Honda is revitalizing its crossover lineup by the use of the TrailSport trim level, which to this point has appeared on the three-row Pilot, rugged Passport, and Ridgeline pickup to offer them higher off-road functionality and harder seems. And for 2026, the TrailSport trim arrives, albeit in much less aggressive type, on the hybrid CR-V, giving Honda’s bread-and-butter compact crossover all-terrain tires, harder seems, and a slick new exterior shade that’ll stay unique to the rough-road variant. The TrailSport’s debut additionally coincides with a gentle refresh for each CR-V for the 2026 mannequin 12 months, which brings improved know-how and tweaked powertrain tuning that makes a wonderful household SUV that little bit higher.
Sadly, the TrailSport model’s first hybrid dilutes a few of the genuinely surprising capability we have skilled in different Hondas with the orange badge. On this case, the mere addition of all-terrain tires and a silver plastic “skid plate” aren’t sufficient to vault the crossover into Jeep (and even Subaru) territory. However even when it is not as spectacular as its lifted, rough-and-tumble Passport sibling, the Honda CR-V TrailSport at the least loses little in the way in which of effectivity, on-road dealing with, or inside consolation by including that knobby rubber, holding what customers like concerning the SUV whereas including a tiny bit extra character. This is our first impressions.
First Drive occasions present our preliminary impressions of a car in a restricted setting underneath sure time constraints. Keep watch over DrivingOnRoad for our complete Take a look at Drive assessment which can comply with quickly.
What’s Modified For 2026
The 2026 Honda CR-V will get a batch of minor adjustments that do not substantively alter the crossover however will nonetheless be welcome by customers. Each trim, from the bottom LX to the flagship Sport Touring, receives a normal 9.0-inch touchscreen show, up from final 12 months’s 7.0 inches, and an obtainable 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster joins the lineup on EX-L, Sport L, TrailSport, and Sport Touring trims – the LX, EX, and Sport soldier on with the 7.0-inch gauge show.
As earlier than, Honda will promote you both a hybrid CR-V or a gas-only mannequin, with the decrease LX, EX, and EX-L trims getting a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-banger and the Sport, Sport L, TrailSport, and Sport Touring getting the two.0-liter two-motor hybrid. Minor styling adjustments embody new wheel designs on some fashions and a gloss black window encompass on the hybrids, matching their “Sport” branding and the blacked-out wheels, mirror caps, and badging.
Additionally new for 2026 is a revised all-wheel-drive system on all CR-Vs so geared up. New software program tuning permits for a simulated rear differential lock at low speeds, which permits the crossover to muscle by slippery terrain if even one wheel has traction. Honda demonstrated the brand new CR-V’s all-wheel-drive system by placing a 2025 mannequin on rollers with a single rear wheel involved with the terra firma, and it did not budge. Replicating the state of affairs with a 2026 mannequin confirmed that it might transfer ahead even when just one entrance wheel or one rear wheel had grip.
The all-wheel-drive tweaks apply to all trims of the CR-V, not simply the TrailSport. However the new-for-2026 trim nonetheless will get one huge purposeful improve by the use of its customary all-terrain tires. Styling tweaks embody silver simulated skid plates on the entrance and rear bumpers, a smattering of orange badges on the surface, and the TrailSport emblem embroidered in the identical shade on the entrance headrests. The TrailSport additionally will get an influence rear tailgate, heated entrance seats and steering wheel, and two rear USB-C charging ports, putting it roughly between the Sport-L and Sport Touring within the hierarchy.
Exterior Design: Barely Harder, Nonetheless Cute
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The TrailSport additions actually do not diminish the inoffensive handsomeness of the Honda CR-V, with the chunky all-terrains and neat Berlina Black wheels giving it a dose of character. However on the identical, the minor alterations that include the off-road trim do not elevate the CR-V to gotta-have-it standing. As earlier than, this can be a maturely styled crossover that will not encourage a lot lust, however it’ll additionally most likely age very gracefully too. Oh, and should you just like the Ash Inexperienced Metallic paint seen right here, which we actually do, then TrailSport is your solely choice within the CR-V lineup.
Inside: A Seize Bag Of Options
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Other than the revised electronics, the expertise on board the CR-V may be very acquainted, that means nice ergonomics, loads of area, and that stylish mesh dashboard trim borrowed from the Civic. The TrailSport comes with a protracted listing of ordinary options borrowed from different trims, together with the aforementioned energy tailgate and heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel. There’s additionally orange-tinted ambient lighting to set it other than lesser CR-V hybrids. It lacks the rain-sensing wipers, proximity-sensing energy tailgate, and 12-speaker Bose audio of the Sport Touring, so if these options are vital, plan on spending extra in your good CR-V.
