Hi all, I’m planning to buy my first CR-V and I’m between these options: 1. 2024 EX (1.5 turbo) or 2. 2024 Hybrid Sport. I’m planning to keep the car for 10 or more years. Which motorization do you think will be better in the long run?
Thanks!
The benefits of the hybrid CR-V are way more than just MPG. The electric motor provides 100% torque instantly unlike the ICE for taking off from a stop plus it’s smooth and quiet at those low speeds. For some people that doesn’t matter because they drive mostly highway, but if you do a decent amount of city driving or stop-and-go traffic, the hybrid is wonderful.
Plus, I find it super fun to use the paddles to control the regen braking. But that’s totally personal preference. My wife ignores the paddles.
I’m always watching the battery and it never drops below 20 or above 80%, which means the battery health should be fine even past the battery warranty expiration.
@Wyatt
I see in the display many times my battery getting charged fully (battery icon fully green all the way). Is that tuned for 80%?
I get excellent mileage though for an AWD.
HyundaiSpectrum said:
@Wyatt
I see in the display many times my battery getting charged fully (battery icon fully green all the way). Is that tuned for 80%?
I get excellent mileage though for an AWD.
Oh nah, by 80% I mean I’ve never seen the last 2 bars of the battery fill up (2025 CR-V AWD). You must be doing a ton of downhill coasting with regen braking?
49 mpg for a car rated 37 mpg is definitely a bit crazy haha.
@Wyatt
I drive in Houston city traffic commuting back and forth to work, so no downhill or anything. It’s just 2000 miles driven so far, so my mpg most likely will drop. But I am very surprised to see the mpg when the rated is 37.
I have seen others reporting high mpg in the forum with 10k miles. I wonder if there is a vehicle tune-up factor (when to charge/discharge setting) vs. battery life setting that may cause differences in mpg.
@HyundaiSpectrum
Interesting, is the commute under 65 MPH too?
Wyatt said:
@HyundaiSpectrum
Interesting, is the commute under 65 MPH too?
Yes, city traffic mostly on weekdays, ~ 45 to 50 MPH.
HyundaiSpectrum said:
@Wyatt
I see in the display many times my battery getting charged fully (battery icon fully green all the way). Is that tuned for 80%?
I get excellent mileage though for an AWD.
The gauge and battery management is probably tuned for battery safety. Mine also commonly hits 100% at the end of my work commute. Never goes below 3 bars though, engine will start and charge it.
Hybrid Sport all day, the 2.0 Atkinson engine is known and has been around a while. Also, the savings on mpg is nice as well.
I plan on keeping mine forever too; I went with Hybrid. Just seems like there are fewer things that can go wrong. No belts, brake wear is like 1/5th that of the gas version. No starter, no alternator. Simpler transmission. Neither drivetrain ever works too hard.
If you look at Honda Insight & CR-Z forums, seems like plenty of folks are 200k+ miles in on their original battery, and battery tech has improved a lot since then. And when they do need replacing, it’s a couple $k for the part but it’s an easy job. Battery prices are falling pretty fast so it likely won’t be that expensive when/if the time comes.
I don’t know if the money works out (likely does), but I think downtime will be much less with the hybrid long term, and that’s good enough for me.
I have a CR-V EX-L with the 1.5T, I wish I’d gotten the Hybrid Sport. I was impatient, and this one was on the lot. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE it, but I think I’d enjoy the hybrid more. I really wanted a Touring and might end up upgrading later if I’m feeling froggy.
I would lean towards the Hybrid based on all the research I have done, but seeing more and more fuel injector issues popping up on those, so that is something to keep an eye on.
10 or more years you probably will need a new battery, and all the fuel savings during those 10 years will be wiped out. Remember the 1.5 turbo non-hybrid is crazy efficient.
BlueCarEnthusiast said:
10 or more years you probably will need a new battery, and all the fuel savings during those 10 years will be wiped out. Remember the 1.5 turbo non-hybrid is crazy efficient.
Some of the 1.5Ts Honda has made had head gasket failures. Plus it has a turbo and actual CVT. Those parts are missing from the hybrid, so it seems like both options are kinda equal IMO. If any of those give out, it’s a costly repair.
BlueCarEnthusiast said:
10 or more years you probably will need a new battery, and all the fuel savings during those 10 years will be wiped out. Remember the 1.5 turbo non-hybrid is crazy efficient.
I have a 2017 1.5… 90k on the clock… still getting 35 mpg on the highway. Recommend the turbo. Forget a battery.
Go with the EX you won’t be disappointed!! 1.5 is a strong motor. Fuel savings are minimal with the hybrid compared to the turbo trims. Almost non-existent when you add the premium paid for the hybrid models and the eventual need for a battery replacement. Another plus for the EX is you don’t get the UGLY orange stitching that comes with all the hybrid trims.
In the end, do what feels best, but you won’t be disappointed with any of the turbo models.
If you drive highway only, you’ll be tough in making your money back going with hybrid, but if you lean towards city driving, the equation changes to hybrid fast.
So if the hybrid CR-V battery is dead by 5 years, will they replace it with a new battery? Also, how do we maintain the hybrid battery system?
I saw in some of the Toyota hybrid videos they are cleaning some air filter thingy near the battery? Is there something similar for the CR-V hybrid?
@NeonNinja
Battery is a wear item. Replacement cost will be prorated.
@NeonNinja
The Toyota filter is the cooling system for the traction battery. Very easy and accessible under the back seat. Work of minutes.
The Toyota, whole vehicle has some advantages over the CR-V, I considered both.
The RAV has space for a full spare. The warranty is for an astonishing 10 years. I do think the CR-V is trimmed better, but of course, Toyota also sells a Lexus version.