The Honda CR-V is one of the best-selling compact SUVs in the United States and the rest of the globe. It has stood the test of time and has proven itself as a ride that will suffice the needs of families looking for a reliable, spacious, and comfortable ride. A popular choice for families, the latest version of the small SUV showcases its evolution. The 2023 Honda CR-V got bigger and better.
The Japanese carmaker delivers the sixth-generation Honda CR-V to the masses as a newly redesigned small SUV. It boasts an evolution of its exterior and interior styling, plus the 2023 Honda CR-V specs promise to deliver a performance that has made it the benchmark in its class through the years.
Honda found ways to boost the appeal of the CR-V further. Aside from better optics, the 2023 Honda CR-V’s price is a testament that you do not have to burn a big hole in your pocket to get behind the wheel of a ride that can accommodate the whole family and can go on driving adventures from time to time.
The 2023 Honda CR-V is on a collision course with the best small SUVs in the market from competitors such as Toyota, Hyundai, or Mazda, and it has the best features to help convince you that it offers the best value for your hard-earned money.
1 The 2023 Honda CR-V Has Exterior Looks That Mean Business
AÂ 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring parked in front of a house
Honda unwrapped a 2023 Honda CR-V that sports a new exterior design that exudes a bolder character and a good dose of sophistication. Initially offered in four trims, the EX, EX-L, Sport Hybrid, and Sport Touring Hybrid, Honda quietly added the base LX trim to the 2023 Honda CR-V configurations later on.
From the front, one cannot miss the open-surface mesh grille flanked by multi-segment LED headlights that scream toughness. The Sport Touring trim comes with silver intake surrounds to provide some contrast. The hood looks more square, too, as the A-pillar has been moved rearward and outward by several inches for improved visibility.
For the CRV’’s shoes, the EX and EX-L roll with silver 18-inch alloy rims, while the Sport comes with black 18-inch rims and the base LX comes with 17-inch mags. Meanwhile, the Sport Touring is packaged with 19-inch black wheels that complement the predominantly black accents of the trim. The side also showcases a more chiseled look, with a higher body line, a flat roofline, and the compact SUV’s kick-up styling of its rear three-quarter glass.
The traditional vertical tail lights and LED turn indicators dominate the rear.
2 The New Honda CR-V Comes With A Spacious Interior And Huge Cargo Area
A shot of the trunk in a 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring
All 2023 Honda CR-V configurations only have two rows that comfortably accommodate five adults. The wheelbase of the latest CRV is 1.6 inches longer than its predecessor, while the body is 2.7 inches longer, and 0.4 inches wider, which resulted in better headroom, legroom, shoulder room, and hip room for all occupants. The bigger dimensions also mean better space for golf bags, groceries, luggage, or whatever cargo they need to put inside the vehicle.
The 2023 Honda CR-V boasts the best space and cargo room in the model’s history and in its class today. It is roomier than the Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-50, or the Chevrolet Equinox. The most significant advantage would be the cargo volume extending to 76.5 cubic-feet when the rear seats are folded. The RAV4 only comes second with 69.8 cubic-feet.
Interior Dimensions
|
Front Headroom |
38.2 inches |
|
Rear Headroom |
38.2 inches |
|
Front Legroom |
41.3 inches |
|
Rear Legroom |
41 inches |
|
Front Shoulder Room |
57.9 inches |
|
Rear Shoulder Room |
55.9 inches |
|
Front Hip Room |
55.6 inches |
|
Rear Hip Room |
52.6 inches |
|
Cargo Volume (Rear Seats Up) |
39.3 cubic-feet |
|
Cargo Volume (Rear Seats Down) |
76.5 cubic-feet |
3 Satisfying Power And Performance
Front shot of a 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring
The 2023 Honda CR-V specs sheet reveals that the LX, EX, and EX-L trims run on the upgraded version of its older sibling’s powertrain. The 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine is equipped with a new turbocharger and can tap into its peak torque earlier. The powerplant grunts 190 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 179 pound-feet of torque between 1,700 rpm and 5,000 rpm.
