Despite the surge in popularity of electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles are thriving more so than ever before. Two of the most popular hybrid crossovers, that are not a Rav4, are the Honda CR-V and the Hyundai Tucson. So the simple question is, how do they compare against each other?
Performance
Engine – Of the two, the 2026 Honda CR-V has the more “normal” hybrid powertrain. At the heart of it is a 2.0L naturally aspirated 4-cylinder engine which is what most hybrid vehicles utilize. Combined with the electric motors, total system output is 204 hp & 247 lb-ft of torque (152 kW & 335 Nm).
By comparison, the 2026 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid has a 1.6L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. It’s quite rare to see a turbocharged hybrid engine unless it’s in a performance application. The combined output of the Tucson hybrid is 231 hp & 258 lb-ft of torque (172 kW & 350 Nm).
Between the two, it’s the Honda CR-V Hybrid that feels a bit more peppy off the line. Perhaps this is due to the power of the electric motor which is double what the motor in the Tucson can achieve. But once the speed builds up, it’s the Tucson Hybrid that provides the stronger acceleration. Both powertrains perform the same way. The engine, in conjunction with the electric motors, provide power until the desired speed is reached. Once the throttle pedal is eased off, the engines briefly shut off allowing the cars to drive on electricity for short periods.
Fuel Economy – Both crossovers provide good fuel economy savings. The 2026 Honda CR-V Hybrid is rated for 6.3 L/100km (37.3 MPG) in a city and 7.2 L/100km (32.6 MPG) on a highway. The 2026 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid is rated for 6.7 L/100km (35 MPG) both in a city and on a highway. Better yet, it’s possible to get better fuel economy that what each SUV is rated for. During my week with the cars, I averaged 6.3 L/100km (37.3 MPG) in the Tucson and 6.1 L/100km (38.5 MPG) in the CR-V Hybrid.
Transmission – While most hybrid vehicles utilize an eCVT to deliver the power to the wheels, neither of these crossovers have such a transmission. The CR-V Hybrid’s system replicates both a CVT and a traditional automatic. It’s called Direct Drive and under normal driving conditions, it behaves like a CVT. Once more throttle is applied, it replicates gear changes like in an automatic transmission. It is seamless in its operations and quick to react to driver inputs of the throttle pedal. Though there are paddle shifters on the steering wheel, they don’t control the virtual gear changes.
The Tucson Hybrid utilizes a traditional 6-speed automatic transmission which is rare to find in a hybrid vehicle. For the most part, the transmission changes gears smoothly but at times, a jerky gear change is noticeable. The Tucson too has steering wheel mounted paddle shifters and these do allow gear changes when the car is in Sport mode.
Braking – The batteries in both SUVs get partially recharged through regenerative braking and by the engine. Both have different levels of regen braking but one is a bit less complicated to use than the other. In the Hyundai Tucson, the paddle shifters allow you to select from levels 0 to 3 when in the normal Eco mode. The Honda CR-V also allows for various levels of regen braking via the paddles but the set regen braking mode is reset when throttle is applied again. The car needs to be in Sport mode or the gear selector switched to “B” in order for the regen braking level to be locked in. In the Tucson, the regen level is locked in regardless.
As for the physical brakes, both feel strong enough to stop the SUVs in emergency situations and both have brake pedals that allow for a good degree of smooth stopping.
Handling – In Canada, both crossovers are equipped with standard AWD. Neither car is particularly enjoyable to drive as they were not designed with sporty driving in mind, despite how sporty the N-Line trim looks. They both have a lackluster steering feel, body roll through turns or under heavy braking, and understeer through corners. These are, however, easy to drive on your way to work, or to pick up the kids from school, or on a long family road trip.
The Tucson Hybrid can tow up to 2,000 lbs while the CR-V Hybrid can tow up to 1,500 lbs.
Comfort
Ride Comfort – Both crossovers provide a comfortable ride but the Honda CR-V’s ride quality is slightly better. The harshness of road bumps is smoothed very well by the suspension. The Tucson’s ride felt just a tiny bit firmer which translated a bit more of the harshness of road imperfections into the seat.
Speaking of which, I found the seats in CR-V to be a bit more comfortable for my body type. In the Tucson, the bolsters dug into the side of my back a little bit more.
Interior Space – The Honda CR-V has always been known to be one of the biggest crossover SUVs on the market. But the Hyundai Tucson right up there with it. They both have almost the exact same amount of headroom and legroom across both rows of seats. In the Tucson however, I found that the driver’s seat didn’t go down quite as much as the seat in the CR-V. But it still went down by enough so that my hair didn’t brush against the headliner. Behind my tall driving position, my knees did not touch the backs of the front seats in either car and headroom was good. Both also have reclining benches but the center hump in the Tucson is slightly taller than the one in the CR-V.
Cargo capacity is almost identical between the two as well. Behind the 2nd row, the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid has 1,097 L (38.7 cu-ft) while the Honda CR-V Hybrid has 1,028 L (36.3 cu-ft) of space. There is a small storage space under the trunk floor in the Hyundai while the CR-V does not have any. With the 2nd row folded, the Tucson has 2,108 L (74.4 cu-ft) of space while the CR-V has 2,030 L (71.7 cu-ft) of space. The rear seats can be folded via releases in the trunk of the Tucson while in the CR-V, you have to move to the side of each rear door. Thankfully, the rear doors in the Honda open at almost 90 degrees making it easier to load stuff or just getting in and out. Neither car has a temporary spare wheel and both use tire repair kits.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – Of the two, the Honda has a quieter overall cabin. There’s less road, wind and engine noises intruding into it than the cabin of the Tucson Hybrid. This CR-V was also equipped with snow tires, which are generally louder than the all-season tires which were equipped on the Tucson, and yet the cabin was still quieter on highways. But, if the engines needed to work hard while driving up a steep hill or merging onto a highway, the engine in the Honda made a far worse racket than the engine in the Hyundai.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – Of the two, it is the 2026 Honda CR-V Hybrid that is more expensive. With the Hybrid powertrain, the CR-V Sport starts at $45,900 CAD ($35,630 USD). This TrailSport trim is one step up and it costs $47,300 CAD ($38,800 USD). The top spec Touring Hybrid costs $51,200 CAD ($42,250 USD).
