The Honda CR-V has been one of the best-selling compact SUVs in the entire market ever since its original release back in 1997, delivering north of 5 million total units through 5 generations, including 361,000 units in 2021. Just like Honda as a brand in general, the CR-V’s main selling points are based on practicality, reliability, and smart looks paired with enjoyable driving dynamics.
Honda has fully redesigned the CR-V for the upcoming 2023 model year, marking the beginning of its sixth generation. Improvements come in many forms, as the CR-V is now bigger, sexier, and loaded with tons of standard tech that make it ready to compete against the likes of the Mazda CX-50, the Volkswagen Tiguan, the Kia Sportage, and Hyundai Tucson.
Along with the desirable upgrades also comes an inevitable increase in the 2023 CR-V’s starting price, which jumps up $4,000 from last year for a total of $32,000. However, the steeper price becomes easily justifiable after a quick glance at the all-new CR-V’s resume, and here's why it’s worth every single extra penny.
A Fully-Upgraded Interior Takes The 2023 CR-V To New Heights
Honda has graced the new CR-V with a gorgeous and comfortable interior cabin that’s loaded with plenty of standard tech and can be optioned for an array of extra amenities. It borrows many of the same parts found in the all-new 2023 Honda Civic Type R, specifically the camouflaged dash air vent setup and the entire center console - including the 9-inch touchscreen in higher trims.
The CR-V provides ample rear passenger space thanks to a 1.6-inch wheelbase extension, and the front seats have been redesigned to be more supportive for longer periods. We’d recommend opting for the EX-L or Sport Touring Hybrid trims, which come standard with the 9-inch touchscreen, wireless smartphone compatibility along with a wireless charging pad, a partially-digital driver’s display, and a banging 12-speaker Bose audio system. In terms of safety tech, the 2023 CR-V provides plenty as standard, such as adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and forward collision mitigation.
The 2023 CR-V Is Bigger Than Before
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We already mentioned the 1.6-inch wheelbase extension that allows for additional leg space within the CR-V’s cabin, but that isn’t the only stretched portion of the compact SUV. It’s also 2.7 inches longer than its predecessor, and it even has slightly wider tracks than before. All this translates to a larger overall cabin, better outward visibility, and a total of 77 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded down.
The All-New Honda CR-V Receives Tasteful Styling
In addition to getting more tech and an overall larger footprint, the 2023 CR-V also boasts a completely redesigned exterior, which now looks more refined and aggressive than before. Up front, it features sleek rectangular headlights with LED strips for running lights, a large hexagonal grill, and a secondary lip grill with fake but attractive side vents. The side and rear of the CR-V are clad with plastic to avoid rock chipping, and the overall shape is robust and rugged, giving the CR-V the boxy-utility feel it strives for.
The 2023 CR-V’s Powertrain Sees Some Slight Revisions
The same engines from last year return for the 2023 Honda CR-V, albeit with some minor changes that make them a tad more capable. The standard engine - found in EX and EX-L trims, comes in the form of a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque. It now delivers more low-end torque than before, while also being paired to a revised continuously variable automatic transmission with either front or all-wheel drive. Furthermore, the AWD version now provides up to 50% rear-axle torque as opposed to last year’s 40% max.
The second mill option is a hybrid system found in the Sport Hybrid and Sport Touring Hybrid versions of the 2023 CR-V. It features a 2.0-liter four-cylinder mated to a pair of electric motors. Together, they combine for a total of 204 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque, and remain paired to a continuously variable automatic transmission. The turbocharged 1.5-liter can run from 0-60 mph in around 8.6 seconds, while the 2.0-liter hybrid can manage 60 mph in 7.6 seconds.
The final verdict is pretty straightforward, Honda managed to improve several aspects of the already highly-popular and esteemed CR-V, which more than justifies its steeper asking price. If you enjoyed the previous model, we guarantee you’ll like the 2023 CR-V even better, and it’s more than worth every single penny.