2023 Honda CR-V
This is Honda’s best-selling vehicle. And, it’s all new for 2023!
Honda took a different approach to their popular CR-V. They made it even bigger with a boxy presence and an emphasis on family space. Honda also took the strategy by expanding their hybrid offerings, while keeping the standard turbocharged gas engine in the lineup.
With so many changes and evolutions happening at Honda, how much better is the 2023 CR-V than any others before it?
As we said earlier, Honda went with a boxy design. It retains a lot of the brand’s design elements and forms them into a family-friendly shape. The front end is blunt with a large grille flanked by narrow headlamp units. The side glass profile is more upright, while the roof has a slight angle creating a longer roofline than in previous generations. The liftgate area is framed by a pair of high mounted taillights cascading down along the roofline and turning underneath the rear glass.
Our tester was the Hybrid Sport Touring model, which adds more blacked-out elements throughout the exterior. That includes the 19-inch gloss black alloy wheels. This is a Hybrid, but it emphasizes more of its sporty and luxurious sides of the CR-V.
You would not be mistaken to see how much the current Civic has influenced the latest interiors in the Honda lineup. The instrument cluster is all digital, with customization throughout the screen. The tablet-like touch screen sits on top of the center stack. Climate controls reside just below it. Steering wheel controls also include audio, cruise control, information, and heated steering wheel switches – all of which are more tactile than before.
The Sport Touring trim also adds a sporty trim that accents well against the black upholstery and orange stitching. We found the leather seats to be very supportive, with a comfortable cushion and seatbacks in our Sport Touring tester. The space is very good up front as it is in the second-row. The headroom and legroom are plentiful all around. Cargo space is very generous, starting with 39.3 cubic feet with the rear seat up. Fold the rear seat down, and you have a maximum cargo space of 76.5 cubic feet.
Powering the CR-V Hybrid Sport Touring tester is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine connected to a High-Torque Traction Motor. In total, that amounts to 204 horsepower. This two-motor system is connected to an electronic continuously variable transmission and an all-wheel-drive system. Overall performance may just surprise you with plenty of thrust and smooth delivery. It cruises very well on the highway.
In terms of fuel economy, we experienced an average of 37.8 MPG. This figure is aligned with the Environmental Protection Agency’s rated combined average.
Where the CR-V shines is in its ride quality. It is smooth and absorbent over bumpy sections of the road. We also like the braking system, especially the pedal feel, and stopping power in normal and panic situations. You will not find any hybrid lag from the brakes.
On-center feel of the steering system is also very good and offered a very good turning radius. We wished it would feel less numb and a bit more responsive. As for the handling, it feels confident and solid. Though, there is a bit of roll and lean on some corners.
Pricing for the 2023 Honda CR-V starts from $28,410 for a LX model with front-wheel-drive. Our Hybrid AWD Sport Touring tester came with a sticker price of $39,845.
As one of the most popular vehicles sold in America, the CR-V is often cross-shopped with other equally popular vehicles in what continues to be the hottest segments in the business. The CR-V Hybrid competes with the Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, and Ford Escape. Non-hybrid models also compete against the Nissan Rogue, Mazda CX-5, Subaru Forester, Chevrolet Equinox, Jeep Cherokee, and Volkswagen Tiguan.
We are often pleased when we see a vehicle that has improved over its last iteration. The 2023 Honda CR-V is a much better vehicle than before in many respects. The hybrid driveline is a huge reason for how we felt about this new Honda SUV. If you want a good hybrid SUV that seats five comfortably and drives well, take a look at the new CR-V.
Story Credits: CarSoup Editors
