How Long Do Honda CR-V Hybrids Last? (12 Important Facts)

Honda released the hybrid version of the CR-V in 2020, around 25 years after it was first introduced.

It’s the most powerful, fuel-efficient and refined CR-V to date and is available in the same four trims as its gas-only counterpart.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the CR-V Hybrid’s average lifespan and long-term reliability.

Here is the short answer to how long the Honda CR-V Hybrid lasts:

The Honda CR-V Hybrid can last 250,000 – 350,000 miles with proper maintenance and good driving habits. Based on driving 15,000 miles per year, the CR-V Hybrid should last at least 16 years before repairs costs become uneconomical; its battery should last 100,000 miles before needing a replacement.

How Many Miles Can You Expect from a Honda CR-V Hybrid?

The Honda CR-V has been a best seller for over 20 years and there are still lots of first-generation models from the late ’90s on the road today.

They’re highly reliable vehicles that are capable of clocking hundreds of thousands of miles and the hybrid variants are equally durable. 

Honda has been producing hybrid cars, starting with the Civic Hybrid, for just over two decades, and they’re proven to go the distance.

A well-kept CR-V Hybrid should be able to last 250,000 – 350,000 miles, at which point the cost of repairs may start to outweigh the value of the vehicle.

Honda has gone on record stating their hybrid batteries should last 6 to 10 years or up to 100,000 miles.

Although based on what we’ve seen on different Internet forums, Honda Accord and Civic hybrids tend to need a new hybrid battery after around 200,000 miles.

The CR-V Hybrid’s battery may even last a bit longer than this since it’s much newer and likely better designed.

Honda Hybrids also get an 8-year/100,000-mile hybrid battery warranty, but this can go up to 10 years/150,000 miles depending on where the vehicle is registered.

Once the battery warranty expires, aftermarket hybrid battery replacements and repairs aren’t very expensive at all compared to EV batteries.

You can get a replacement battery for around $2,500 and installation is roughly $1000.

To get the most life from your Honda CR-V Hybrid:

• Use smooth, controlled driving.
• Follow the maintenance schedule outlined by Honda.
• Coast to a stop instead of coming to a hard stop, to extend the batterys life.

Does the Honda CR-V Hybrid Rust Easily?

Honda CR-Vs see a lot of use as daily drivers in cold-weather regions. Even when exposed to lots of road salt, they don’t have a reputation for excessive rust providing they’re regularly washed. The CR-V Hybrid benefits from the most up-to-date rustproofing techniques.

You might get some surface rust in 5 years if you live in the Rust Belt or by the coast where there’s lots of salt in the air, but this is normal for most vehicles.

Keep in mind a bit of surface rust shouldn’t affect the CR-V Hybrid’s drivability or its structural integrity.

Honda offers a 5-year/unlimited-mile Rust Perforation warranty in case you see excessive corrosion in the first few years of the CR-V’s life.

It’s generally not advised to have aftermarket rustproofing on a new CR-V Hybrid simply because the level of protection fitted as standard at the factory is more than adequate.

Just make sure you wash your car regularly, including the underside to keep it free from salt, dirt and grime which can accelerate rusting.

Related: 6 Most Common Honda CR-V Hybrid Problems (Explained)

What is High Mileage for a Honda CR-V Hybrid?

A CR-V Hybrid with 100,000 miles on the odometer is considered high mileage. Although the vehicle may still have a lot of life left in it, it may require a new battery sooner rather than later and will have incurred some degree of wear and tear on major components.

The hybrid battery warranty will also have already expired at 100,000 miles, but Honda’s warranty does go up to 150,000 miles in some states.

If the price is right and you budget for small repairs and the cost of a new battery, you can still get yourself a very good deal.

Even a high mileage CR-V Hybrid will require less maintenance than most other SUVs sold today simply due to Honda’s great build quality.

When buying a used Honda CR-V Hybrid, always consider the following:

• Check that the car was properly serviced and the owner can provide evidence of this.
• Have the car inspected by a mechanic who understands hybrids.
• As a general rule, less previous owners is better. More owners usually means more wear-and-tear. A one-owner car that’s been regularly serviced on time is less likely to have issues and nasty surprises.
• If you’re planning on keeping the car for a long time, you should evaluate whether the savings you get outweigh spending a bit extra on something newer and more reliable.
• Examine the interior – The condition of the interior tells the story of how well the car was maintained and cared for.

