The 2025 Honda Cr-v Hybrid is garnering attention, but some owners are reporting unexpected experiences. Doug Finney Jr., a new owner who shared his concerns on the Honda CR-V Community Facebook page, highlights potential issues that other owners might also be encountering. Having traded in his 2021 CR-V hybrid for the latest 2025 model, Doug is now questioning if the upgrade was the right choice due to some unusual system behaviors.
Doug’s primary concern revolves around the regenerative braking system in his new 2025 Honda CR-V Sport Hybrid. In his previous 2021 model, using the paddle shifters to decelerate would engage the electric motor and recharge the battery, regardless of speed. However, he’s observing a different behavior in his 2025 vehicle.
“In my 2025 Sport Hybrid, if I’m going over 25 to 30 mph and I do the same thing, instead of the electric motors slowing me down, the actual combustion engine revs up really loud like an engine brake, even though the instrument Panel lights up and says that it’s in EV mode.”
This issue persists across different driving modes – normal, sport, and eco – suggesting it’s not mode-specific. Doug visited a dealership service department, where staff acknowledged it “doesn’t sound normal” but couldn’t schedule an appointment until mid-March. Facing a 1200-mile trip, Doug is eager to know if other 2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid owners are experiencing the same issue. He wonders if this is a system characteristic unique to the new model or a potential malfunction.
Adding to his concerns, Doug also discovered a peculiar issue with the ventilation system at higher speeds.
“On a recent trip in my 2025 CRV hybrid, I noticed that when going over 55 mph, I could hear a sound of air rushing from the backseat area. It sounded just like a speaker that was not working and had that loud static noise.”
After investigation, he traced the noise to a vent under the rear passenger seat, which forcefully blows outside air into the cabin as speed increases. At 70 mph, Doug describes the airflow as being as strong as a “centrifugal carpet drying fan.” While the owner’s manual identifies it as an air intake, Doug is puzzled by its function and the significant noise it generates inside the cabin.
Community responses to Doug’s posts offer varied perspectives. Samuel Taylor suggests the rear vent might be designed to ventilate the battery compartment and prevent debris or rodents from entering. Eric Hingst expressed concern about the vent potentially becoming a problem in cold weather if it cannot be controlled. Marci Snider, another 2025 CR-V Hybrid owner, stated she does not experience the air vent issue, recommending Doug to have his vehicle checked by the dealership.
To understand the expected behavior of the regenerative braking system, Honda’s official documentation explains the paddle shifters’ function in the 2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid:
“To slow down a 2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid using the steering wheel paddle shifters, pull the left paddle (marked with a “-“) to increase the level of regenerative braking, effectively slowing the vehicle down; the right paddle (marked with a “+”) decreases the level of regenerative braking, allowing for less deceleration.”
This clarifies that the paddle shifters are intended to control regenerative braking. Doug’s experience of engine revving instead of electric motor engagement during deceleration raises questions about the system’s operation in his vehicle.
Regarding the air vent, a Reddit post about a 2025 Sport Touring model mentions a feature allowing outside air to flow into the cabin without the climate control system being fully on. This is achieved by turning off the HVAC system and pressing the vent selection button. While this might relate to Doug’s observation, the forceful airflow and noise at higher speeds remain unexplained and concerning.
Doug’s reports bring to light potential issues that 2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid owners should be aware of. Whether these are isolated incidents, specific vehicle malfunctions, or unexpected system characteristics needs further investigation and input from the broader Honda CR-V Hybrid community. Sharing experiences and potential solutions is crucial for owners navigating these new models.