Infotainment: Regular Enhancements
Together with the bigger show display, each 2026 Honda CR-V additionally comes with customary wi-fi charging and smartphone mirroring. The alterations make it extremely straightforward to only leap in and drive as soon as your cellphone is correctly arrange and linked to the car. As earlier than, the infotainment system is easy to turn into accustomed to, a lot in order that we predict the Sport Touring’s customary Google Automotive integration is a bit pointless.
Powertrain & Driving: Completely Common
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As with most different CR-V attributes, the 2026 mannequin has a pleasing, innocuous driving expertise that may neither thrill nor enrage its homeowners. The 2-motor hybrid system carries over from the 2023 CR-V unchanged, making the identical 203 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque as all the time. However though that quantity sounds spectacular for a small crossover, the way in which by which the CR-V hybrid goes about its enterprise is not very enthusiastic. As a substitute of a transmission, the engine routes its energy to a pair of EV motors – one for traction and the opposite for energy technology – and normally, the CR-V burns fuel solely to recharge the battery. Nevertheless, given the 1.1-kilowatt-hour vitality storage on board, the engine wants to fireside up typically to maintain electrons flowing, and when it does, it sounds thrashy and unrefined.
2026 Honda CR-V Engine Choices |
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| Gasoline-only | Hybrid | ||
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| Engine | Turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder | Atkinson-cycle 2.0-liter four-cylinder hybrid | |
| Transmission | Constantly variable (ICE) or E-CVT (hybrid) | ||
| Drivetrain | Entrance- or all-wheel drive | ||
| Energy | 190 hp | 203 hp | |
| Torque | 179 lb-ft | 247 lb-ft | |
| 0-60 | 8.2 seconds (est.) | 8.0 seconds (est.) | |
| Gasoline Economic system | 28/33/30 mpg – FWD | 43/36/40 mpg – FWD | |
| 27/31/29 mpg – AWD | 40/34/37 mpg – AWD | ||
| 38/33/35 mpg – TrailSport | |||
There’s nonetheless sufficient energy to climb a protracted, steep grade with out working out of breath, and the CR-V can execute a cross on a two-lane street with out a lot drama, however the fixed aural assault of the Atkinson-cycle four-banger underneath the hood will get tiresome fast. At the very least the CR-V rides easily, and when the engine is working at a decrease RPM or deactivated totally, the crossover is decently quiet and well-insulated. Moreover, that Honda magic of nice steering and responsive dealing with carries over into the CR-V, even the TrailSport mannequin with its knobby-ish tires.
The rugged trim does not even sacrifice a lot in the way in which of effectivity, reaching 38 miles per gallon metropolis, 33 freeway, and 35 mixed in comparison with the 40/34/37 mpg of different all-wheel-drive CR-V hybrids. That mentioned, the hybrid Toyota RAV4 Woodland Edition, which follows an identical “tires and nothing else” path to ruggedness, ekes out 38 metropolis, 35 freeway, and 37 mixed mpg. In case your purpose is max effectivity in a Honda crossover, you then need the front-drive, electrified CR-V, which will get 43/36/40 mpg.
Verdict & Pricing: Hey, Large Spender
Sadly, the aforementioned, sub-$35k 2025 RAV4 Woodland can be cheaper than the CR-V TrailSport, which begins at $38,800 and rises to $40,045 with vacation spot – pricing for the redesigned, hybrid-only 2026 RAV4 hasn’t been launched but. In truth, all the CR-V’s major opponents are cheaper: the $34,880 Nissan Rogue Rock Creek and the $34,510 Hyundai Tucson XRT, neither of that are admittedly obtainable with hybrid powertrains. A 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness is on the way in which with pricing to be decided, however we predict it will most likely price a hair lower than the TrailSport as nicely, with extra functionality by the use of a reprogrammed all-wheel-drive system and added floor clearance relative to the common Forester.
As a rugged compact crossover, the Honda CR-V TrailSport does not make a number of sense contemplating comparable automobiles may be had for a similar or much less cash (and with much more [expected] functionality, within the case of the Subaru). However for these already within the CR-V camp, the TrailSport is a wonderful buy, with exterior design adjustments that inject some persona into the sedate crossover and a pleasant listing of inside upgrades that elevate the trim to near-luxury standing, plus virtually no downsides other than the upper value and slight effectivity penalty. We wager the brand new rugged trim is gonna be in style, and for good motive.