SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The 2023 Honda CR-V represents an all-new technology, and this time round it’s making an attempt out one thing radically totally different: It’s really making an attempt to look good. By way of 5 generations, Honda’s pioneering and best-selling compact SUV has checked off nearly each field by way of practicality, making it troublesome for customers to provide you with an goal purpose to say “no.” Subjectively, nevertheless, their designs have greatest been described as “utilitarian,” “nameless” or, most just lately, “ugly.” Most dad and mom don’t purchase their stroller or automotive seat on the idea of seems, why ought to a vehicular parenting instrument just like the CR-V be any totally different?
Being the best-selling compact SUV for yearly of its existence would point out that line of pondering is a well-liked one, however actually, why can’t a CR-V additionally look good whereas nonetheless checking off all these practicality packing containers? We’re blissful to report that the reply seems to be, “It will possibly.” Styling will eternally be subjective, however this technology is a lot extra cohesive and visually interesting than its blobby, sensible-shoes predecessor, it’s arduous to not dwell on it. Particularly when finished up because the Sport trim ranges now unique to the 2023 Honda CR-V hybrid, there’s a clear sophistication to the design that harkens again to Honda’s ‘80s and ‘90s glory days. It is probably not a Mazda CX-50, however there’s now an opportunity somebody may really select a 2023 CR-V on the idea of the way it seems. How about that?
And right here’s the higher information: There’s no tradeoff for these beauty. The CR-V is simply as a lot of an uber-practical parenting instrument because the automobile it replaces. The again seat reclines to eight positions reasonably than two, and options 0.6 inches of additional area between the primary and second rows because of an elevated wheelbase, leading to extra room for legs and little one seats. The latter additionally profit from LATCH anchors not buried between the seatback and backside – they as a substitute reside in little plastic alcoves that couldn’t be simpler to entry. Sadly, the CR-V’s fifth decrease LATCH anchor that allowed for simple middle little one seat placement has been eliminated, however that was an awfully not often used function.
The specs say that cargo space quantity behind the again seat is successfully unchanged with this newest technology, which places it slightly below the section behemoths from Kia and Hyundai. We’ll have to attend for a superb old school baggage take a look at to see how that shakes out by way of real-world stuff, however there are just a few apparent cargo-related notes. Most cargo quantity is now best-in-segment at 76.5 cubic-feet, however the again seat doesn’t fold flat. Additionally, capability often is the identical no matter powertrain, however the turbo mannequin’s spare tire is changed by the battery pack within the hybrid. The Kia Sportage and Toyota RAV4 hybrids handle to maintain their spares.
Moreover that one tradeoff, nevertheless, the 2023 Honda CR-V is at its greatest because the hybrid, which we’re reviewing right here for the primary time. Whereas the turbo base engine carries over nearly unchanged, the hybrid is new. That features a new 2.0-liter inline-four, a bigger traction motor and energy generator, numerous refinements, and an elevated mixed output of three horsepower and 15 pound-feet of torque to 204 hp and 247 lb-ft. Now, eager observers will be aware that the ’22 CR-V Hybrid specs say it produced extra horsepower, however that was achieved with a now-outdated Worldwide Group of Standardization (ISO) horsepower measurement. Utilizing the brand new measurement, the previous CR-V Hybrid was certainly much less highly effective.
The largest enhancements to the hybrid powertrain can’t be discovered on a spreadsheet, nevertheless. To place it merely, it’s simply higher to drive. Honda engineers managed to simulate shifts when the gasoline engine kicks on, offering a extra pure driving expertise and eliminating the blender-like droning of the outgoing automotive. This makes the CR-V really feel extra like a Kia Sportage or Hyundai Tucson hybrid to drive than a still-droning Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, regardless that it stays a very totally different hybrid powertrain than the entire above.
As soon as once more, the CR-V’s hybrid powertrain nearly completely depends on the electrical motor to energy the wheels – the engine is simply instantly related when at a continuing cruise to maximise effectivity, and to that finish, a brand new, second discount gear permits it to function at greater speeds. In any other case, the engine acts solely as a generator, and contemplating there isn’t any conventional transmission, it might be greatest for effectivity and acceleration for the engine to remain planted at a just-right RPM to maintain electrons flowing to the motor. Hassle is, as already said, it sounds horrible. Or, as CR-V chief engineer Koji Ito places it, “not in sync with human feeling.”
So the brand new CR-V hybrid sounds prefer it’s altering gears, and the engine be aware even has a little bit of that old-school Honda zing about it because it approaches 100 on the instrument panel’s energy meter. The bizarre factor is, although, it by no means loses any momentum as a automotive usually would when altering gears for the reason that engine isn’t really related to the wheels. The electrical motor retains churning and pulls vitality from the battery in these cut up seconds when the engine “shifts.” Ito acknowledges there’s a tiny fraction of acceleration and effectivity misplaced by doing so, however says the drivability profit is price it. We concur. Not solely does this setup higher its hybrid predecessor, it really makes for a extra pleasing acceleration expertise than the bottom turbo engine and its still-droning conventional CVT. It’s not simply the shifting, both. Every little thing concerning the hybrid powertrain is quieter and extra refined.