How Long Does the CR-V Hybrid Last Compared to Other Hybrid SUVs?

In this section, we’ll compare the CR-V Hybrid to its closest competitors.

Honda CR-V Hybrid vs.  Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid has been available since 2016 and its second-generation model launched in 2019.

Toyota hybrids have an outstanding reputation for reliability and the RAV4 shares many parts with other models like the Camry and Highlander.

You can get over 300,000 or 20+ years out of the RAV4 Hybrid and it is expected to last longer than the CR-V Hybrid.

• RepairPal gave the CR-V a higher reliability rating of 4.5/5 compared to the RAV4’s 4/5.
• According to RepairPal, the average annual repair cost for both vehicles is almost the same with the CR-V costing $407 while the RAV4 costs $429 per year.
• Kelley Blue Book’s consumer rating index gave the CR-V Hybrid a reliability rating of 4.6/5 which is much higher than the RAV4 Hybrid’s 3.6/5. It’s worth noting that the RAV4 has 10 times the number of reviews and there are lots of 1 star reviews not related to reliability.
• Edmunds consumer reviews gave the 2021 CR-V Hybrid an overall rating of 4.2/5 which is almost the same as the RAV4 Hybrid’s 4.1/5.
• J.D. Power gave the Honda CR-V a Quality & Reliability rating of 84/100 which is much higher than the RAV4’s rating of 74/100.

Honda and Toyota both have excellent reputations for reliability and you can’t really go wrong with either one.

There are many more Toyota hybrids on the road and their reputation is unmatched in the alternative fuel segment.

In non-CARB states, the CR-V Hybrid has a shorter 8-year/100,000-mile battery warranty compared to the RAV4’s 10-year/150,000-mile warranty.

The CR-V Hybrid might have slightly better handling, but reviewers have also complained about its engine being noisier at highway speeds.

You may also be interested in our article: How Long Do Toyota RAV4 Hybrids Last?

Honda CR-V Hybrid vs.  Hyundai Tucson Hybrid

The Hyundai Tucson Hybrid is a new model for 2022. 

Hyundai only started producing hybrid vehicles in 2010 with the Sonata Hybrid. Hyundai’s reputation for reliability over the past decade has been pretty solid.

We estimate the Tucson Hybrid’s average lifespan to be a little shorter at 200,000 – 300,000 miles or 13 – 20 years when compared to the CR-V Hybrid

• RepairPal gave the Hyundai Tucson a reliability rating of 4/5 while the Honda CR-V got a slightly higher 4.5/5.
• According to RepairPal, the average annual repair cost for both vehicles is almost the same with the CR-V costing $407 while the Tucson costs $426 per year.
• Kelley Blue Book’s consumer rating index gave the Tucson Hybrid a reliability rating of 4.4/5 while the CR-V Hybrid got 4.6/5. 
• Edmunds consumer reviews gave the 2021 CR-V Hybrid and Tucson Hybrid the same overall rating of 4.2/5.
• J.D. Power gave the Hyundai Tucson a Quality & Reliability rating of 88/100 which is higher than the CR-V’s rating of 84/100.

Reliability ratings for both SUVs are very close but Honda has a longer and more established track record with hybrid vehicles. 

This is why we give the CR-V Hybrid a slight edge over the Tucson Hybrid when it comes to longevity.

The Hyundai Tucson Hybrid does have a longer 5-year/60,000-mile limited warranty and a slightly better 10-year/100,000-mile hybrid battery warranty.

Honda CR-V Hybrid vs. Ford Escape Hybrid

The Ford Escape Hybrid was the first-ever hybrid SUV when it was first launched in 2005 and it returned to Ford’s lineup in 2020 after being discontinued in 2012.

The new Escape Hybrid should be able to last for 200,000 – 300,000 miles or 15 – 17 years.

• RepairPal gave the Ford Escape a reliability rating of 4/5 while the Honda CR-V got a slightly higher 4.5/5.
• The average annual repair cost for the Ford Escape is much higher at $600 compared to the CR-V’s $407.
• Kelley Blue Book’s consumer rating index gave the entire Ford Escape lineup a reliability rating of 4.4/5 while the CR-V Hybrid got 4.6/5. 
• Edmunds consumer reviews gave the 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid an overall rating of 4.1/5 while the CR-V Hybrid got 4.2/5.
• J.D. Power gave the Ford Escape Tucson a Quality & Reliability rating of 72/100 which is much lower than the CR-V’s rating of 84/100.

