​​Honda Gives the 2026 CR-V the TrailSport Treatment​ 

The SUV boom that began in the 80s promised buyers off-road adventures, and those truck-based models were good at delivering on that promise when their owners took them up on it. But they did so at a price of diminished ride comfort, louder cabins, lower fuel economy, and a general lack of refinement. Many who didn’t take up off-roading found they missed those car-like attributes, and car-based crossovers were developed for those customers the next time they were in the market.  It was a successful strategy: crossovers are now the default body style for new vehicles, and the compact crossover segment, of which the CR-V is a part, is the most popular category in the U.S.  

But now that owning a crossover no longer carries off-road imagery for the vehicle or its driver, there is an industry-wide effort to bring it back to the very crossover models that left it behind. This trend falls under the “TrailSport” banner at Honda and has been particularly popular. TrailSport models account for 80% of Passport sales and are a significant portion of Pilot and Ridgeline sales as well. Those models with enhanced rugged capability all share the same platform, and none are hybrids, so Honda’s adding a TrailSport to the CR-V Hybrid is truly new. Car and Driver took a look at the CR-V TrailSport, and Michael Hohl Honda tells you what they had to say.  

The CR-V is Honda’s most popular model, with over 400,000 units sold in 2025. It’s known as the compact crossover that does everything well, so Honda was careful not to mess with the CR-V formula when adding its TrailSport model. All CR-V TrailSport models have all-wheel drive and the CR-V’s hybrid drivetrain. The primary functional features of the Trail Sport are Continental CrossContact ATR all-terrain tires mounted on moderately sized 18-inch Shark Gray wheels. Ground clearance doesn’t change, but Honda did adjust the traction control system and the all-wheel-drive torque split. Where conventional CR-Vs offer a 60 front/40 rear torque split, the Trail Sport system can deliver an even 50/50 split. This can help the rear wheels maintain forward motion when the front wheels lose traction, and the traction control system will apply the brakes to prevent or minimize spinning.   

The rest are aesthetic enhancements, such as badging, a front “skid garnish,” and a trim-exclusive Ash Green Metallic that recalls sage in tone.  This is a bit more modest than the TrailSport version of the larger models, which add greater ride height, a trail camera, and underbody protection. It is enough to add some confidence when soldiering on after the pavement ends, but the CR-V TrailSport is not yet ready for the Rubicon Trail.  

As Car and Driver observes, the downsides of the TrailSport treatment are minimal. The vehicle doesn’t ride any harsher, but it is a bit louder. On the skidpad, the knobbier tires achieved 0.79g versus 0.81 for the Sport Touring, and the change in braking ability is almost negligible, requiring 183 feet on a 70-0 stop instead of 182. EPA-estimated combined fuel is 35, compared with 37 for non-TrailSport AWD hybrid models.* On the other hand, the large sidewall will provide better wheel protection from potholes and likely better traction in wet and snowy weather. And of course, all the space and comfort, and smart packaging that have made the CR-V so popular are still in place.    

While Honda still left some off-road hardware on the table, the CR-V TrailSport is a step toward providing a bit more confidence on and off pavement while maintaining all that has made the CR-V what it is. So, if you live anywhere near Carson City, NV, stop by Michael Hohl Honda and see if the TrailSport is the CR-V for you.   

 *Fuel-Economy Ratings: 40 city/34 highway/37 combined mpg rating for AWD hybrid trim. 38 city/33 highway/35 combined mpg rating for TrailSport Hybrid AWD trim. Based on 2026 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions, battery-package/condition (hybrid trims) and other factors.