Road Test
QUIET A SUCCESS

Honda’s CR-V Hybrid is a spacious and comfortable SUV with a clever clutch system

Honda has always been proud of its engineering prowess, so it is no surprise it has created arguably the most complex mild hybrid system

IT must be tough to work in Honda’s head office.

One minute you’re being quizzed about lawnmower blade design and the next on updates to the 2019 CBR Fireblade engine.

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Honda CR-V I-Vtec Hybrid sees a tiny 1kWh battery pack team up with two electric motors and a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine

But Honda has always been proud of its engineering prowess, so it is no surprise it has created arguably the most complex mild hybrid system on the planet.

Dubbed Intelligent Multi Mode Drive (i-MMD), it sees a tiny 1kWh battery pack team up with two electric motors and a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine.

But unlike other mild hybrid systems, this one works through trick clutches.

They allow the petrol engine to run at low revs to charge the battery, which in turn runs the electric motors.

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Honda CR-V I-Vtec Hybrid has arguably the most complex hybrid system
Our reviewer takes Honda CR-V I-Vtec Hybrid for a spin in Seville

Once up to speed, the clever clutch system allows the front axle to be driven directly by the combustion engine, with occasional assistance from the electric motors.

Honda claims its system is designed to keep loads on the combustion engine consistently in the fuel economy sweet spot. The result is a claimed 53.3mpg.

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On the varied drive around Seville, I managed to hit 48mpg without trying hard, but was more wowed by the whisper-quiet drive.

Perhaps the only downsides are single-speed transmission, which can drone on a bit when you boot the throttle, the dated sat nav unit and that the CR-V’s cavernous boot has shrunk from 561 litres to 497 litres to make space for the battery pack.

Despite this, the CR-V Hybrid remains an extremely spacious, well finished and comfortable SUV.

Honda claims its system is designed to keep loads on the combustion engine consistently in the fuel economy sweet spot. The result is a claimed 53.3mpg
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Key facts: 2019 Honda CR-V I-Vtec Hybrid

  • Engine: 2.0-litre petrol with electric motor
  • Price: £37,255
  • Economy: 51.4mpg
  • 0-62mph: 9.2 seconds
  • Top speed: 112mph
  • Length: 4.6m
  • CO2: 126g/km
  • On sale: February 2019
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