While SUV/CUV’s have been all the rage for a while now, there is something new going on – dedicated off-road models. (Or those that look that way.)

While the Subaru Wilderness series immediately comes to mind, Honda has been playing in that same sandbox with their TrailSport models, currently available on the Passport, Ridgeline, and Pilot.

So, it was only a matter of time for their most popular vehicle, the well-loved CR-V, to get in on the craze, and voila! Introducing the 2026 Honda CR-V TrailSport. Could it be the perfect compact SUV for you? Let’s find out!

Outdoorsy Looks

Well, it certainly looks the TrailSport part. Think of it as a CR-V with a flannel shirt and a few days of beard.

The fresh from the campsite look starts up front with a ruggedly styled front fascia featuring a blacked-out grille, aggressively inclined front LED lights, and a lower trim garnish in silver that looks like a skid plate, but it’s not – just a nice look. Finishing off the front is a bright orange TrailSport badge that really pops against the black grille.

The profile is typical CR-V, which is say contemporary and stylish, helped out on the TrailSport with blacked-out door handles and windshield surrounds. The most notable change are the unique Shark Gray 18-inch alloy wheels, shod in TrailSport unique CrossContact ATR all-terrain tires in 235/60R18 size. Worth noting, the TrailSport has the same suspension as other CR-V models, so there’s no additional ride clearance for any kind of off-road.

The back keeps the simple and handsome theme, with a Piano Black rear spoiler, TrailSport exclusive silver rear lower bumper garnish, and orange TrailSport badge.

Finishing off the look was our tester’s TrailSport-exclusive Ash Green Metallic color, a gorgeous creamy sage color that is a perfect blend of outdoorsy and upscale. This is a handsome vehicle that doesn’t scream “look at me!”. And we love it!

Indoorsy Cabin

Inside, like the outside, the TrailSport picks up on the outdoor adventure theme.

It starts with handsome looks, with an upscale vibe that’s clean and well laid out. There’s a wide, horizontal dash with many cues we’ve also seen in the new Civic.

There’s a chunky, heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel, fronting a 10.2-inch digital gauge display, with a 140-mph speedometer, and a power gauge for the hybrid system that replaces the traditional tachometer. All bright, clear and easily read.

In the center is a large 9-inch, color touchscreen that features a dedicated volume knob (yay) and advanced tech including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a handy wireless phone charger. Our only small complaint, Sirius XM is not available on the TrailSport – you’ll have to get the app and stream through your smartphone.

There’s plenty to love here, the dedicated climate control system is easy to decipher and use, and Honda has resisted the temptation of other manufacturers, and continues to offer a traditional shift lever for the automatic transmission. We also love the mesh metal grille that spans the width of the dash and cleverly hides the adjustable vents. Classy!

Adding to the vibe, the TrailSport brightens things up with contrasting orange/red stitching throughout the cabin, TrailSport-embroidered headrests, unique all-season floormats and amber ambient lighting in the footwells, overhead console, door handle pocket, door tray and cupholders. Just a little bit to make it feel that much more special.

The CR-V is Honda’s best-selling model, with over 400,000 sold last year, so you know they focus on keeping those on board comfortable. The front driver’s seats are heated and supportive, and the rears have plenty of adult room and recline nicely for your comfort. They also fold forward easily, creating a flat cargo floor with plenty of space.

Fun and Efficient

While the CR-V TrailSport is mostly a cosmetic upgrade, the hybrid powertrain makes it entertaining to drive, and impressively efficient.

To give you the most capable CR-V possible, all TrailSport models will feature a standard hybrid engine and All Wheel Drive. Under the hood is Honda’s familiar 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder engine that has a sporty, but subdued growl, and combined with the hybrid system bumps up to 204 horsepower.

While this doesn’t wow you with numbers, the hybrid gives you a strong 247 lb.-ft of torque at low rpm, so off-the-line acceleration feels impressively stout, and keeping the transmission in Sport mode you get quick response. All in all, TrailSport goads you on to zip around in traffic, and excellent visibility makes it fun to do. And to be your year-round friend, the 4-Mode Drive system also includes Snow and ECON modes to dial in your drive.

Not only do you get plenty of zip, but with 38 mpg city, and 33 mpg highway EPA ratings, the excellent fuel efficiency has you getting your cake and eating it too. (Or is that eating less cake? Hmmm) And like most modern hybrids, the CR-V can swap you into full-on EV mode when gas power is not needed, and that creates a serene, smooth and luxurious feel to your drive.

Mechanically, the rest of the chassis is CR-V, with typical Honda lightness to the touch, a smooth ride, responsive handling and good braking feel. It’s a comfy cruiser when you want it but still feels up to a little enthusiastic driving as well. Helping the grip and grin departments, all 2026 CR-V models with AWD get an improved system to enhance low-speed off-road performance.

Add in the TrailSport’s exclusive all-terrain tires, and you have the most capable CR-V offered. We’re willing to bet Honda will up the off-road credentials for next year’s model, something they’ve done on previous TrailSports.

While it does look rugged, underneath the TrailSport is pure CR-V and that means the excellent Honda Sensing safety system is standard including Adaptive Cruise Control, Collision Mitigation Braking System, Lane Keeping Assist, Road Departure Mitigation and Traffic Jam Assist. Also included are Blind Spot Information with Cross Traffic Monitor and Traffic Sign Recognition. You feel well looked after.

How Much to be the TrailSport Sort?

More than a great vehicle, a good part of the CR-V’s popularity comes from its smart pricing.

If you can go without the Hybrid or AWD systems, you can get into a CR-V LX starting at $30,920. For a spacious, well-equipped, do-it-all-compact SUV built with Honda fit and finish, that’s great value.

If you are jonesing for the Hybrid and AWD, that will start with the Sport Hybrid at $35,630. Considering all the goods and excellent fuel efficiency, it’s a great value as well. The nice thing about the TrailSport is they kept it in the middle of the CR-V Hybrid line up – so the rugged style stays attainable. Our tester carried a starting MSRP of $38,800, and with $455 for the lovely exclusive Ash Green Metallic and $1,395 for Destination, we rang the bell at $40,650.

If you’re looking at CRV’s, you’ll probably also be shopping the Toyota RAV4. The Hybrid Woodland Edition offers similar outdoorsy looks and comes in a bit less at $38,020. We think the Toyota interior is more trucky, while the Honda looks more elegant and upscale – especially inside.

We’d also look at the handsome Mazda CX-50 Hybrid at $39,490. This is a great looking vehicle, but we’d note the CRV’s hybrid powertrain is smoother. We say drive all three and choose the one that talks to you – they are all fine choices.

Adding outdoorsy looks to an already great vehicle, the 2026 Honda CR-V Hybrid AWD TrailSport is an excellent small crossover with a cool vibe!