By comparison, the 2026 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid is only available in two trims, at least for us Canadians. The N-Line starts at $43,799 CAD while the Ultimate costs $47,799 CAD ($41,825 USD, Limited). In the United States, there are a few more trim options to choose from.
Gadgets – So for the higher price, you’d expect the CR-V to have more convenience features, right? That’s not really the case. The TrailSport and the N-Line have almost the exact same features. Both are equipped with heated front seats along with heated steering wheels, dual-zone automatic climate controls, wireless phone charging pads, backup cameras, power sunroofs (though the Tucson has a panoramic sunroof whereas the CR-V has a standard size sunroof), power liftgates, power driver’s seats with manually adjustable passenger seats, keyless entry and push button start. However, the Tucson N-Line also receives heated rear seats which the CR-V only gets when moving up a trim level.
As for the infotainment systems, both support wireless Apple CarPlay & wireless Android Auto connectivity. But the system in the Honda is a bit more irritating to use. The reason is because it is not the more advanced infotainment system (with Google built in) that is found in top spec trims. It looks quite basic and worse still, if you need to adjust a vehicle setting, it has to be done through one small rotary knob on the right side of the steering wheel. It requires endless scrolling in the driver display to select the setting you want. It would have been much simpler if the vehicle settings were integrated into the main infotainment touchscreen.
Interior Design – These two couldn’t be any more different from one another in terms of the interior design. The Hyundai has the modern dual-screen layout, that is made to look like one solid piece, along with a combination of touchscreen & physical controls. The climate controls have two large knobs for temperature control but the rest of the functions are integrated into a touchscreen just in between the two temperature dials. Above it, are a row of physical buttons for the map, setup, media, etc. along with a knob for volume and one for radio tuning. There are a few more physical buttons on the center console but it’s surrounded by gloss black plastic. There’s more gloss black on the door panels right where the grab handle is. So after a short period of time, never mind a long period of time, the glossy black plastic will look horrible. But otherwise, the cabin has red stitching, a contoured steering wheel, and suede covered seats as part of the N-Line trim.
The interior of the CR-V is a bit more traditional. It has a fully digital driver display that is separated from the main infotainment touchscreen. Below the screen are all physical climate controls that have a premium feel to them. Unlike the Tucson N-Line, there is no use of glossy black plastic but there is quite a bit of regular plastic lining the cabin of the CR-V. The TrailSport trim adds TrailSport badging on the headrests along with orange stitching.
Exterior Design – Just like the interior, the exterior of each crossover is very different from one another. The Honda CR-V TrailSport trim is not exactly a fully flagged off-roader. It receives all-terrain tires (this demo had winter tires equipped however) along with unique 18” wheels. But it does not receive locking differentials, unique off-road drive modes, underbody protection, nor an increase in ride height. Fun fact, the Tucson N-Line has more ground clearance than the CR-V TrailSport.
By comparison, the Hyundai Tucson N-Line looks the part of a sporty crossover SUV. The body does not have a flat surface anywhere on it, the small roof spoiler has strakes on it, the exhaust pipes look like they belong on the Civic Type-R, and even the red paint stands out in a crowded parking lot. This version of the Tucson is one that you may find yourself looking back at once you get out of it.
Safety – Both vehicles are well equipped with safety & driver aids as standard. Automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning and keep, blind spot sensors, adaptive cruise control, and so on. However, neither come equipped with parking sensors unless you opt for one of the higher trim levels and the Honda CR-V is not available with surround view cameras. The Tucson is with the top spec Ultimate trim.
Warranty – The 2026 Honda CR-V Hybrid TrailSport is covered by a 3 year / 60,000 km new vehicle and 5 year / 100,000 km powertrain warranty while the hybrid components are covered by an 8 year / 160,000 km warranty. For more information about Honda’s Canadian warranty, click here. For information on USA warranty, click here.
The 2026 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid on the other hand has a longer warranty period. 5 year / 100,000 km new vehicle and powertrain warranty. In the United States, the basic warranty is 5 years / 60,000 miles and the powertrain warranty is 10 years / 100,000 miles. The hybrid battery & electrical components are covered by the same length 8 year / 160,000 km warranty. For more information on Hyundai’s Canadian warranty, click here. For USA warranty information, click here.
Conclusion – Two hybrids, two different takes on the family SUV. Which one is better? I’m leaning more towards the Hyundai Tucson. Not only are you getting more features for less money, but it’s also more powerful yet fuel efficient, it’s just as spacious, and it has a longer warranty period. Especially in the United States. The Honda is not bad, it just doesn’t have the edge to make it that much better than the Hyundai Tucson.
Thank you to Hyundai Canada for providing the Tucson Hybrid N-Line. www.HyundaiCanada.com
Thank you to Honda Canada for providing the CR-V TrailSport Hybrid. www.Honda.ca
2026 Honda CR-V TrailSport Hybrid Gallery
2026 Hyundai Tucson N-Line Hybrid Gallery
