2023 Honda CR-V: what do you get for this money

Overview

In 2023, the brand-new Honda CR-V will come out with a whole new design that is guaranteed to wow both inside and out. With increased size and passenger space, this newly designed CR-V promises practicality like never before. Its interior has a beautiful design that was inspired by the Civic compact car and comes complete with modern technology, such as an infotainment system that includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities on its 9.0-inch touchscreen.

The CR-V comes with a variety ofDriver Assists that have become standard, which include adaptive cruise, blind spot monitoring and lane-keeping assist. You can choose between a 190-hp turbo four engine or optional 204 hp hybrid powertrain. Both comewith the optionof front wheel or all wheel drive; no matterwhich engine you choosethe CR-V delivers asteady rideand peaceful—if not exactly exciting—road manners.

What's New for 2023?

The 2023 CR-V kicks off the compact SUV’s sixth generation. With it comes a slew of improvements: it’s larger overall, sports fresh exterior styling, and has a roomier interior with a more refined design and fancier features. Honda says that it retuned the standard turbo-four engine to be both more responsive and efficient, and the continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) is said to offer improved performance versus the outgoing model’s.

For 2023, Honda has updated the CR-V lineup by simplifying it into four trim levels. The EX and EX-L run on gas only, while the Sport Hybrid and Sport Touring Hybrid are both exclusively powered by a hybrid system--these latter two models being our top picks. However, the front-wheel drive CR-V Hybrid Sport is still an enticing option.

It comes at a reasonable starting price of $33,695 and carries an EPA-estimated 43 mpg in the city. With this stylish SUV you get black exterior accents, black 18-inch wheels, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel as well as excellent fuel economy. The Sport Touring Hybrid is more expensive but comes standard with all-wheel drive and additional luxury features to give you an even better experience.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The CR-V's upright grille conceals a standard 190-hp turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder that comes paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and either front or all-wheel drive--a setup that is typical for the EX and EXL models. The Sport and Sport Touring, on the other hand, only come equipped with the hybrid powertrain; this entails combining a 2.0 liter four cylinder engine with two electric motors to produce 204 horses in total.

The Sport comes with the option of front- or all-wheel drive, but all-wheel drive is standard on the Sport Touring. Our test track revealed that the Sport Touring Hybrid can go from 0 to 60 in a decent 7.9 seconds. CR-V models also come equipped with hill descent control which helps manage speed on inclines and slippery surfaces when driving at low speeds. Most models have 18 inch wheels, except for the Sport model which has blackwheels instead

This year's Sport Touring model of the CR-V comes with exclusive 19-inch black painted wheels. Additionally, for the first time ever, hybrid models are now rated to tow up to 1000 pounds. Although it might not handle as thrillingly as we Mazdaphiles love in our CX-50s or provide the Volkswagen Tiguan's exciting zip, the new CR-V provides a smooth ride that certainly won't bore you.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The CR-V has two powertrain options: a 190-hp 1.5-liter gas engine and a hybrid unit consisting of a 2.0-liter and two electric motors that gets 204 hp. The most fuel efficient CR-V, the front-wheel drive Sport Hybrid, gets 43 mpg in the city and 36 on the highway.

We are yet to test the nonhybrid CR-V, but we took the all-wheel drive Sport Touring Hybrid on our real-world 75-mph highway fuel economy route and it performed quite well with 31 mpg. If you want to know more about the CR-V's fuel economy, please visit the EPA's website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

Most of the CR-V'sdash is taken up by a honeycomb insert that spans it, and this subtle design discreetly hides the air vents. Surrounding the steering wheel is a partially digital gauge cluster with an analog speedometer. In the center of this sits a 7.0-inch display where drivers can cycle through different informational menus.

To improve the driver's experience on long trips, Honda outfitted the front seats with features to decrease fatigue. Also, they improved the CR-V's driving position. The center console bin is large and located between the two front passengers while still providing reclining back seats with extra legroom in comparison to last year's model behind them. On gas-only models, there are 36 cubic feet of space for cargo behind t he second row which increases to 39 cubes when adjusting load floor into its lowest position .

 

Is the Honda CR-V a reliable car?

The current CR-V didn't feature in the 2021 What Car? Reliability Survey, but the previous-generation car was ranked third in the large SUV table. Honda as a brand did less well, coming 14th out of 30 car makers, behind key rival Toyota in fifth, but ahead of Ford and Nissan in joint 27th. The CR-V comes with a three-year/90,000-mile warranty (as do all new Hondas).

Is the 2023 Honda CRV different?

The 2023 CR-V is 2.7 inches longer than the 2022 model. Honda lengthened the wheelbase 1.6 inches—to 106.3 inches overall—and widened the track front and rear. The result is a vehicle with 103.5 cubic feet of passenger space.

Will Honda CR-V change in 2023?

Every 2023 CR-V benefits from extensive improvements to the body, chassis and powertrain, safety technology, and overall driving refinement. An updated version of Honda's Real Time All-Wheel Drive (AWD) with Intelligent Control System™ is available on all grades and standard on Sport Touring.