Honda has settled on a name for the hybrid system that will power most of its next generation of cars and SUVs, and it is about as plain as names get: Honda Hybrid. The company announced the name in Tokyo on Oct. 9 and said the system will start appearing in new models in 2027. Honda plans to launch 15 models with it by the end of its fiscal year on March 31, 2030, "primarily in North America."
The name replaces e:HEV, the label Honda has used since 2020 for the two-motor hybrid in today's Civic, Accord and CR-V. Honda will use Honda Hybrid both as the technical name and as the name it markets to customers worldwide. The timing fits the showroom. American Honda says it sold more than 106,000 hybrids in the third quarter, its best Q3 for hybrids ever, and the CR-V set September and third-quarter sales records.
What changes under the hood
Honda describes the new system as an evolution of e:HEV rather than a clean sheet. The engine's high-efficiency operating range has been widened, and the drive unit is smaller and more efficient. When Honda first previewed the system at a business briefing on May 14, it said it was aiming for more than 10% better fuel economy and 30% lower system cost. A newly developed electric all-wheel-drive unit, which Honda calls e-AWD, will be offered.
The hybrids will also ride on a new platform. Honda says it is both stiffer where it matters and lighter, using a "new approach to body rigidity management" that lets the body behave as if it flexes slightly in corners to improve grip. A Honda-developed Motion Management System ties the chassis controls together. Car and Driver notes that Honda made similar body-flex claims for its 0 Series EV platform, which it shelved earlier this year.
Honda hybrid systems, 1999 to today
| System | Introduced | Layout | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| IMA | 1999 | Engine with assist motor | Debuted in the first-generation Insight |
| SPORT HYBRID i-DCD | 2012 | One motor, 7-speed dual-clutch | Motor built into the transmission |
| SPORT HYBRID i-MMD (e:HEV from 2020) | 2012 | Two motors | Basis of today's Civic, Accord and CR-V hybrids |
| SPORT HYBRID SH-AWD | 2012 | Engine plus three motors | Left and right motors for torque vectoring |
| Honda Hybrid | Announced 2026, on sale 2027 | Next-gen two-motor, available e-AWD | 15 models by March 2030 |
Source: Honda Motor Co. release, Oct. 9, 2026.
Which Hondas and Acuras get it first
Honda has not named the first production model. In May it showed two previews, the Honda Hybrid Sedan Prototype and the Acura Hybrid SUV Prototype, and American Honda said models with the new system and platform start launching in 2027. Larger D-segment hybrids, which CBT News describes as comparable in size to the Pilot, Passport and Acura MDX, follow in 2029. Honda also said it will add hybrid production at its Marysville and East Liberty plants in Ohio and make all of its North American auto plants capable of building hybrids.
"Honda will reallocate more development and production resources into hybrid models to accelerate the market launch ahead of the original schedule." — Toshihiro Mibe, global CEO, Honda Motor Co., in May
What it means for Honda shoppers now
Nothing changes on dealer lots this year. The current two-motor hybrids remain on sale, and Car and Driver named the Civic Hybrid, Accord Hybrid and CR-V Hybrid to its 2026 10Best list. Supply is the bigger issue. American Honda's sales chief, Lance Woelfer, said the company is "experiencing some inventory issues due to sustained strong demand."
The CR-V shows how the changeover may play out. Automotive News reported, as summarized by Car and Driver on Oct. 7, that Honda has pushed production of the redesigned, hybrid-only CR-V back to April 2027 so it can build more of the current model first. The CR-V made up 9.5% of Honda's U.S. sales through September. Honda has not confirmed which models will carry the Honda Hybrid name first, so buyers who need a hybrid soon should expect the current CR-V, Civic and Accord to stay the mainstream choices well into 2027.
