2026 Honda CR-V VX e:HEV VX: A new arena
I start this car review with musical legend Regine Velasquez-Alcasid.
Known worldwide as “Asia’s Songbird,” she held her final major solo concert called “FINALE” last October 2026 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. Besides marking her 40th year in the entertainment industry, the show sent a clear signal of her desire to cut back on huge productions, as well as her coming to terms with her changing voice.
“It’s a system of menopause and it’s actually devastating,” she said in a September 2026 Inquirer.net report on the FINALE press conference.
“I still have my voice, it never left,” Velasquez-Alcasid added. “It’s just that it’s in a different form. I can no longer be what I used to be 10 or 20 years ago. I can no longer sound like that.”
There is wisdom in her decision – as circumstances change, we must also find ways to adapt. Honda Cars Philippines Inc. did just that in February 2026 when it officially launched the updated version of the sixth-generation CR-V, in line with the Philippines’ rapidly growing electrified-vehicle market.
And so we have the all-new 2026 Honda CR-V VX e:HEV, which joins the top-of-the-line RS e:HEV AWD in the lineup of this long-running compact crossover. Would this move prove to be a hit or a flop?
Black is beautiful
Externally, this VX e:HEV variant is almost indistinguishable from the sportier sibling that we also tested.
Even in our test unit’s Crystal Black Pearl paintjob, it shares the same piano-black honeycomb front grill, side mirrors and 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 235/60-series tires as the RS. But it gets body-colored door handles and matte-black protective cladding on the lower-front bumper, fenders and the lower part of the doors.
Other typical CR-V exterior features include the large and powerful LED headlights, the tall LED taillights, the prominent tailgate spoiler and the faux lower-rear diffuser with chrome exhaust tips. As with our RS e:HEV AWD test unit, this particular loaner came with a large metal roof rack that produced plenty of wind noise at expressway speeds.
‘Wood’ is good
Inside, the CR-V VX e:HEV has the same black leather upholstery and enormous cabin space as its pricier sibling.
But one really nice touch in this model is the use of faux wood trim on the dashboard and door cards – although hardly any carmaker still uses this, the brown hue adds warmth and class to what would have been an overly dark cabin. And while the soft-touch materials are welcome, the interior design looks dated against the likes of the Kia Sportage Turbo Hybrid.
Things like a panoramic moonroof, customizable ambient lighting and light-colored materials would truly spruce up the passenger experience. What isn’t dated, however, are the wonderfully intuitive knobs and switches for things like the strong dual-zone climate-control system and the 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Other niceties include electrically adjustable front seats with driver’s side memory, a 15-watt wireless smartphone charger, four USB-C ports, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, an electric tailgate and 360-degree camera that is rather blurry. Cargo space is a superb 589 liters with the rear seats up, but the lack of a spare wheel (like in the Sportage Turbo Hybrid) is disappointing.
Perky drive
On the move, the 80-kilogram difference between the CR-V VX e:HEV and the RS e:HEV AWD is immediately apparent (although that bulky roof rack does make its presence felt).
This is because the former is only front-wheel drive, but still ably handling the combined output of 181 horsepower and 335 Newton-meters of torque produced by the 2.0-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve, inline-4 gasoline engine mated to an electric motor. The non-turbocharged powerplant also means a smoother and more satisfying power delivery.
However, I would have liked an extra 40 to 50 horsepower so that it could match the sheer pace of the Sportage Turbo Hybrid – the Kia also trumps the Honda in fuel economy, with the latter only getting a fairly average 12 to 15 kilometers per liter in the city and 13 to 16 kilometers per liter on the expressway in over 1,000 kilometers of testing.
But the CR-V VX e:HEV hits back with having the most fulfilling driving feel in its class. The composed suspension offers a good balance between ride and handling, the strong brakes are operated by a well-weighted pedal and steering is light and responsive (albeit a bit lacking in feel).
As with many Hondas, this CR-V gets the superb Honda SENSING adaptive-driver assistance system. This includes hugely convenient and life-saving features like Adaptive Cruise Control, Low Speed Follow, Collision Mitigation Braking System, Lane Keep Assist System and Lead Car Departure Notification.
Enough?
Overall, the 2026 Honda CR-V VX e:HEV is a welcome entry in a new arena that is clamoring for more accessible electrified vehicles.
But at P2,588,000, it faces extremely stiff opposition from more modern and better-performing rivals like the truly excellent Kia Sportage SX Turbo Hybrid at P2,098,000, the all-wheel-drive Toyota RAV4 Adventure HEV at P2,227,000 and the three-row Nissan X-Trail e-POWER at P2,290,000.
And those looking for front-wheel-drive, electrified crossovers from other parts of Asia may consider the P1,468,000 Geely EX5 EM-i Max, the P1,548,888 MG HS PHEV, the P1,655,000 Ford Territory Hybrid Platinum and the recently updated BYD Sealion 6 DM-i Premium worth P1,798,000.
Much like Asia’s Songbird, the CR-V’s newest variant doesn’t spell the end of the much-beloved nameplate – it is simply an adaptation and evolution to a new world and changing conditions.
