American Honda had a great 2023 in the US, where it sold 1.3 million units of Hondas and Acuras, up 33% year-on-year as production stabilised and pandemic-era logistics challenges eased. The sales target for this year is 1.3 million units for Honda and 150,000 units for premium brand Acura, which is 10-15% higher compared to 2023’s total.
The Honda CR-V Hybrid ended 2023 as the overall best-selling hybrid vehicle in the US. American Honda said that sales volume for the electrified sixth-generation CR-V exceeded expectations, reaching 197,317 units for the year. Unveiled in July 2022, North American production of the new CR-V started later that year, meaning 2023 would have been the model’s first full year of sales.
In Malaysia, we’re getting the CR-V with a hybrid powertrain for the first time with this generation. Launched in December, the CR-V e:HEV RS price was recently announced to be RM195,900 on-the-road without insurance.
That makes the RS hybrid RM14k costlier than the highest pure ICE variant, the 1.5L Turbo V AWD at RM181,900. The 1.5L Turbo E is priced at RM169,900 while the base 1.5L Turbo S starts the range at RM159,900. The first 750 units of the S is being sold for RM157,900 to celebrate 20 years of CKD production of the CR-V in Malaysia.
The hybrid is powered by an Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) system similar to that seen on the Civic e:HEV RS, combining the workings of an electric motor and petrol engine. The latter is a 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine, which acts primarily as a generator.
By itself, the ICE offers 148 PS and 190 Nm of torque at 4,500 rpm. While the engine can provide direct drive – via a lock-up clutch – at higher speeds for better efficiency, it’s the electric motor that does most of the hauling work. The e-motor develops 184 PS and 335 Nm from zero to 2,000 rpm, the latter being 20 Nm more than on the Civic Hybrid.
Like with the Civic range, the e:HEV is the fastest to 100 km/h here, with a time of 9.0 seconds (base S is next fastest at 9.7 seconds). It looks racier than the rest too; RS trim brings with it badging, roof rails, body colour trim to replace the SUV’s black plastic, black side mirror covers and an active shutter grille. The 18-inch alloys are in gloss black and they have resonators to suppress road noise.
As for e:HEV RS-exclusive kit, there’s a 10.25-inch digital instrument display, a 12-speaker Bose audio system, head-up display, key card and Adaptive Driving Beam for the LED headlights. For more on the new CR-V, read our launch report and first drive report.
American Honda’s 2024 outlook release said that the brand will begin sales of two zero-emissions vehicles in 2024 – the Prologue SUV, which was jointly-developed with GM, and the CR-V Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCEV). The latter will be North America’s first production vehicle to combine a plug-in feature with FCEV technology in one model. Just when you thought that Honda has abandoned fuel cell to focus on conventional BEVs, interesting.
GALLERY: 2024 Honda CR-V 2.0L e:HEV RS
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
EV is dying in US, hybrid is still the most practical…just own civic hybrid last 4 months, 800km/tank, value for money
Just booked my Zenix hybrid too
Trade-in discount
Hybrid battery 12K
Hybrid inverter 15K
exclude labor charges
Work harder to enjoy new tech
Malaysia CKD units poor quality.
it won’t happen here for sure!!! In fact will be the worst seller here!!!
Just wait and see. It’ll still sell being a H badged SUV. CR-Vs have traditionally sold pretty well since they’re everywhere on the road just like CX-5.
CRV has became nothing more than an enlarged HRV. This SUV has totally lost all identity and turned into nothing more than a sausage. So glad I kept to my X70.
Kereta terbang from that PN dude. Any updates?
Tanya PH that started this stupid idea.
our fuel is so cheap here. why normal people will opt for expensive EV unless the T1s or those who wants to hop on the EV trend?
unless gov decide to remove the blanket subsidy, then, people will start to look at EV seriously.
We need to reduce the environmental impact of producing and disposing EV batteries. Otherwise, the EV is a false sense of environmental contribution. Until then, hybrids with improvements on emission and smaller battery footprint may be the best interim solution.
Those who have enough money (T20) can buy high-end electric vehicles (EVs), and they can afford to pay for battery replacement, which is 30% of the vehicle’s value (after the warranty period.). What is a big deal for the T20 group to pay at least RM15K for battery replacement?
However, for those who belong to the B40 or M40 group, RM15K is nearly impossible.
EV = You save now but pay double or triple later. Later is not very far.. hihiihi after warranty finish hihii.