[therealmp]

I own a 2021 CRV Hybrid, I have roughly 6k miles on it. I drive as a courier all day, in town mostly, utilizing both interstate and in town roads. When I reached about 5k miles on the vehicle, I noticed something odd that started happening daily. As I accelerate and reach about 45-52mph, the engine lags for a split second before getting to my desired speed above that range (60-70mph).

Is the vehicle switching from battery power to gas engine, therefore the split second "lag"? I noticed right before the lag, the average mpg meter at the bottom of the dash screen maxes out at 80mpg before dropping back below 30mpg.

I'm not a "car guy", so any input would be appreciated. Thank you

 

[EXcommunicated]

I own a 2021 CRV Hybrid, I have roughly 6k miles on it. I drive as a courier all day, in town mostly, utilizing both interstate and in town roads. When I reached about 5k miles on the vehicle, I noticed something odd that started happening daily. As I accelerate and reach about 45-52mph, the engine lags for a split second before getting to my desired speed above that range (60-70mph).

Is the vehicle switching from battery power to gas engine, therefore the split second "lag"? I noticed right before the lag, the average mpg meter at the bottom of the dash screen maxes out at 80mpg before dropping back below 30mpg.

I'm not a "car guy", so any input would be appreciated. Thank you

Nothing to do with the battery. It may be switching from the electric motor to the gas engine directly powering the wheels as I believe this is what happens at highway speed, not sure exactly what the changeover point is though.

 

[beww]

Nothing to do with the battery. It may be switching from the electric motor to the gas engine directly powering the wheels as I believe this is what happens at highway speed, not sure exactly what the changeover point is though.

It could be the overdrive clutch engaging, thus connecting the ICE directly to the wheels.
That transition happens from a combination of speed and load. I wouldn't expect it to happen when accelerating hard, more likely when cruising.
If I'm going to drive at highway speed I get up to speed once and stay there for an hour or more. I've not noticed what you mention but it's quite possible I just didn't notice it.

 

[Ralf11]

what drive mode are you in?

 

[therealmp]

I'm just in the normal mode, not sure of the correct term. Since I posted this, it continues to happen right between 45-55mph, almost like clockwork at 52mph. It's not a huge issue, just a bit of an annoyance.

 

[beww]

I'm just in the normal mode, not sure of the correct term. Since I posted this, it continues to happen right between 45-55mph, almost like clockwork at 52mph. It's not a huge issue, just a bit of an annoyance.

I'm still thinking it's the overdrive clutch (I call it that because that's what the WeberAuto video called it).
I've been trying to see if I notice it, but I rarely go that fast in town, and if I'm merging onto the interstate I have other things to think about.
I wish we had a dash indication of when the vehicle is in gas-engine-only drive mode, for one thing you might want to try and avoid a speed that caused it to switch back and forth a lot.
But you might try Sport or Econ mode and see if anything changes.

 

[atari52oo]

I wish we had a dash indication of when the vehicle is in gas-engine-only drive mode, for one thing you might want to try and avoid a speed that caused it to switch back and forth a lot.

The dash info display that shows all four wheels, an icon of the engine, and the battery will actually actually show this. At the point where the animated lines (blue and green) showing power from the engine or battery cross, a little gear icon will appear. I've seen this happen two or three times on my 2021 when I'm traveling somewhere between 45-60mph roughly. I can only assume when that icon appears the ICE clutch gear has engaged so it's directly driving the vehicle.

 

[JeffJo]

I wish we had a dash indication of when the vehicle is in gas-engine-only drive mode, ...

The dash info display that shows all four wheels, an icon of the engine, and the battery will actually actually show this.

It's called the Power Flow Monitor.

The thing is, that it shouldn't switch into Engine Drive while you are accelerating, unless you do so V E R Y slowly. That's what "low-load" means.