The Ford Escape Hybrid is capable of lasting hundreds of thousands of miles but tend to have higher maintenance costs than the CR-V due to lower reliability.

We predict the CR-V will hold up better after 10 years of use – Honda’s typically last longer in comparison to similar offerings from Ford.

Related: How Long Do Ford Escape Hybrids Last?

Comparison Chart

* Ratings for entire model range (not specific to hybrid models)

Is the Honda CR-V Hybrid Reliable?

The Honda CR-V Hybrid may be new to the market, but we predict it will be a reliable vehicle that will require very minimal maintenance. Honda has over 20 years worth of experience developing hybrid vehicles, so the CR-V’s hybrid components are already well-proven.  

The gas-only CR-V has a great track record for reliability and Honda is known for making durable engines that keep on going, so there are no concerns there.

The CR-V Hybrid has the same engine and shares many hybrid components with the Honda Accord Hybrid which has a great reputation for reliability.

Reviews for the new CR-V Hybrid have also been very favorable among auto-experts and owners:

• Owners on Kelley Blue Book gave the CR-V Hybrid a 4.6/5 for reliability which is the highest in the hybrid compact SUV segment.
• The CR-V Hybrid also got an overall rating of 4.2/5 from owners which is higher than what the competition received. 
• RepairPal gave the Honda CR-V an excellent rating of 4.5/5 for reliability and ranks it 2nd out of 26 other compact SUVs.

Reliability Compared to Other SUVs

Includes both gas and hybrid.

The Best and Worst Years for the Honda CR-V Hybrid

The CR-V Hybrid has only been out for a handful of years, so the differences between model years aren’t that much. 

Nonetheless, let’s take a quick look at its best and worst model years so far.

Worst Model Year

The 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid has 9 complaints on the CarComplaints website and it’s likely going to be the worst model year as time goes on. The complaints so far have only consisted of minor issues that don’t affect the drivability of the car.

CarComplaints doesn’t have any data for newer model years at the time of writing, although the newest models always tend to be the most problematic.

Some owners have complained of an overly noisy AVAS that can’t be disabled.

Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System: A feature designed for inherently quiet vehicles such as electric cars. The feature produces an audible alert to pedestrians that an electric car is headed in their direction.

One frustrated owner posted:

The AVAS is very noisy and irritating. My neighborhood is affected with this Noise Pollution to the point where I am embarrassed to drive in early AM or late PM. Several have noted “What is that noise”. It is also quite annoying and distracting in “normal” driving.

I have had 5 Hybrid cars in the last decade primarily because. They were quiet so this has been an absolute nightmare to find out it can’t be disabled. I was not informed prior to purchase that they had made this strategic modification.

Best Model Year

The 2023 and 2024 models are the best years for the CR-V Hybrid. Any major issues encountered with previous model years should have been dealt with.

They are more refined and are completely redesigned as part of the 6th generation, they have scored flawless 10/10 reviews from Car & Driver.

Standard features include:

• Blind-spot monitoring
• Dual-zone climate control
• Heated front seats
• A power-adjustable driver’s seat
• 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Related: 5 Best & Worst Honda CR-V Hybrid Years (With Pictures)

What About Recalls for the Honda CR-V Hybrid?

The CR-V Hybrid has had 3 recalls so far. 

You can always check if your CR-V Hybrid has been subjected to a recall by entering your VIN on Honda’s website on their recall page.

Recalls are manufacturing faults repaired at no charge to the consumer.

Here is the total number of recall campaigns for every model year of the CR-V Hybrid:

• 2022 Honda CR-V Hybrid: 2
• 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid: 0
• 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid: 1

Honda CR-V Hybrid Model Year List

The first CR-V Hybrid only became available when the fifth-generation CR-V received a facelift and updates during its mid-cycle refresh in 2020.

Although the CR-V has had multiple generations over the last 20 years, the CR-V Hybrid is still in its first generation.

First Generation (2020 – present):

• 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid 
• 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid 
• 2022 Honda CR-V Hybrid 

Is the Honda CR-V Hybrid Expensive to Maintain?

