2026 Honda CR-V TrailSport Hybrid First Drive Review

Honda is working hard to increase the availability of hybrids throughout its lineup, but its latest effort could use a little more effort.

To be clear, there’s nothing wrong with the brand’s best-selling compact crossover itself, but the new-for-2026 Honda CR-V TrailSport Hybrid lacks enough content to make it a convincing addition to the rugged sub-brand. Indeed, the automaker is trying to toughen up the image of the CR-V’s big brothers, the Passport and Pilot, both of which are offered with the TrailSport treatment. But it’s all enough to make it a little disappointing that Honda played it so safe with the CR-V TrailSport.

What’s in a Name?

Honda is anything but unique for trying to cash in on the recent interest in off-road-inspired trims. The recipe is simple, but it takes a lot of finesse to get it right. A little bit of plastic trim around the wheel arches here, some all-terrain tires there, and a dash of off-road toys to make something that looks and feels adventurous.

While there’s a risk to making too intense a rugged crossover for a segment that’s primarily about practicality and usability, Honda has gone too far in the other direction. There is exactly one modification that makes the 2026 CR-V TrailSport Hybrid better off-road: the all-terrain tires. I have no doubt the chunky tires — and the added sidewall they provide by being wrapped around smaller 18-inch wheels — will make the CR-V better off-road. I do, however, have some doubts about Honda’s decision to stop modifying this crossover there.

Yes, there are some other aesthetic changes — such as the orange TrailSport badges throughout, as well as the black door handles, mirror caps, and spoiler; rubber floor mats; and amber interior lighting — but these do nothing to make the CR-V more capable. The suspension is unchanged from other CR-V Hybrid trims, and although the traction control system has been improved to make it handier at speeds slower than 14 km/h, that improvement has been added to every all-wheel-drive CR-V for the 2026 model year. The TrailSport trim doesn’t even have an off-road drive mode. Sure, it has hill descent control, and a setting for snow; but why wouldn’t Honda give this off-road model a sand or dirt mode?

Is it Enough?

The result is an attractive crossover, especially in the trim-exclusive Ash Green Pearl paint seen here ($300), but one that’s disappointing for the job it was designed to do. Most competitors at least gesture at off-road improvements with a bit of a suspension lift and a few high-tech toys to play with, but there’s none of that here. (Think the Wilderness treatment Subaru has applied to its similarly sized Forester and Outback models.

The CR-V TrailSport’s saving grace is that its thicker tires and smaller rims make it more comfortable on the road. The extra rubber effectively acts as a bit of extra suspension, soaking up harsh bumps and cracks when you’re driving around on bad asphalt. That comes at the expense of slightly (though not meaningfully) worse handling and extra fuel consumption. Whereas the rest of the hybrid lineup is rated to consume 6.4 L/100 km combined, per Honda, the TrailSport drinks 6.7 L/100 km of regular-grade gas.

Reasonably Priced

It also helps that the TrailSport trim doesn’t cost much — at least compared to other CR-V Hybrids. When compared to the CR-V Sport Hybrid ($47,900 with freight), the TrailSport is only $1,400 more at $49,300. Even with a coat of premium paint, that’s not a huge increase for a crossover that looks good and comes with a few extra creature comforts. Then there’s the EX-L at $50,700, and the Touring at $53,200 before tax.

Powertrains remain unchanged for 2026. Non-hybrid trims use a turbocharged 1.5L four-cylinder that makes 190 hp 179 lb-ft of torque. The hybrids get a 2.0L four-cylinder and a pair of electric motors, and the whole system combines to make 204 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque. In the CR-V TrailSport, the hybrid powertrain is perfectly adequate and buttery smooth.

Final Thoughts

Elsewhere, Honda has made a few minor but useful improvements to the 2026 CR-V. A nine-inch touchscreen is now standard across the entire lineup, as are wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. In addition, the CR-V Sport Hybrid and TrailSport Hybrid trims get a larger 10.2-inch instrument display.

All improvements are small, but then the sixth-generation CR-V is a rock solid crossover that only needed fine-tuning in the first place. Built in Ontario, this crossover drives well, looks great, and is competitive — if not a class leader — in every measurable way. Truly, anyone who buys a 2026 Honda CR-V won’t be disappointed, even if those who opt for the TrailSport trim are disappointed by what it’s lacking.