I Drove the 2026 Honda CR-V TrailSport, Here’s My Brutally Honest Review

I Drove the 2026 Honda CR-V TrailSport, Here’s My Brutally Honest Review originally appeared on Autoblog.

The family SUV goes off the beaten path

Simply put: the 2026 CR-V TrailSport Hybrid is mostly the same CR-V you already know, but with a few meaningful upgrades that go beyond just paint and tires. By making a few cosmetic changes, along with a touch of off-road utility, the Honda CR-V TrailSport will delight those seeking more swagger, with minimal loss in terms of efficiency compared to their CR-V hybrid.

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The 2026 Honda CR-V TrailSport finally brings some adventure to the table

Honda is finally giving the CR-V a taste of off-road flair with the new 2026 CR-V TrailSport, and frankly, it looks pretty cool. While this trim may not turn the CR-V into a rock-crawler overnight, Honda claims meaningful improvements in off-road capability for all AWD models, including this new hybrid-exclusive TrailSport variant. With an MSRP starting at $38,800 (before fees), the TrailSport slots between the Sport L and Sport Turing.

Torque, technology, and trail cred

At the heart of these upgrades is what Honda calls Real Time All-Wheel Drive with Intelligent Control. This system improves on past AWD setups by reacting quicker and shoving more torque to the wheels with grip. So, even if two wheels are in the air, the system can effectively brake the free-spinning ones and route torque to the grounded pair. It’s smart, reactive, and makes the new CR-V far more trail-worthy on paper.

Honda recently shifted from a 60/40 traction split (front/rear) to a 50/50 split, allowing more usable power to be directed to the rear wheels. Yes, the CR-V TrailSport is only available with the hybrid powertrain for now, but if buyers bite, a non-hybrid version could very well follow.

TrailSport tires, looks, and trail hints

Rolling on Continental CrossContact ATR all-terrain tires (235/60R18), the TrailSport should feel more at home off the pavement than any CR-V before it. I’ve tested similar tires on the Pilot TrailSport, and they handled soft sand, mud, and highway cruising with surprising ease. The TrailSport trim also gains a unique front fascia with a silver skid garnish, a black rear spoiler and door handles, Shark Gray 18-inch wheels, orange TrailSport badges, exclusive Ash Green Pearl paint, and blacked-out window trim for added edge.

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Orange is the new tough

Inside, Honda leans into the TrailSport theme with bold orange contrast stitching on the seats, dashboard, and floor mats. The TrailSport logo is embroidered into the headrests, and even the seatbelts are orange, adding a subtle but fun visual pop. There’s also amber ambient lighting throughout key touchpoints, including the footwells, center console, cupholders, and door pockets. The materials and seat upholstery are unique to the TrailSport trim, giving the cabin a more rugged, purpose-built feel without sacrificing Honda’s typical refinement.

Driving the 2026 Honda CR-V TrailSport

I often say, “New tires can wake up—or totally degrade—the performance of any vehicle,” and the 2026 Honda CR-V TrailSport is a textbook example of that statement. The result? Mostly good, with a touch of compromise.

Let’s start with the obvious: those Continental CrossContact ATR all-terrain tires are thicker, wider, and noticeably heavier than the standard rubber Honda typically fits to the CR-V. They feature an aggressive tread pattern built for dirt, mud, and snow, and they absolutely improve grip off-road. But they also come at a cost.

On pavement, expect a small dip in performance. I’d bet money that MPG and 0–60 times are slightly worse. There’s also more interior noise and reduced cornering grip, thanks to the added mass and squirmier tread. Unless you drive like an ape (which I do), it’s not glaring, but it’s there. Since Honda didn’t revise the CR-V’s suspension for this TrailSport, some body roll and lateral motion feel a bit more pronounced during quick transitions.

That said, off-road performance is noticeably improved. Honda set up a small off-road-style course—nothing extreme, but enough to highlight the TrailSport’s upgrades. It included loose dirt, a few small drops, and some off-camber sections. You could probably complete it in most crossovers, but it was just tricky enough to challenge traction and suspension. Thanks to the 50/50 power distribution system, beefier tires, and an overall rugged setup, the TrailSport handled it with confidence. Traction was clearly stronger on dirt surfaces, and during the roller test—where one or more wheels are left spinning freely—the TrailSport was quicker to route torque where it mattered and pull itself free. It's not a rock-crawler, but it's far more trail-capable than your typical family SUV.

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Back on the street, it’s still the CR-V Hybrid we know—just maybe a hair slower, like it’s lugging around a gym bag full of rocks. It kind of is, but let’s be real: this was never meant to be a race car. If the extra road noise gets on your nerves, the 8-speaker audio system does a fine job of drowning it out. In short: it’s still an easy-to-drive, sweet-tempered CR-V—just now, it’s wearing a sleeveless shirt and showing off some muscle.

Final thoughts

I’m genuinely curious if the CR-V TrailSport is more than just a trim package. It clearly won’t match the capability of the Passport TrailSport, but it may end up being the most fun-to-drive CR-V to date. If Honda can deliver on both looks and function, it might finally inject the CR-V lineup with a little adventure.

I Drove the 2026 Honda CR-V TrailSport, Here’s My Brutally Honest Review first appeared on Autoblog on Jul 12, 2025

This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Jul 12, 2025, where it first appeared.