Behind the wheel Honda CR-V Hybrid

HONDA recently announced it would be dropping the diesel CR-V from its range, leaving just a petrol version and this – the new CR-V Hybrid. The manufacturer claims it should return the same economy as the recently ditched model, while improving low-speed emissions thanks to the introduction of those electric motors. We headed to Seville to see if this latest CR-V really can take the place of the well-rounded diesel version.

It’s got a wheelbase 30mm longer than the older CR-V and this provides better interior space. Honda has also included active aerodynamics, which allows a shutter to open or close behind the grille depending on how well the engine is being cooled.

There’s even a warning sound produced by the car when driving in all-electric mode, so that hearing-impaired pedestrians know it’s coming. Plus, of course, Honda has included a wide variety of its latest safety technology to ensure that those inside and outside the CR-V Hybrid are kept as safe as possible.

The CR-V Hybrid uses a far-fromconventional powertrain setup, but the fundamentals are there. Underneath the bonnet is a 2.0-litre petrol engine, along with two electric motors and a lithium-ion battery in the boot. Thanks to what Honda is calling ‘intelligent Multi-Mode Drive’, or i-MMD for short, it can seamlessly switch between power options while on the move.

At low speeds, for instance, the battery powers just the electric motors that drive