Best Hitch for 2026 Honda CR-V EX-L Carrying Thule 4-Bike Rack

Updated 06/24/2026 | Published 06/19/2026

Question:

Looking for the best trailer hitch for our Honda CRV. Its a 2026 CR-V AWD EX-L Continuously Variable Transmission. I will be having it installed by a local garage. We will be using it for a Thule 4 bike rack. We would love to not need to modify of cut our existing bumper. Thank you!

asked by: Theresa B

Expert Reply:

Hey Theresa! The best hitch for your 2026 Honda CR-V EX-L is our etrailer # e98848. This has a matte black finish which tends to blend in better with OEM trim. It also has a 525 lb tongue weight capacity which will be more than enough for your Thule rack and bikes.

All of the hitches require trimming a small section of the bumper cover for the receiver. The good news is you won't notice it with the hitch installed.

Where do you typically take your bikes?

expert reply by: Robin H

etrailer Hitch
(click to enlarge)

Ted S.

6/23/2026

I purchased this one for our 25 CRV but haven't installed it yet. Hopefully its the right one because it's over a year old now .

Robin H.

6/23/2026

@TedS the # e98848 fits all models of the 2025 CR-V so it won't be an issue.

Michael B.

6/23/2026

I installed the e98848 hitch on our 2024 Honda AWD CR-V Sport Hybrid with no trouble. Yes, as Robin says, it requires trimming an small 2.5” rectangle at the bottom of the flexible plastic skirting (NOT the bumper) where the receiver emerges from the undercarriage. If done correctly it looks great, as if it were factory design.

Sergeant M.

6/23/2026

I bought this trailer hitch for our 2026 CRV, very easy to install works great we use it for a small trailer and our bike rack also. The only hard part about it would be figuring out exactly where to trim the bumper even if you trim it a little wide, you don’t see it.

David B.

6/23/2026

Just like to add my comments that there is only the smallest of trimming required on the portion that is folded under the car and totally not visible. You will love it! I've installed SIX of these-2CRV's and 3 Odysseys over the years-and one Acura MDX.

Mark L.

6/23/2026

I purchased this hitch from etrailer and had it installed on our 2026 CR-V Hybrid last September. It does require a small cut at the bottom of the bumper, but it isn't visible at all. We use this to carry our 2 e-bikes around the country using a Yakima OnRamp carrier. We've carried them at least 10K miles up and down the east coast and midwest. (the carrier itself was used on our older CR-V and probably had 50K miles on it at that time!) My only recommendation is get an anti-rattle device to take the slight bounce out of the carrier. We have the Malone Anti-Rattle HitchLock which is inexpensive, but there are others that might be a bit easier to use (like the new one etrailer just announced). Happy Biking! Mark