Even before I left for my first ride in the sixth generation Honda CR-V, I found many reasons to be impressed. The 2023 model is longer, wider and roomier, with more useful tech than the outgoing crossover.
It also has an upgraded interior. Add to that an updated hybrid powertrain that delivers impressive fuel efficiency and performance in a single package, and a new front-wheel drive (FWD) option that delivers even more impressive savings numbers.
After spending a week behind the 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid, I find many reasons to be impressed.
In summary: For 2023, Honda has delivered an impressive new version of the well-known CR-V crossover and an improved CR-V hybrid package that maintains impressive fuel economy while improving performance. More interior space and a super fuel-efficient FWD option are also impressive additions to the CR-V lineup in 2023, but the new crossover falls short in a few areas, including not being available in a plug-in hybrid (PHEV ) is offered.
-
engine
Two electric motors paired with a 2.0 liter Atkinson Cycle I4 gas engine -
hp/torque
204/247 -
FWD
43/36/40 mpg city/highway/combined -
all wheel drive
40/34/37 mpg city/highway/combined -
charge
36.3cu. ft. (up to 76.5 cu. ft.) -
tow away
1,000 pounds.
- More power and torque
- Improved fuel economy
- Sturdy stylish
- Improved passenger and cargo space
- Available in FWD or AWD
- Improved Ride
- Hybrid loses underfloor storage
- Smaller touchscreen than many competitors
- No plug-in hybrid option
- Base model could be quieter
- Limited battery range
2023 Honda CR-V Review: Bigger really means better
The 2023 Honda CR-V is clearly not the same “cute ute” that made its original debut in 1997. It has grown larger and more voluptuous with each generation. That’s certainly the case with the latest sixth-gen crossover.
All versions of the 2023 model grow 2.7 inches in overall length and 0.4 inches in width. One of the more radical changes to the crossover design sees the base of the windshield being moved back 4.7 inches, out 2.8 inches and down 1.4 inches – a design change that improves visibility, among other benefits .
What might matter most to passengers is that the 2023 model’s wheelbase has been lengthened by 1.6 inches. The Honda product development team has used this to create a significantly more spacious cabin. For one, rear seat passengers get an additional 0.6 inches of legroom compared to the outgoing CR-V.
And there’s more cargo space at 36.3 cubic feet, though the hybrid loses about 3 cubic feet compared to the conventional, gas-powered 2023 Honda CR-V. The hybrid’s cargo capacity doubles to 76.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.
One downside of the 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid is the loss of underbody storage in the cargo area. It had to be sacrificed to make room for the gas-electric model’s battery pack.
2023 CR-V: Improved performance, new FWD option
(Photo/Honda)
That might be more acceptable if the lithium-ion pack was larger than 1.1 kilowatt-hours — not enough to deliver any real range in all-electric mode. Maybe not, but it’s big enough to allow Honda to improve fuel economy and performance.
There are two electric motors in the new Honda CR-V powertrain, although one acts only as a generator, helping to harvest energy from the petrol engine or send electrons back to the battery pack during braking and coasting. The heavy lifting is done by a single AC synchronous electric motor that delivers up to 181 horsepower.
It’s paired with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle internal combustion engine that produces 145 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque. It might seem confusing due to the way power and torque occur, but the sum isn’t the same as adding the numbers from the gas and electric sides of the powertrain. The total package puts out 204 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque — three ponies and 15 pound-feet more than the outgoing crossover.
In its previous incarnation, the Honda CR-V was only available in one all wheel drive Construction. The 2023 model now offers a base front-wheel drive option.
2023 CR-V Hybrid: Fuel economy and performance
Although I didn’t get a chance to run a stopwatch on the 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid, it’s significantly faster than the previous model, revving in a claimed 0-60 time of around 7.5 seconds. That’s at least a second faster than the all-gas version of the crossing.
However, when I compare my own numbers to those of media peers, it appears that the CR-V Hybrid is slightly slower than the latest generation Toyota RAV-4 Hybrid.