 

[beww]

The dash info display that shows all four wheels, an icon of the engine, and the battery will actually actually show this. At the point where the animated lines (blue and green) showing power from the engine or battery cross, a little gear icon will appear. I've seen this happen two or three times on my 2021 when I'm traveling somewhere between 45-60mph roughly. I can only assume when that icon appears the ICE clutch gear has engaged so it's directly driving the vehicle.

You're correct of course, I had forgotten about that screen. I usually leave the compass/waze screen up.
I still think an "Idiot Light" would be better, at least for me. The screen you describe is too busy for my taste, at least in traffic, and I would lose what I want to see on the dash.
After all, an "OD" light on the dash isn't exactly a new concept.
But I don't design Hondas, and an LED might cost $0.07, got to keep costs down.

 

[CapoTexas]

It's called the Power Flow Monitor.
View attachment 145838

Interesting thing about that screen: the manual is incomplete and doesn’t show at least one mode that I have seen on my car. Engine drive mode can run WITH also running the generator. Also, engine drive mode can run WITH battery supplying power to motors also. I have seen both happen.

also: above 57mph, the rear wheels stop being driven and this display accurately reflects that.

Honda: update your manual.

 

[JeffJo]

After all, an "OD" light on the dash isn't exactly a new concept.
But I don't design Hondas, and an LED might cost $0.07, got to keep costs down.

But does anybody need to know it, or is it just something you find interesting? What purpose would it serve?

A driver interface has to balance providing useful information against the possibility of overloading the driver with information (s)he has no use for, and frankly doesn't understand in most cases. If you know enough about how the car operates, there is a $0.07 LED you can enable to tell you when the clutch is engaged.

In my opinion, the "EV" light falls in the same category. But everybody seems to want to see that information, and know superficially what it means. Just not what importance (or lack thereof) it has.

Interesting thing about that screen: the manual is incomplete and doesn’t show at least one mode that I have seen on my car. Engine drive mode can run WITH also running the generator.

Technically, in Engine Drive the generator is off (as indicated in the manual, below the graphic) and the traction motor (also indicated) either charges or discharges (yep, included) the battery to adjust the power sent to the wheels. The information is there, but every possible graphic is not.

There are at least 10 different possible combinations of lines and colors in that screen, once you include the rear wheels. My hybrid is the Accord, so I can't say what possibilities exist in the AWD CR-V. The lists of options below the graphics do describe most (the one where the engone charges the battery while the car is stopped is one that is not).

 

[beww]

Technically, in Engine Drive the generator is off (as indicated in the manual, below the graphic) and the traction motor (also indicated) either charges or discharges (yep, included) the battery to adjust the power sent to the wheels. The information is there, but every possible graphic is not.

There are at least 10 different possible combinations of lines and colors in that screen, once you include the rear wheels. My hybrid is the Accord, so I can't say what possibilities exist in the AWD CR-V. The lists of options below the graphics do describe most (the one where the engone charges the battery while the car is stopped is one that is not).

When I first bought the car (6 months ago) I paid careful attention to all the graphics telling me where the power was coming from and going to.
Now I don't even think about it. The car seems capable of figuring out what to do on its own.
I also paid close attention to the mileage.
Now I don't, no matter what I do I know my mileage will be better than a V-8. No need to even think about it, it is what it is.
I guess another way to put it is I'm beginning to trust the car now.

 

[BAJ-1]

I'm just in the normal mode, not sure of the correct term. Since I posted this, it continues to happen right between 45-55mph, almost like clockwork at 52mph. It's not a huge issue, just a bit of an annoyance.

Are you in ECO Mode?
That seems to be the culprit for me; but I'm too lazy to keep switching it...

 

[Vprince1173]

I'm running in ECO mode and experience the same thing. I agree that MPG change likely points to the issue being the switch between electric drive to the gas powered engine. I see it most on the highway when passing, which I wouldn't describe as low load. Perhaps its simply that, Honda and I disagree on what is low load conditions (I've been told i drive like a grandma). I'll try sport tomorrow and see if I experience the same thing.