According to RepairPal, the Honda CR-V has one of the lowest average annual repair costs for a compact SUV, so we expect the CR-V Hybrid to be even cheaper to maintain with annual maintenance costs of around $400.

In general, Hondas are very low-maintenance vehicles.

How Long Do the Brakes Last?

The Honda CR-V Hybrid’s brake pads should last over 100,000 miles and the brake rotors should last even longer.

Unlike its gas-powered variants, the CR-V Hybrid uses regenerative braking which charges the battery and also helps slow down the vehicle.

This means you don’t have to use the brakes as much which significantly extends the life of the pads and brake rotors.

If you live in the rust belt, your rotors might go out sooner due to rust, so watch out for excessive corrosion if you want to prolong their life.

You may also be interested in our article: How Long Do Toyota Venza Hybrids Last?

How Long Do the Tires Last?

The Honda CR-V Hybrid’s tires should last roughly 30,000 to 40,000 miles per set or roughly 2 to 3 years.

Tire life for the CR-V Hybrid should be similar to non-hybrids and older generations of the CR-V. 

Based on what we’ve seen on different Internet forums, CR-V owners tend to change their tires after around 30,000 miles.

Here are a couple of tips that will help you preserve the life of your tires:

• Check your tire pressure every few weeks to ensure they’re at the correct pressure.
• Have the wheel alignment checked every 6 months.
• Rotate tires every 5,000 miles to ensure even wear.

How Long Do the Transmissions Last?

The CR-V Hybrid uses an eCVT or Electronic CVT which should last at least 250,000 miles and could even outlive the useful life of the vehicle.

eCVTs last much longer than traditional automatics and CVTs.

Failures with eCVTs are almost non-existent despite being widely used in lots of other hybrids.

How Long Will the Honda CR-V Hybrid’s Electric Motors Last?

Honda’s hybrid motors can easily deliver over 500,000 miles of service.

Lots of older Honda hybrids, like the Insight, have gone past half a million miles using their original electric motors.

You’ll replace the CR-V’s hybrid batteries several times before you need to address the electric motors.

How Long Do the Spark Plugs Last?

The Honda CR-V Hybrid’s only needs replacement every 100,000 miles. 

The CR-V Hybrid uses iridium spark plugs which have a much higher service life than traditional spark plugs. 

It also doesn’t use a turbocharged engine so frequent spark plug changes are not needed.

How Long Do Honda CR-V Hybrid Batteries Last?

The Honda CR-V’s high-voltage batteries can easily last 200,000 to 300,000 miles.

Several owners of older Honda hybrids have reported needing a new hybrid battery at around 200,000 miles.

In most cases, battery failures can be addressed by Honda’s 100,000-mile hybrid battery warranty.

If you do need to replace the hybrid batteries out of warranty, there are lots of aftermarket replacements available that only cost around $2,000. 

What About Insurance Costs?

According to Insuraviz’s estimates, the Honda CR-V costs an average of $1,214 per year or roughly $107 per month to insure. 

It’s one of the cheapest to insure in the compact SUV segment.

Insurance costs can vary from person to person, so be sure to shop around to find the best possible deal for your CR-V Hybrid.

Tips to Prolong the Life of Your Honda CR-V Hybrid

• Practice smooth and safe driving habits.
• Keep up to date with factory-recommended maintenance.
• Use quality parts and fluids.
• Keep on top of repairs to prevent them from developing into larger problems.
• Regularly wash your CR-V Hybrid to remove dirt and grime to protect the paint and undercarriage from rust.
• Keep your Honda CR-V stored in a garage to help protect it from extreme heat and cold.
• Read the owner’s manual to learn the location of important components, what your SUV needs and in what quantities, and to understand the symbols and dashboard warning lights.

Sources

https://www.caranddriver.com/honda/cr-v-2022

https://repairpal.com/reliability/honda/cr-v

https://www.kbb.com/honda/cr-v-hybrid/2021/

https://www.edmunds.com/honda/cr-v-hybrid/2021/consumer-reviews/

https://www.jdpower.com/cars/2021/honda/cr-v

https://www.carcomplaints.com/Honda/CR-V_Hybrid/

https://insuraviz.com/vehicles/honda/honda-cr-v-insurance/