The EPA says that the Honda CR-V e: FCEV will have a range of 270 miles when it comes out in 2025. Honda says that the plug-in hydrogen engine in the small SUV can produce up to 174 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque at its peak. The EPA says that the CR-V e: FCEV’s battery pack will be able to power the car for 29 miles. Later this year, people in California will be able to rent the CR-V that runs on hydrogen. Right now, the Honda CR-V is our pick for the best small SUV, and the 2024 model is also in the top ten. It comes with a 1.5-liter turbo-4 engine that makes 190 horsepower, but you can ask for a hybrid version that makes 204 horsepower instead. Finally, the CR-V will have a third powertrain choice in 2025: a plug-in hydrogen fuel cell setup. The Honda CR-V runs on hydrogen The new CR-V is powered by Honda’s second-generation fuel-cell module, which is called the e: FCEV. It takes the place of a regular engine under the hood. Two tanks under the back seat and cargo floor send compressed hydrogen gas to the fuel cell unit. The fuel cell unit uses this gas to power the electric motor. There is also an extra 17.7-kWh battery on the floor that gives power. Honda says that the CR-V e: FCEV can make 174 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque at its most powerful. The EPA says that the hydrogen-powered SUV has a range of 270 miles, even though there isn’t a lot of performance data available. The government says it gets 61 MPGe in the city, 52 MPGe on the highway, and 57 MPGe altogether. The EPA says that it can go 29 miles on power alone. Honda says that to make room for the fuel-cell technology, the CR-V’s back lateral and torsional stiffness were raised by 10% and 9%, respectively. The anti-roll bars, dampers, and springs used in the front and rear suspension improvements are also different. All CR-V e: FCEV cars have 18-inch wheels with 235/60R-18 tires. The only difference between the hydrogen model and the hybrid and nonhybrid models is that the hydrogen model is 2.8 inches longer overall. The CR-V’s fuel cell face The 2025 Honda CR-V e: FCEV looks different from its siblings on the outside. The new headlights are placed above a big lower grille opening with large air vents on either side. All of the body panels forward of the A-pillar have also been changed. Honda says they have improved the CR-V’s aerodynamics and made changes to the rear liftgate to match the white parts in the vertical taillights. The inside of the CR-V e: FCEV is very similar to the inside of its competitors. The hydrogen tanks take up a lot of space in the trunk, and there is now a push-button shifter in the center dash. We don’t know how much the room for people or things in the back seats is changed because Honda has yet to tell us. All hydrogen-powered CR-Vs are Touring trim levels, which means they all come with a lot of features that are already built in. The car comes with a digital gauge cluster, a 9.0-inch tablet with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto that can be used wirelessly, a 12-speaker Bose radio, heated front seats and steering wheel, wireless phone charging, and Honda Sensing, a set of systems that help the driver. The 2025 Honda CR-V fuel-cell version will only be available to lease in California later this year. The more standard versions, on the other hand, will be sold all across the country. The hydrogen-powered CR-V is made at Honda’s Performance Manufacturing Center in Marysville, Ohio. Along with this, the fuel-cell module is being made in a plant in Brownstown, Michigan, as part of a deal with General Motors.