Those who will opt for the CR-V Sport or the CR-V Sport Touring will have a hybrid drivetrain that uses a pair of the fourth-gen electric motor from Honda. The motor’s power is tapped during low-speed, short-distance electric driving and assists the two-liter Atkinson cycle four-cylinder engine during normal driving conditions. The hybrid drivetrain outputs a total of 204 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque.
Engine Specs
|
Trims |
LX / EX / EX-L |
Sport / Sport Touring |
|
Engine Type |
1.5-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder intercooled DOHC VTEC |
Two-liter, 16-valve DOHC four-cylinder engine with two-motor hybrid powertrain |
|
Horsepower |
190 horsepower |
204 horsepower |
|
Torque |
179 pound-feet |
247 pound-feet |
|
Transmission |
CVT |
e-CVT |
4 The 2023 Honda CR-V Is Ready For Any Adventure
AÂ 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring parked in a mountain rangeÂ
While most will use the Honda CR-V as a daily driver, Honda’s more aggressive styling and performance upgrades appeal to the market that wants to go on occasional adventures from time to time. The 2023 Honda CR-V will not fall short as it’s ready for such challenges.
Honda’s Real Time All-Wheel Drive (AWD) is standard on the CR-V Sport Touring and an option on the other trims. The Intelligent Control System can send as much as 50 percent of the engine’s torque to the rear, which can help improve performance during more challenging driving conditions.
The new Honda CR-V also features several drive modes:
-
Normal
:
a good balance for fun driving and fuel efficiency -
ECON
: primarily designed to save fuel -
Snow
: softens the response of the throttle and enhances traction -
Sport
(for hybrid only): better throttle response for a more exciting drive
If you need to tow something with your CR-V, the gasoline-fueled trims can tow up to 1,500 pounds, while the hybrid Sport and Sport Touring can tow up to 1,000 pounds. These towing capacities are generally adequate if you need to haul small trailers, an ATV, small fishing boat, or jet skis.
5 Clean And Practical Cabin Design Inspired By The Honda Civic
Interior shot of a 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring
The interior of the 2023 Honda CR-V will remind you of the Civic. And the aesthetic of clean lines and intuitive placements work well for the small SUV.
There are two main displays on the dash. First is the seven-inch driver information interface that occupies half of the usual instrument cluster and the infotainment display at the center. The honeycomb trim and the physical climate control knobs are also a nice touch, so you don’t have to dig through several screens to adjust the vehicle’s air conditioner. The carmaker also retired the old model’s shifter configuration and reverted to a conventional setup, which is easier to locate and use. You will also have access to storage space in the center console and doors for your gadgets, water bottles, and coffee cups.
The seats of the 2023 CR-V are also newly designed, providing enough support for your back and thighs, improving comfort and reducing fatigue. Dual-zone climate control and heated front seats are standard across the line. The CR-V Sport Touring also comes with a heated steering wheel.
If you’re curious about the 2023 Honda CR-V’s price, they’re as follows, inclusive of the destination fee of $1,295:
-
Honda CR-V LX
: $29,705 -
Honda CR-V EX
: $32,355 -
Honda CR-V Sport
Hybrid: $33,695 -
Honda CR-V EX-L
: $35,005 -
Honda CR-V Sport Touring
Hybrid: $39,845
6 Refined Hybrid Setup For Those Who Want An Exciting Green Ride
A shot of the  2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid Powertrain
The hybrid powertrain of the Honda CR-V has been re-engineered, making it more potent and more energetic. The Japanese car manufacturer mated the two-liter four-cylinder Atkinson cycle engine to two bigger and more powerful electric motors. Instead of mounting them in line, they are now side-by-side. Aside from the new arrangement, improvements were made to make the engine more responsive and sportier. Likewise, vibration and noise have been markedly decreased.
Those who are looking forward to shifting to an electric vehicle eventually would enjoy the one-pedal style driving that’s common in EVs such as Teslas. The transmission setting of the vehicle allows for better engine and regenerative braking.
The hybrid offering is essential to the electrification of the brand. The improvements align with Honda’s goal of having hybrids about 50 percent of CR-V’s sales.
