adds 18-inch wheels, heated mirrors, moonroof, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, power-adjustable driver’s seat, and a six-speaker audio system.  If you’re going green, the  Entry-level Sport Hybrid trim comes with more power and better fuel economy. It showcases black 18-inch wheels, gloss-black exterior trim, rectangular exhaust tips, distinctive seating surfaces, driver’s seat memory, and leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.  The EX-L builds onto the EX features with leather seats, a power-adjustable passenger seat, 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charger, upgraded eight-speaker audio system, and low-speed braking control.  Get a little more luxury with the Sport-L model, which enhances the Sport with leather seats, a 9-inch touchscreen with wireless connectivity, wireless charging, parking sensors, and a power tailgate.  Finally, the Sport Touring is the top trim featuring the hybrid powertrain, standard AWD, premium Bose 12-speaker audio system, navigation, Wi-Fi hotspot, and 19-inch wheels for a sportier look.

For the 2026 Honda CR-V, the trim line-up has been slightly restructured, with seven models offered.  Starting off with the LX, buyers can expect full LED headlights, cloth trim, and convenient push-button start.  The EX offers more amenities including a one-touch power moonroof, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, and smart entry with walk-away auto lock.  For the sporty bunch, the Sport Hybrid showcases 18-inch gloss-black alloy wheels, roof rails, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with orange stitching.  The EX-L gets more luxurious with leather-trimmed upholstery, heated front seats, an 8-speaker audio system, and a power tailgate.  The all-new TrailSport Hybrid can go off-road with all-terrain tires, Real Time AWD, a 4-mode drive system, and 18-inch alloy wheels.  The Sport-L Hybrid gets leather-trimmed seats with fun orange stitching, an upgraded audio system, and dual exhaust finishers,  while the top-of-the-line Sport Touring Hybrid boasts a Bose Premium audio system, Google Built-in, and a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel on top of all the other features.

Future Honda of Citrus heights

Located in the heart of Citrus Heights, Future Honda is not just a car dealership; we are a community business that cares about each and every customer.  Whether you are coming from Sacramento, Roseville, Folsom, Carmichael or Elk Grove, we want to create a lasting relationship with our customers.  We accomplish this by retaining a kind, considerate and knowledgeable staff who want to earn your trust and your business. The 2025 Honda CR-V and 2026 Honda CR-V both present as viable options for your next new vehicle, but only you can decide if the larger infotainment screen and extra trim option of the 2026 Honda CR-V are right for you!   We appreciate you taking the time to read this review, but there really is nothing like experiencing the CR-V for yourself!  So come on over and let all of us here at Future Honda of Citrus Heights walk with you and explain all the differences and similarities between the 2025 Honda CR-V and 2026 Honda CR-V.