Honda’s Hydrogen CR-V Comes With Up To $30,000 Of Free Fuel

Honda has announced lease options for the 2025 CR-V e:FCEV, its new hydrogen-powered crossover. Offered exclusively in California, the emissions-free CR-V is available with some appealing lease plans ranging from two to six years. Available from July 9, the automaker anticipates that most customers will opt for the three-year/36,000-mile lease. $2,959 is due at signing, with a monthly payment of $459. This deal includes $15,000 worth of hydrogen refueling credits for the duration of the lease.

The Japanese brand also offers a shorter and longer lease duration, the details of which can be seen below. The lease prices have been calculated using a $50,000 MSRP, but Honda notes that the CR-V e:FCEV will not be available to purchase outright. It remains to be seen whether this will change soon, but CarBuzz has contacted Honda for additional information.

Loads Of Perks To Sweeten The Deal

Customers can only lease the CR-V e:FCEV through 12 approved Honda dealerships in California, including six retailers in Los Angeles and Orange County, five in the San Francisco Bay Area, and one more in Sacramento. As part of the deal, lessees enjoy 24/7 roadside assistance, 21 days of rental vehicle access from Avis (in California), and eligibility for California’s Clean Air Vehicle Stickers, which allows access to the high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane, even with a single occupant onboard.

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The CR-V e:FCEV is more expensive to lease than the all-electric Prologue. As mentioned, the hydrogen-powered CR-V is $459 p/m over 36 months, with $2,959 due at signing. This works out to an effective cost of $541 p/m. Interestingly, the Prologue EX is available at $399 p/m with $3,999 required at signing. Still, this works out to a monthly payment of $510. This means eco-conscious Honda shoppers may consider the Prologue instead of the CR-V. It’s worth noting that the Prologue is cheaper to lease than the Tesla Model Y, too. Let’s not forget that the hydrogen fuel credit does sweeten the deal, though.

CR-V e:FCEV Offers Something Rivals Can’t

Unlike the Toyota Mirai and Hyundai Nexo, the Honda CR-V e:FCEV has a battery pack that can be recharged like a conventional electric car. The plug-in charging capability offers 29 miles of range, while the vehicle has a hydrogen-fueled range of 270 miles. Refueling with hydrogen is more convenient than recharging an EV battery, but hydrogen filling stations are few and far between. The US Department of Energy says there are only 59 in the country, which means long-distance driving will require plenty of planning. The plug-in capability makes things easier, as drivers can rely on the battery pack for shorter journeys and hydrogen for longer distances. It impressed us on a first drive, too, feeling like a regular CR-V in many ways:

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Expert Opinion

The Honda CR-V e:FCEV will function just as the regular versions do – and that’s a good thing. It’s comfortable, easy – even fun – to drive, and practical as a family vehicle. The last bit is where it trumps the Toyota Mirai; while the Mirai has much more range, it is, effectively, a Lexus sedan. As a research exercise and development tool, we’re impressed with the Honda CR-V e:FCEV. Saying it drives like a regular CR-V sounds damning with faint praise, but it’s a serious piece of engineering and not to be sniffed at.

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Generously Specced Means A Great Deal

Standard specification is generous. The e:FCEV receives a nine-inch touchscreen, 10.2-inch digital instrumentation cluster, wireless phone charging, a 12-speaker Bose premium sound system, heated steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, a power-operated tailgate, eco-friendly leather upholstery, parking sensors, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The hydrogen-powered CR-V is built at Honda’s Performance Manufacturing Center (PMC) in Ohio, making it the only fuel-cell electric passenger vehicle produced in the USA.