The 1.5‑liter turbocharged engine is used in most non-hybrid Honda CR-V models from 2017 to today, including LX, EX, EX-L, and Touring trims. The CR-V Hybrid variants use a different powertrain and do not feature the 1.5L turbo.
Honda introduced the 1.5L turbocharged inline‑4 (engine code L15B7) to replace the older naturally aspirated 2.4L in North America starting with the 2017 CR‑V refresh. The turbo engine typically pairs with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and delivers about 190 horsepower and 179 lb‑ft of torque in most configurations. The hybrid CR‑V, sold alongside the turbo models, uses a 2.0L Atkinson‑cycle engine with electric motors rather than the turbocharged four.
Which model years and trims include the 1.5L turbo?
Here is a straightforward guide to identifying CR‑V configurations that use the 1.5L turbo engine in the United States and many other markets. Note that hybrid variants do not use the turbo.
- Non-hybrid CR‑V trims (LX, EX, EX‑L, Touring) from 2017 model year onward typically feature the 1.5L turbo engine with a CVT.
- CR‑V Hybrid (e:HEV) versions — which employ a 2.0L Atkinson‑cycle engine plus electric motors — do not have the 1.5L turbo.
In short, if you want a CR‑V with the 1.5L turbo, target the non-hybrid trims of the current generation (and its predecessors back to 2017). The hybrid variant is a different drivetrain altogether.
How to verify in a listing or on the build sheet
Check the engine specification to confirm the turbocharged 1.5L four (engine code L15B7) and look for a CVT designation in the transmission. If the listing shows a Hybrid/e:HEV layout or a 2.0L Atkinson‑cycle engine with electric motor assist, it is not the turbo model.
What’s changed with newer CR‑V generations?
Since 2017, Honda has relied on the 1.5L turbo as the gasoline option for the CR‑V in most markets, pairing it with improved efficiency and stronger highway performance. The Hybrid variant emerged to broaden efficiency options, using a separate 2.0L Atkinson‑cycle engine and electric motors rather than the turbo.
Summary
The 1.5L turbo engine is the standard gasoline option for non-hybrid CR‑Vs across model years from 2017 to the present, spanning LX, EX, EX‑L, and Touring trims. If you want the turbo, look for non-hybrid models; if you’re considering the Hybrid/e:HEV, expect a different 2.0L Atkinson‑cycle powertrain.