Honda Skips Hybrids on Its Cheapest Crossovers as Gas Hits $4

Honda ($HMC) still does not offer hybrid versions of its two cheapest crossovers, the HR-V and Acura ADX, even as record gas prices push buyers toward hybrids elsewhere in its lineup. The national average for a gallon of regular hit $4.10 on August 21, with this August tracking as the most expensive on record at the pump, according to AAA.
Honda sold a record 213,513 hybrids in the first half of the year, with hybrid trims making up about 30% of Honda brand sales, according to American Honda. Rivals have covered the segment with hybrids, including Toyota's ($TM) Corolla Cross, Subaru's ($FUJHY) Crosstrek, Kia's Niro, and the Lexus UX, according to Autoblog and Carscoops.
Asked about hybrid versions of the HR-V and ADX, American Honda product planning chief Gary Robinson said "I don't know that there's any reason why not," per Automotive News, citing price sensitivity in the segment as the main obstacle rather than any engineering limitation, since the CR-V, Accord, and Civic already use Honda's two-motor hybrid system.
Honda plans 15 new hybrid models globally by 2029, with a next-generation system targeting a cost reduction of more than 30% and a fuel economy gain above 10%, according to Autoblog. In May, the company showed an Acura Hybrid SUV Prototype sized close to the ADX, suggesting a hybrid version could follow given the shared platform with the HR-V.