Fuel economy from Honda’s previous-generation gas-electric package was solid, but not a benchmark. The EPA ratings for the 2023 model are improved: at least if you base that on the new FWD package, which manages to squeeze out 43 mpg city and 36 on the highway.
The AWD actually loses an mpg on the highway at 40/34 compared to the old model’s 40/35 rating.
More rugged looks
(Photo/Honda)
Early versions of the CR-V had a soft and squishy look that earned it quite a bit of ridicule. Recent models have taken on a sportier and more dynamic shape.
With the 2023 makeover, the Honda crossover shifts to a more classic SUV appearance. It’s not just angles and creases, but by moving the windshield back a bit further, with a more upright grille and longer hood, the new CR-V feels more substantial, dynamic and capable.
Each trim level, meanwhile, adopts unique design details, including the grille, front fascia and wheels. This also applies to the Hybrid line, where every fairing undergoes subtle changes.
More spacious cabin with familiar details
(Photo/Honda)
The cabin should look familiar to Honda fans. The 2023 Honda CR-V borrows many details from the latest generation Civil Line. That’s no bad thing, and among other upgrades there’s a newer infotainment system – albeit one that should be a little bigger.
The base package is only 7 inches, the upgrade goes to an acceptable 9 inches. I was pleased that the system itself seemed easier to maneuver. And it gets a tuning button, although you still have to use the touchscreen to change radio stations.
The 2023 model’s seat has been improved both front and rear. That’s particularly evident when you’re in the back row, where the seats now get eight reclined positions. Wherever you sit, the seats are more comfortable and supportive.
Honda is making a big deal out of the new liftgate system, which claims to be the fastest and quietest ever for a CR-V. Maybe, but someone my size (6’2″) still has to bend down a bit to get under it when open.
2023 Honda CR-V: safety and technology
While the new CR-V’s basic infotainment system may be shared with the Civics, there’s an interesting tweak to the package. Depending on the equipment package, he gets a revised navigation system that can take route details into account in order to optimize the energy efficiency of the powertrain.
All versions of the hybrid get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. And there are now more USB ports – both standard USB-A and USB-C. With the larger touchscreen, you also get a Qi-style wireless smartphone charging pad.
All versions of the sixth-generation CR-V, hybrid and conventional, receive the latest Honda Sensing package of advanced driver assistance systems. For 2023, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and traffic jam assist are added to features like forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control.
2023 CR-V Hybrid: Driving Impressions
(Photo/Honda)
With a stiffer body and improved performance, there’s a lot to like about the way the 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid drives and performs. Suspension improvements come into play, keeping the crossover more stable in sharp turns.
Improvements to the hybrid’s CVT transmission also help smooth things out, although there can be a bit of chasing between gears at times.
Honda has added new driver modes that allow you to be more responsive to road conditions and your driving preferences. These include the previous model’s Normal and Econ modes, as well as the new Snow and Sport settings. The latter not only improve the response of the accelerator pedal, but also direct more engine noise into the cabin.
The gearbox seems to search less to find the right gear, especially under hard acceleration. And you can switch to the ‘B’ setting for a little more regeneration – the amount of energy the hybrid system recovers during braking and coasting.
That gives you a bit more of the “one pedal” driving that many EV owners enjoy. It allows you to slow the vehicle down simply by stepping on the gas instead of jumping back and forth from the gas pedal to the brake. You can adjust the regeneration level using the Hybrid’s paddle shifters.
2023 Honda CR-V Review: Final Word
Honda has come a long way since introducing the original CR-V more than a quarter of a century ago. Today’s model is bigger, more refined, more powerful and, with the 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid, significantly more fuel efficient.
That the gas-electric drive is also more powerful is another real plus for someone looking for a compact SUV a reasonable price.
You can get into a front-wheel drive version of the 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid Sport for $33,695, including $1,245 in delivery charges. Add $1,500 for 4WD. All other versions come exclusively with AWD.
At the higher end, a fully loaded version of the 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid Sport Touring will set you back around $40,000 depending on your options.
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