Key RAV4 rival's next-gen hybrid plans

Honda's next-generation hybrid plans are heating up.. The Japanese brand will use its upcoming hybrid system in the new CR-V mid-size SUV and begin mass-production from February 2027, according to a report in Nikkei Asia.. It is also planning to offer the CR-V as a hybrid-only model moving forward, ditching the petrol-only set-up globally, as it aims to introduce 15 new hybrid models by 2030..

In addition to the CR-V, Honda has unveiled sedan and SUV prototypes to ride on an all-new platform and electric all-wheel drive set-up.. The SUV will fall under Honda's Acura luxury sub-brand in the US, and will be based on the CR-V.. Most of these models will be built in left-hand drive, raising doubts as to whether they will enter the Aussie market..

However, Honda Australia President and Chief Executive Officer Jay Joseph told CarsGuide in June 2026 the brand is becoming more capable of satisfying both LHD and RHD markets.. Honda is planning another globally-targeted model called the Avancier that will be a three-row large SUV, targeting Thailand and China by early 2027.. The Avancier will be in Thailand, which is a RHD market, thus improving the car's chances of an Australian launch in the future..

The Japanese brand is taking hybrid power seriously in Australia, with every model now available with the powertrain, and at a more affordable price, so the Avancier could be a desirable option.. Honda Australia has not officially confirmed any news about the Avancier, but CarsGuide has contacted the local branch to learn more.. The Avancier is not the Pilot XXL three-row SUV that will also use the next-generation hybrid set-up..

That car will specifically target the North American market after 2030.. In mid-2026, Honda made a global U-turn by pivoting heavy investment toward hybrids instead of EVs from 2027.. The brand shelved its mid-size SUV and sedan electric concepts that were to form the bulk of its '0 series' global EV push..

Honda is still planning to launch the remaining Alpha small SUV in the '0 series', and it could be on the cards for Australia as it hasn't been ruled out by the local subsidiary.. These newly developed hybrids are supposed to cost Honda 30 per cent less than the current generation of its hybrids, while boasting a more than 10 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency..