One of the things that has surprised us is that the Honda CR-V, a fast-growing crossover, doesn’t have a hybrid version. That’s no longer the case, at least for the Chinese. Debuting at Auto Shanghai, Honda has a new hybrid CR-V that will likely make it to our shores.
Information is lacking on the car, since it’s a foreign-market vehicle designed to meet the needs of the Chinese, but it is an important vehicle for them. China’s rapid industrialization has left the air there dirty, to say the least. Greener cars will need to hit the marketplace, and the hybrid CR-V is one of those vehicles.
“In China, we are required to attain the world’s top-level targets in all three areas of making emissions cleaner, improving fuel economy and electrifying our products.” – Yasuhide Mizuno, President Honda Motor (China) Investment Co.
It is unlikely that this vehicle will stay in the Chinese marketplace considering both the Toyota RAV-4 and fast-selling Nissan Rogue both currently offer hybrid options for their vehicles for sale in the United States. We wouldn’t be surprised if we see the American version of the CR-V hybrid debut this fall in Los Angeles.