The Honda CR-V is an old-timer in the crossover space, trailing only the Toyota RAV4 and Subaru Forester to reach the market in the late 1990s. Now, a quarter century later, the CR-V enters its sixth generation with a clean new look, an improved interior, and better tech.
What’s new: 2023 Honda CR-V
Honda offers the CR-V in four trims for 2023: EX, Sport Hybrid, EX-L, and Sport Touring Hybrid. Pricing for the line starts at $31,110 before destination and taxes, and it tops out at $38,600 for the Sport Touring Hybrid.
The EX and EX-L trims get a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder making 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque. It sends power to the front or all four wheels through a continuously variable transmission. Honda updated the gearbox with a step-shift system that emulates an automatic transmission under full throttle, and other revisions reduce noise and vibration.
CR-V Sport and Sport Touring models come with a next-generation two-motor hybrid system. They’re accompanied by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with a new direct fuel injection system. Combined output reaches 204 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid powertrain now offers up to 1,000 pounds of towing, and it also simulates shift points.
Honda has shifted its design language in recent years, starting with the Civic. The new look is cleaner and subtler than before, and for the CR-V, that means a more upright grille and unique placement of the windshield pillars. A long, sculpted body line accents the crossover’s high beltline, and the front-end design imparts a sporty feeling without being overly aggressive.
The new CR-V has a 1.6-inch longer wheelbase, which brings better legroom and cargo space inside. With 36.3 cubic feet of space behind the second-row seats, the 2023 model is the roomiest CR-V yet. Rear legroom is improved by 0.6 inches, and the seat offers eight reclining angles.
A 7-inch digital gauge cluster comes standard and is joined by a 7-inch touchscreen running Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The EX-L and Sport Touring trims get a 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, navigation, and a wireless smartphone charger.
Honda Sensing safety equipment comes standard and features new tech for 2023. The camera now offers a 90-degree field of view, and the CR-V’s radar system is improved with a 120-degree field of view. Honda said the wider angles help the vehicle better recognize pedestrians, bicyclists, and road signs. Blind spot monitoring, traffic jam assist, and traffic sign recognition are standard.
