What Are Your Thoughts on the New 6th Gen CRV Hybrids … Any Mid Reviews?

I’ve been seeing a lot of strong opinions online about the new 6th gen CRV hybrids. There are some really negative stories and some very positive ones too. I’m curious to hear from those who have more balanced experiences, maybe some good things with a few bumps along the way. Have you had issues that got fixed? What’s it been like for you?

I’ve had my ST for a little over a month.

I’ve been averaging 25mpg which includes remote starting to warm it up.

Today, it was unusually warm where I am (in the 40s). I averaged 46mpg.

I’ve only had my 25 ST since Thanksgiving so I haven’t driven it much, around 600 miles. I’m enjoying it so far and it’s definitely a better experience than my 2020 Civic EX-L. A few things I’m not super into: the half digital dashboard, the glovebox feels small, the seatbelt placement for the middle back seat, no spare tire, no ventilated seats, and no height adjustment for the passenger seat. But none of these are dealbreakers for me and I really like my car!

@Ira
This is exactly what I’m hoping to hear about.

@Ira
I’m really waiting for the 2025 model to hopefully get the full digital dashboard like the Civic and Accord.

I have a 2023 ST hybrid AWD with over 23k miles.

Good:

  • I like how it drives (steering and suspension)
  • can be fuel efficient, especially since I live in a warm climate (I get around 35-40 mpg)
  • very quiet in normal driving conditions (unless going uphill or needing passing power on the highway)

Bad:

  • the engine roars going uphill on the freeway
  • no passenger mirror tilt for reverse
  • wish it had 50-75 more hp and tq
  • nanny features can be overly annoying if left on
  • self-steering isn’t reliable on tighter turns, but fine on straight highways
  • it took about 6 months to see decent mpg; early on it was in the low 30s.

I’m used to sporty cars so my dislike of the lack of power might not be fair. I really don’t like the engine noise going up hills though. It’s embarrassing.

No big issues with the car itself. I was annoyed when I called the dealer to schedule recalls and they gave me a date 6 months out. Luckily I found a dealer closer who could do it the same week I called.

For the price, it seems like a decent deal.

I really loved our 2025 hybrid Sport-L. We had it for 2 months. Unfortunately, it was stolen a week ago, and the detective mentioned there’s been a big spike in stolen CR-Vs. Now I’m just sad. I hope insurance gives us a fair payout before prices go up because of tariffs. I’m busy looking into anti-theft strategies, although I know nothing will fully stop a determined thief.

@Ellis
Wow … that’s more than just a mid story. Can I ask where you live?

Reece said:
@Ellis
Wow … that’s more than just a mid story. Can I ask where you live?

DC. We were visiting friends in another neighborhood. The police think they used an antenna to steal our fob signals, but we didn’t see anyone and it looks like they smashed a window. Just bad luck I guess. Lived here for 18 years without any issues until now.

@Ellis
Oh wow, I live not far in NOVA. That’s really crazy.

Reece said:
@Ellis
Oh wow, I live not far in NOVA. That’s really crazy.

Avoid parking in Petworth.

Yeah, I’m a bit bitter.

Ellis said:

Reece said:
@Ellis
Oh wow, I live not far in NOVA. That’s really crazy.

Avoid parking in Petworth.

Yeah, I’m a bit bitter.

Yeah, I try to stay away from Petworth and Columbia Heights.

I have the Hybrid Sport L and it’s great. I’m really happy with it. It offers such a comfortable, smooth ride.

One thing to mention is that it feels a bit sluggish compared to what I expected from its 204hp rating. I learned that the ‘combined horsepower’ of a hybrid isn’t always what it seems.

To boost efficiency, the hybrid system controls how the power is used. So, it can struggle to accelerate quickly. And the battery dies fast, so you’ll often hear the gas engine rev hard when going uphill at highway speeds. The electric motors respond well at low speeds in stop-and-go driving, but it’s not super zippy.

Most efficiency comes from a weaker, 147hp gas engine. For example, a similar Kia Soul with 147hp gets 35mpg on the freeway but sells for $20K.

The hybrid makes for a nicer drive and helps with gas savings during traffic, but it’s not really helpful on the freeway.

I’ve had mine for about 1.5 months, a Sport L. Coming from a 2009 Civic, it feels like an upgrade. I tend to drive more slowly on highways now, maybe to save gas or maybe I’m still getting used to a bigger car. I’ve been averaging about 32mpg but lately it seems to be improving. I’m starting to see averages of 35-40 mpg instead of the high 20s when I first got it. It feels like you have to push it a bit to keep up at 70mph, but it seems like the sweet spot for mileage is around 55 on highways. I love that the engine shuts off when I stop to save gas. I used the AWD in the snow and it worked perfectly going up a hill when the front wheels started slipping.

I’ve had 2 issues so far: First, there was some weather stripping damaged above the front windshield when I picked it up, but the dealer fixed it without hassle under warranty. Second, the brakes groan loudly when starting again from a stop. It’s annoying and even though I know it’s just the brakes sticking and it’s not a serious issue, it’s frustrating for a new car. I had them check it out, and they said it’s normal, even though other CRVs I test drove didn’t make that noise. I plan on bringing it back to the dealer soon if it stays the same.

Besides those two things, it’s a great car. I would buy it again, although I might have picked a different one if I were more careful at the lot.