 

[CRV4575]

I just leave it in drive the car is far smarter than me
No lag whatsover
In sport mode it is just like it has a rocket up its a--e

 

[beww]

I just leave it in drive the car is far smarter than me
No lag whatsover
In sport mode it is just like it has a rocket up its a--e

I agree.
I leave it in drive, except I use Sport mode to warm up the ICE faster, if need be.
Sport mode will also remember your regen settings, in all other modes they cancel when you stop.
I played with the modes at first, then came to the same conclusion you did, the car is smarter than I am, just leave it in Drive.

 

[williamsji]

I just leave it in drive the car is far smarter than me
No lag whatsover
In sport mode it is just like it has a rocket up its a--e

Winner! ^^

Somehow we seem to continue to have owners though that are absolutely convinced they are smarter than the iMMD Honda, or the Honda engineers. But without knowing the exact design approach, criteria and considerations when the Honda engineers did their design work ... owners will generally draw wrong conclusions and actually negatively impact their driving performance and fuel economy.

I suspect any lag issues in a otherwise properly working CRV hybrid ... is.... trying to outsmart the vehicle in the name of a bit more fuel economy, which means a Driver moving the powertrain into ECO mode.

Frankly, ECO mode in Honda's sucks... because in modern Hondas it deliberately cripples performance for a benefit of a modest improvement in fuel economy (for a light footed driver). This is true for the ICE version as well as the iMMD hybrid drive. In my limited experience with ECO mode in my ICE CRV... a heavy footed driver gets penalized by ECO mode in terms of fuel economy.. so might as well just stick with setting the CVT to D and just drive.

 

[beww]

Winner! ^^

Somehow we seem to continue to have owners though that are absolutely convinced they are smarter than the iMMD Honda, or the Honda engineers. But without knowing the exact design approach, criteria and considerations when the Honda engineers did their design work ... owners will generally draw wrong conclusions and actually negatively impact their driving performance and fuel economy.

I suspect any lag issues in a otherwise properly working CRV hybrid ... is.... trying to outsmart the vehicle in the name of a bit more fuel economy, which means a Driver moving the powertrain into ECO mode.

Frankly, ECO mode in Honda's sucks... because in modern Hondas it deliberately cripples performance for a benefit of a modest improvement in fuel economy (for a light footed driver). This is true for the ICE version as well as the iMMD hybrid drive. In my limited experience with ECO mode in my ICE CRV... a heavy footed driver gets penalized by ECO mode in terms of fuel economy.. so might as well just stick with setting the CVT to D and just drive.

It has always been thus, when I was a kid every 16-year-old with a J.C. Whitney catalog thought he was smarter than any Big Three Engineer.

For some reason many people want something to shift, or at least press. Look at the efforts to make automatics work somewhat like a manual.

Me, I'm loving "One Button Driving", with the sole exception of Sport Mode when it's really cold.
I am considering alternate labels for the buttons. I'm leaning toward "GUNS", "MISSILES" and "EJECTOR SEAT".

 

[HeniekF2]

I'm unsure we are talking about the same kind of acceleration lag, mine one has this as well, but not every time. Sometimes it simply takes some time for the car to process what the driver wants. It a bit like the car was thinking - are you sure Sir? But then, off we go... is that what we are talking about? It happens pretty much regardless the speed I'm at.

 

[DizzyHeights]

Frankly, ECO mode in Honda's sucks... because in modern Hondas it deliberately cripples performance for a benefit of a modest improvement in fuel economy (for a light footed driver). This is true for the ICE version as well as the iMMD hybrid drive. In my limited experience with ECO mode in my ICE CRV... a heavy footed driver gets penalized by ECO mode in terms of fuel economy.. so might as well just stick with setting the CVT to D and just drive.

Having joined the forum fairly recently and after the input from other contributors, I stopped driving in ECO mode as my default. I'm getting just the same fuel economy so far, and a better, nicer drive. Just wanted to express my thanks, really.