2018 Honda CR-V REVEALED in UK Spec – gets Hybrid option

The 2018 Honda CR-V SUV is revealed in UK and Europe specification ahead of a debut at the Geneva Motor Show, complete with new hybrid powertrain option.

The new Honda CR-V isn’t actually all that new as it’s been on sale in the US since last year, but it’s revealed this morning in the spec we’ll get in the UK ahead of a debut at the Geneva Motor Show.

The changes to the new CR-V bring a Honda SUV which is bigger all round, has sharper lines, bigger wheels and tyres and the latest Honda family face bolted on the front, the interior takes more than a hint or two from the latest Civic and there’s a seven-seat option too.

Under the skin it’s the arrival of the first Honda hybrid system for the CR-V which is the big news.

Honda call their Hybrid system for the CR-V a  Intelligent Multi Mode Drive (i-MMD) hybrid system, and it uses an Atkinson Cycle 2.0 litre i-VTEC petrol engine and a pair of electric motors, but it uses a single fixed-gear ratio to cut costs instead of a using the gearbox.

As well as the new i-MMD Hybrid powertrain, you can also opt for the 1.5 litre VTEC Turbo petrol engine offered in the Civic, which comes with a six-speed manual gearbox or with a CVT option.

Both the hybrid and petrol engine options are front-wheel drive, but a 4WD option is available.

As we predicted when Honda showed a concept take on the new Hybrid CR-V last year, the Hybrid option won’t be available until 2019. So if you want a 2018 CR-V it’ll have to be petrol, or wait until 2019 for the Hybrid.