As for gasoline effectivity, the 2023 CR-V hybrid achieves 43 miles per gallon metropolis, 36 mpg freeway and 40 mpg mixed with front-wheel drive, which wasn’t out there earlier than. The all-wheel-drive system, which is now able to a 50:50 energy distribution versus the previous 60:40 cut up, can obtain 40 mpg metropolis, 34 mpg freeway and 37 mpg mixed. That’s 1 mpg mixed worse than earlier than, however at such elevated mpg figures, it barely issues. All-wheel drive is an choice on the Sport and normal on the Sport Touring, and by the best way, these are the one trim ranges out there because the hybrid. The EX and EX-L are completely paired with the turbo.
One other key hybrid-related replace is the brand new B mode that will increase regenerative braking to some extent that’s maybe 80% of the best way to one-pedal driving. It received’t carry the CR-V to a whole cease as many EVs can do, nevertheless it does make a distinction by way of effectivity and in-traffic driver fatigue. It’s chosen by sliding the normal shifter previous D into B (the previous CR-V Hybrid’s push-and-pull button shifter has been retired, thank goodness), and the motive force can then fine-tune it by deciding on one in every of 4 ranges utilizing steering wheel paddle shifters. The automotive received’t default again to the max setting while you begin the automotive once more when you have been beforehand utilizing it, which is a bit irritating.
As for the remainder of the driving expertise, the 2023 Honda CR-V is notably a extra refined and steady automotive than its predecessor. Pushed back-to-back, it was shocking how a lot the previous CR-V wobbled about with extreme lateral physique motions. In line with chassis engineer Yuki Morita, correcting that was a high precedence for this technology, and stiffening the physique was the first resolution, ensuing within the 2023 CR-V feeling a lot extra steady and poised. It additionally allowed engineers to undertake lower-friction elements all through the steering system, which will increase its smoothness and permits precision to stay fixed at the same time as effort has been lightened. Some could lament the CR-V’s steering has misplaced a few of its quick, comparatively darty character, however Morita says that was largely finished on the previous mannequin to counteract the insufficiently inflexible physique and subsequent physique motions. In complete, the CR-V is now significantly better to drive.
It additionally has a significantly better inside. By way of aesthetics, it’s arguably a good larger enchancment than the outside. The CR-V cabin has at all times been a bit van-like in design, and the outgoing one suffered additional with plastic trim greatest described as “wood-adjacent.” The brand new inside, in contrast, is quite a bit much less Odyssey and much more Civic, proper right down to the hexagonal metallic air vent trim that slices ever-so-coolly throughout the sprint. So yeah, higher than no matter that wooden stuff was. It might simply be a matter of notion, however this new inside design does a lot of the heavy lifting by way of making the brand new CR-V really feel like much less of a parenting instrument.
It isn’t simply aesthetics, both. There may be improved inside storage – your cellphone is much less more likely to fly out of the wi-fi charger, and there’s area alongside for a second cellphone to relaxation and/or be charged by adjoining USB-A or USB-C ports. Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included, however you could not want them as a lot for the reason that CR-V’s native infotainment system has been wildly improved from its glitchy, sluggish and menu-riddled predecessor. It’s largely the identical 7- or 9-inch items you’ll discover within the Civic, with one key exception. Included with the Sport Touring’s 9-inch touchscreen, the built-in navigation system not seems like Honda outsourced the job to TomTom, and truly works with the hybrid powertrain to extend effectivity and/or efficiency. As an example, if the programmed route forward reveals an uphill grade, the automotive will successfully financial institution some battery energy to mitigate the engine load.
Normal security know-how has additionally been improved, because it was with the Accord, Civic and HR-V. The ahead collision warning system is much less more likely to throw up false alarms, the adaptive cruise management behaves extra like a human driver and the lane-centering steering help does a greater job of doing what its identify describes. There are additionally 4 further airbags: two knee airbags up entrance and rear facet airbags.
None of this new-and-improvedness comes low cost, nevertheless, because the 2023 Honda CR-V is notably costlier than its predecessor. A lot of this has to do with Honda altering the trim lineup:
The bottom LX trim degree is discontinued since solely about 10% of consumers went for it (to everybody else’s credit score, the previous EX was a significantly better worth). That also would’ve accounted for about 36,000 gross sales contemplating what number of CR-Vs have been offered final yr.
The brand new base trim degree is now the well-equipped EX, however even that’s about $3,000 costlier than final yr, beginning at $32,355, together with the $1,245 vacation spot cost.
The hybrid-powered Sport is the subsequent rung up the ladder at $33,695, and actually solely provides, past its powertrain, totally different styling prospers, a leather-wrapped wheel and rear USB-C ports. We’d positively begin our buying there.
The EX-L turbo ($35,005) and Sport Touring hybrid ($39,845) share a lot of the identical luxurious upgrades, however the hybrid goes additional with normal all-wheel drive, 19-inch wheels, in-car WiFi, that fancy navigation system, a heated steering wheel and a surprisingly good Bose sound system.
Principally, if you’d like a hybrid powertrain and don’t care a lot about gear or making the best-possible style assertion, the Honda CR-V hybrid is not a good selection. You may get a base trim Sportage, Tucson or RAV4 hybrid for a lot much less (that’s if you’ll find one on quite a bit and not using a hefty markup). When stacked as much as the comparable variations of rivals, such because the RAV4 SE, Sportage SX Status and Tucson Restricted, the CR-V is definitely competitively priced.
Is it a category chief, nevertheless? We’d want a full comparability take a look at to find out that, nevertheless it certain looks as if the CR-V hybrid would at the very least put up one heck of a combat. On the very least, there’s no doubting that its sharp new seems have the potential to spice up its recognition even additional.
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