2026 Honda CR-V refresh now in SE Asia, drops 1.5 VTEC Turbo

Honda Thailand has quietly revealed the refreshed CR-V in the Land of Smiles. While it only received some minor changes here and there, we noticed that the automaker simplified its powertrain lineup.

For its most recent update, the Honda CR-V is now only available with the brand's e:HEV hybrid powertrain. That's right, the 1.5 VTEC Turbo option is no longer available for the Thai market. That means all variants of the CR-V in Thailand are now powered by the electrified 2.0L engine that makes 183 PS and 315 Nm of torque.

With the VTEC Turbo model no longer being offered, Honda simplified the CR-V model lineup in Thailand, which now consists of the E, ES, HuNT, RS 2WD, and RS AWD. But what other changes did Honda make to the hybrid crossover?

For starters, the Honda LaneWatch camera system has been replaced with a new blind-spot warning system across all variants. There's also a rear-cross traffic alert system for added safety while reversing. The infotainment system now comes with additional Google apps & services to better serve users. In addition, all variants below the RS now come with Honda Connect as standard, complete with Digital Key technology.

Other subtle changes available in the 2026 Honda CR-V e:HEV include a new Bose 12-speaker sound system from Bose for the ES variant and up, a bigger 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster for lesser variants, ventilated seats for all models, a new RS logo on the front seats for the e:HEV RS variant, and a new black aluminum silver interior trim. There's also a new color available for the refreshed CR-V called Urban Gray.

With Honda Thailand only offering the CR-V with a hybrid powertrain, we're wondering if other markets in Southeast Asia will get the same treatment in the near future. After all, Honda Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI) gets the CR-V from Thailand.

This is not the first time Honda has dropped the turbocharged version in favor of only offering hybrid and naturally aspirated models. The current HR-V in the Philippines is now available with the brand's e:HEV powertrain, as well as the 1.5L naturally aspirated engine.

With the updated CR-V now available in Thailand, perhaps it's only a matter of time before the refreshed crossover makes its way to the Philippines. The only question now is, will HCPI eventually drop the turbocharged version just like what happened with the HR-V?