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Honda’s Future Is Packed With New Models And It Isn’t All Electric

  • A new report outlines Honda’s upcoming US and global models through 2035.
  • The automaker will launch of 13 next-gen hybrids between 2027 and 2031.
  • Despite reduced investment, it still plans multiple EV launches in the coming years.

Honda’s latest roadmap reflects a company trying to straddle two worlds: the pressing reality of today’s market and the long-term push toward cleaner, electrified mobility. While the Japanese automaker is easing off the EV accelerator in favor of hybrids, it hasn’t abandoned its bigger goal, which is carbon neutrality by 2050. And despite some revised timelines, there are still plenty of new models coming over the next decade.

First up, the long-awaited return of the Honda Prelude is finally happening, with North America, Japan, and Europe all on the guest list later this year. The new generation coupe is designed to be a sharper, more performance-leaning alternative to the Civic, equipped with a hybrid powertrain and a gimmicky but fun “S+ Shift” mode that mimics gear changes. Expect a mid-cycle update around 2028, which should help the Prelude avoid feeling stale too quickly.

More: Why Wait For The New Prelude When This 998-Mile Gem Could Be Yours Right Now?

Between 2027 and 2031, Honda will roll out 13 new hybrid models globally. These will incorporate the next iteration of the company’s e:HEV self-charging hybrid system, offering better efficiency, improved performance, and tighter packaging, all while cutting down production costs. Advanced driver-assist systems will also be part of the mix, boosting safety across the range.

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What to Expect from Honda’s Global Lineup

A new report from Global Data outlines Honda’s expected product rollouts from 2025 to 2035. Among them is a new Civic, which makes sense, as Honda gave the current 11th-generation model a light refresh in 2024, and a 12th-gen version is likely for 2028. It’ll benefit from the brand’s next-generation hybrid system.

Also: A New Large Honda Hybrid Is Coming To America After EV Rethink

In the crossover space, the US-spec HR-V (sold as the ZR-V in Europe) isn’t going anywhere until at least 2030, with a mid-cycle update expected beforehand. As for the larger CR-V, one of Honda’s top sellers in the US and elsewhere, the next generation model is expected around 2027. That includes the Chinese versions too, including the CR-V from Dongfeng Honda and the Breeze from GAC Honda, as well as the European model.

Next-Gen SUVs and the Future of the Pilot

Elsewhere in the lineup, the recently refreshed Honda Passport means attention is now turning to the Pilot, which has been on sale since late 2022. A facelift is expected soon, and according to Global Data, it may include a hybrid option.

 Honda’s Future Is Packed With New Models And It Isn’t All Electric
Honda Passport (Photo Stephen Rivers/Carscoops)

A full redesign is likely to land in 2028 or 2029, which lines up with Honda’s recent confirmation that a new large, hybrid-only SUV will debut in the US before 2030. Given the overlap, it’s unlikely Honda will launch two similarly sized three-row SUVs, so this upcoming model is probably the next-generation Pilot. Honda says it will offer strong performance and serious towing capabilities, clearly aiming to keep families and weekend trailer-haulers interested.

Sedans might have fallen out of fashion in the US, but demand in China is what keeps the Honda Accord alive. The eleventh-gen model that arrived in late 2022 will get a facelift soon, possibly mirroring the minor changes introduced in the Chinese-spec version earlier this year. Furthermore, a new generation will reportedly arrive in the fourth quarter of 2027, with production in both China and the US.

More: The Most Rugged CR-V Is Here, But It’ll Cost You

The aging Odyssey minivan, introduced in 2017, has already been through two facelifts (in 2021 and 2025), which suggests a full redesign could arrive by 2028. The next version may ditch the familiar 3.5-liter V6 in favor of a more efficient self-charging hybrid.

The (Now-Delayed) Rise of Honda EVs

In a recent press conference, Honda CEO, Toshihiro Mibe, confirmed a scaled-back EV strategy. The company has slashed its electrification investment plan from ¥10 trillion (about $69 billion) to ¥7 trillion ($48 billion) by 2031. Honda now expects EVs to make up less than 30% of its global sales mix by 2030.

That doesn’t mean the EV side is dead, just slightly delayed, with several interesting launches planned for the next couple of years. The futuristic Honda 0 Series of EVs will arrive in production form in 2026. The first one will be the Saloon, largely mirroring the styling of the concept. It will be followed by three electric SUVs set to arrive in 2027 and 2028, one of which has already been shown in near-production form.

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More: Honda Blames EV Slowdown For Icing $15 Billion Canadian Investment

The Honda Prologue SUV, developed with GM, will receive a facelift for 2028 alongside its sibling, the Chevrolet Blazer. But now that Honda and GM have officially broken up when it comes to co-developing EVs, a next-gen Prologue seems unlikely.

Meanwhile in China, Honda is still pushing forward with a stream of EVs developed through its joint ventures with Dongfeng and GAC. The lineup includes the GT sedan twins and the new Ye P7 and S7 SUVs, all built on EV-specific platforms. It’s unclear whether any of these models will leave China, or remain domestic-only.

 Honda’s Future Is Packed With New Models And It Isn’t All Electric
The Dongfeng Honda GT (left) and the GAC Honda GT (right) electric sedans.

Updates Outside the US Market

The Honda City is due for a refresh in 2026 in both hatchback and sedan formats, and it will likely retain internal combustion power to stay cost-effective. Over in India, the small Honda Amaze sedan that debuted in late 2024 won’t be replaced until 2031.

The Indian-made Elevate, which is exported to Japan as the WR-V, will receive a fully electric variant later in 2025. The small SUV could receive a mid-lifecycle update in 2028, with a new generation arriving closer to 2031. Honda’s other WR-V, which is offered in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand, will reportedly get a facelift in 2026 and a successor before the end of the decade.

More: Honda’s Facelifted Fit For China Looks More Toyota Than Honda

The Honda Fit/Jazz will also receive a major facelift in China later this year, although it is not clear if this version will reach other markets. The current fourth-generation Fit/Jazz has been around since 2019, and received a mild facelift in 2022 for Europe and Japan. Honda will likely unveil the next iteration of the minivan-style hatch by 2028, keeping it relevant against the competition.

The mechanically related global-spec Honda HR-V, sold as the Vezel in Japan, could also get a new generation in 2028, with both hybrid and fully electric powertrain options on the table.

 Honda’s Future Is Packed With New Models And It Isn’t All Electric
The upcoming facelift for the GAC-Honda Fit compared to the Japanese-spec Fit in Base (left) and RS (right) trims.

In Japan, the Honda N-Box kei van is expected to get a facelift within the next few years, followed by a full redesign closer to the end of the decade. The current generation launched in 2023 and has remained Honda’s top-seller in the Japanese market, consistently moving over 200,000 units a year. A fully electric variant, likely modeled after the N-Van e:, is also expected to join the passenger lineup.

The China-made Odyssey that is being exported to Japan is a totally different model from the US-made minivan with the same name. Having been originally launched in 2013 with facelifts in 2017 and 2020, it is nearing the end of its lifecycle, with an all-new successor expected later this year.

By contrast, the Honda Freed minivan is still relatively new, having launched in 2024. A facelift could arrive in 2028, with a full redesign expected in 2032.

Lastly, Honda’s not giving up on hydrogen. Despite ending its collaboration with GM, the company is continuing development of its next hydrogen-powered model in-house. It’s scheduled to arrive in 2027, though it’s unclear whether it will be more widely available than the limited-run CR-V e:FCEV plug-in hybrid.

 Honda’s Future Is Packed With New Models And It Isn’t All Electric
The Honda N-Box (left) and the N-Box Custom (right).
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