7 Improved Ride And Dynamics
A side view of a 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring Driving
The 2023 Honda CR-V shares its architecture with its cousin, the 11th-gen Honda Civic. This paved the way for the overall refinement of handling and ride quality. Honda has increased the structural stiffness of the CR-V by as much as 15 percent. This was done by redesigning the subframe, adding stiffening members, and using more rigid elements for the mounting points.
Cabin noise and vibration were also significantly reduced by applying a good amount of structural adhesive to the roof, pillars, firewall, pan, and other parts of the structure. The retuned suspension also contributed to the ride quality of the new CR-V. Honda made the necessary tweaks to improve the suspension, ball joints, springs, and other mechanicals for a lighter but more stable vehicle.
The electronic power steering of the CR-V is also more responsive, thanks to reduced steering friction, better steering feedback, and improved gear ratio.
8 Technologies To Make Drive Easier And Safer
The infotainment system of a 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring
The 2023 Honda CR-V specs sheet lists a good amount of technologies that contribute to a fantastic driving experience.
- Standard seven-inch touchscreen display
- Nine-inch HD Touchscreen for the EX-L and Sport Touring
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
- Wireless charging for the EX-L and Sport Touring
- 12-Speaker Bose premium audio setup for the Sport Touring
- Expanded HondaLink with geotracking
- Enhanced navigation system for better fuel economy (Sport and Sport Touring)
The new CR-V also comes with an improved Honda Sensing safety and driver-assistive technologies that include the following features:
- Traffic Jam Assist
- Collision Mitigation
- Forward Collision Warning
- Traffic Sign Recognition
- Lane Keeping Assist
- Lane Departure Warning
- Blind Spot Information
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Low Speed Braking Control
- Driver Attention Monitor
- Rear Seat Reminder
9 New CR-V Now WIth Better, Quieter CVT Transmission
A static shot of a 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring on a canyon road
People are not so fond of Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) because they are slow to respond, make droning sounds, and lack personality. For the sixth-generation CR-V, Honda updated its CVT for a better driving experience.
The 1.5-liter turbo engines are mated with a CVT with a better belt design and thicker casing. These made the setup quieter and with less vibration. Honda also implemented optimizations of the Torque on Demand control, Honda G Design shift, and earlier «downshifts» during braking. The improvements also positively affected the drivability and performance of the vehicle.
The CVT of the Honda CR-V does not only contribute to the driving experience, but also plays a crucial role in the vehicle’s fuel efficiency. Aside from being lightweight and more compact, the system ensures the vehicle operates at optimum RPM levels during different driving conditions.
10 Fuel Efficient
AÂ 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring in action
According to the EPA, the 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid FWD has a 40 MPG combined city and highway fuel economy while the Hybrid AWD CR-V returns a combined number of 37 MPG. These translate to 2.5 gallons per 100 miles or a total range of 560 miles and 2.7 gallons per 100 miles or a total range of 518 miles, respectively.
For the FWD CR-V with the 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, the EPA Fuel Economy rating is pegged at 30 MPG combined, while the AWD gives you 29 MPG combined. These numbers translate to 3.3 gallons per 100 miles or a total range of 420 miles per tank and 3.4 gallons per 100 miles or a total range of 406 miles, respectively.
Fuel Economy
|
Trim |
Powertrain |
EPA Fuel Economy Rating City/Highway/Combined in MPG |
|
LX |
1.5L Turbo (FWD) |
28 / 34 / 30 |
|
LX |
1.5L Turbo (AWD) |
27 / 32 / 29 |
|
EX |
1.5L Turbo (FWD) |
28 / 34 / 30 |
|
EX |
1.5L Turbo (AWD) |
27 / 32 / 29 |
|
Sport |
Hybrid (FWD) |
43 / 36 / 40 |
|
Sport |
Hybrid (AWD) |
40 / 34 / 37 |
|
EX-L |
1.5L Turbo (FWD) |
28 / 34 / 30 |
|
EX-L |
1.5L Turbo (AWD) |
27 / 32 / 29 |
|
Sport Touring |
Hybrid (AWD) |
40 / 34 / 37 |
