Summary
The Honda CR-V 2023 comes with a completely new look inside and out, better for fighting in the highly competitive compact SUV segment. With larger proportions and more passenger space, the newly designed CR-V promises more of its signature practicality. The interior has an attractive design equipped with modern technology, including an infotainment system with a 9.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay wireless and Android Auto standards available. Of course, every CR-V returns has a number of standard driver assistance which includes adaptive cruise, blind spot monitoring, and lane guard assistance. A 190-hp turbo-four is the standard engine; a 204-hp hybrid powertrain is optional. Both can be paired with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Honda says the CR-V 2023 provides a more engaging and smooth driving experience, but we’ll have to wait to ride it until we can say whether it’s true or not.
What’s New in 2023?
The CR-V 2023 kicks off the sixth generation of a compact SUV. With it came many improvements: it was larger overall, sported a fresh exterior styling, and had a more spacious interior with a more refined design and more luxurious features. Honda says it’s retuned the standard turbo-four engine to be more responsive and efficient, and the continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and all-wheel drive system are said to be better than the previous model. The new CR-V is said to be able to handle and ride better thanks to a combination of retuned suspension components, stiffer structural elements and wider front and rear tracks.
Price and Where to Buy
Honda reworked the CR-V lineup for 2023, filtering it down to four trim levels. The EX and EX-L are fuel-only models. The Sport Hybrid and Sport Touring Hybrid come exclusively with a hybrid powertrain. While we await details on the affordable CR-V Hybrid’s fuel economy
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Engine, Transmission and Performance
Behind the CR-V’s upright grille is the standard 190-hp turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder. It is paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and all-wheel or front drive. This setting is standard on EX and EX-L models. The Sport and Sport Touring only comes with a hybrid powertrain, which combines a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder with two electric motors coupled for 204 horses. While the Sport can be had front or all-wheel drive, the latter is standard on the Sport Touring. Each CR-V has downhill control that helps modulate the speed of the compact SUV on steep or slippery descents when traveling at low speeds. A set of 18-inch wheels is fitted on most models, with the Sport sporting black ones. The Sport Touring gets an exclusive 19-inch which is also painted black. The hybrid model is rated to pull 1000 pounds for the first time.
Real World Fuel Economy and MPG
The CR-V’s powertrain options pit a 190-hp 1.5-liter petrol engine versus a 204-hp hybrid unit consisting of a 2.0-liter turbocharged and two electric motors. Here’s how they stack up on each other at the gas station. Honda started off with a front-wheel drive CR-V with a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder that gets an EPA estimate of 28 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway. This metric matches the last-generation EPA rating of the 2022 CR-V. The most fuel-efficient CR-V is the front-wheel-drive Sport Hybrid which reaches 43 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway. This rating is a mild upgrade compared to the 2022 CR-V Hybrid that was only offered with all-wheel drive last year, but the old and new all-wheel-drive CR-V Hybrids deliver an identical EPA estimate of 40 mpg city. The new all-wheel-drive CR-V Hybrid drops 1 mpg to the outgoing model for the highway EPA with 34 mpg.
Interior, Comfort and Cargo
The CR-V’s handsome interior design is highlighted by the honeycomb textured inserts that cover most of the dashboard that discreetly hide the air vents. The steering wheel frames a partially digital gauge cluster with an analog speedometer and a 7.0-inch display that allows the driver to swap between different menus of information. Honda says the front seats are designed to reduce driver fatigue on long journeys and the driving position of the new CR-V has been improved. Between the front seat passengers is a large center console bay, and behind them is a reclining rear seat with 0.6 inches of extra rear legroom compared to the previous CR-V. There’s 36 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row; 39 cubes on the gas-only model with an adjustable floor load in the lowest position.
Infotainment and Connectivity
The CR-V’s infotainment system operates via a 7.0-inch touchscreen on the EX and Sport trim levels. This setting features physical volume and tuning buttons as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The EX-L and Sport Touring models have a 9.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While the larger screen doesn’t include a setup button, there are volume buttons that accompany the built-in navigation, plus two USB-C ports for rear seat passengers, and wireless smartphone charging. Those looking for a 12-speaker Bose sound system should opt for the state-of-the-art CR-V Sport Touring.
Safety Features and Driver Assistance
Honda equips every 2023 CR-V with a boatload of standard driver assistance technology. Along with the new standard blind-spot monitoring, this compact SUV now comes with a driver attention monitor, traffic sign recognition and rear seat reminder. For more information on the results of the CR-V crash test, visit the websites of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Key security features include:
- Standard forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking
- Standard lane maintenance assistance and lane departure warning
- Standard adaptive cruise control
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
There’s nothing special about the CR-V’s limited warranty and powertrain. Both cover a period of coverage that is competitive with most competitors. On the other hand, Honda will start offering free scheduled maintenance on the 2023 model, which we expect to include the new CR-V.
- Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
- Free scheduled maintenance is expected to last for two years or 24,000 miles
