Review

2023 Honda CR-V Review: Same old practicality, newfound style

A segment benchmark improves, but could use more trim level variety

2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring front three quarter
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring front three quarter
  • Image Credit: James Riswick
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring front three quarter
    • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring front three quarter
    • Image Credit: James Riswick
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring rear
    • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring rear
    • Image Credit: James Riswick
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring front profile
    • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring front profile
    • Image Credit: James Riswick
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring rear profile
    • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring rear profile
    • Image Credit: James Riswick
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring rear three quarter
    • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring rear three quarter
    • Image Credit: James Riswick
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring front detail
    • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring front detail
    • Image Credit: James Riswick
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring wheel
    • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring wheel
    • Image Credit: James Riswick
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring hybrid badge
    • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring hybrid badge
    • Image Credit: James Riswick
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring badge
    • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring badge
    • Image Credit: James Riswick
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring interior
    • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring interior
    • Image Credit: James Riswick
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring interior from driver
    • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring interior from driver
    • Image Credit: James Riswick
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring touchscreen
    • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring touchscreen
    • Image Credit: James Riswick
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring HVAC
    • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring HVAC
    • Image Credit: James Riswick
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring air vent and dash trim
    • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring air vent and dash trim
    • Image Credit: James Riswick
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring IP
    • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring IP
    • Image Credit: James Riswick
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring IP sport
    • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring IP sport
    • Image Credit: James Riswick
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring IP B mode indicator
    • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring IP B mode indicator
    • Image Credit: James Riswick
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring regen brake paddle
    • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring regen brake paddle
    • Image Credit: James Riswick
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring front seat
    • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring front seat
    • Image Credit: James Riswick
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring back seat
    • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring back seat
    • Image Credit: James Riswick
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring back seat recline
    • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring back seat recline
    • Image Credit: James Riswick
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring cargo
    • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring cargo
    • Image Credit: James Riswick
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring front three quarter
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring rear
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring front profile
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring rear profile
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring rear three quarter
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring front detail
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring wheel
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring hybrid badge
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring badge
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring interior
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring interior from driver
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring touchscreen
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring HVAC
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring air vent and dash trim
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring IP
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring IP sport
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring IP B mode indicator
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring regen brake paddle
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring front seat
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring back seat
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring back seat recline
  • 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring cargo

Pros: Clean styling; massive interior; efficient engine options; solid infotainment system; many standard safety features

Cons: No base trim levels; lack of specialty options such as plug-in hybrid and off-road models

Honda's best-selling vehicle is back and bigger than ever in the form of the 2023 Honda CR-V. The compact SUV has been a standard bearer for its segment with a strong blend of good driving dynamics and excellent practicality. That continues for the all-new, sixth-generation model shown here, and thanks to clean new exterior design and a slick interior design, there's an elevated degree of style that's been added to the formula not seen in a CR-V since, well, forever. 

To date, we have only sampled the gas-only turbocharged engine, which largely carries over unchanged from the previous model. It delivers competitive power and fuel economy, but the obligatory CVT sucks the life out of what is otherwise a sweet little Honda engine. The CR-V's hybrid powertrain is new, however, and now exclusively paired with Sport and Sport Touring trim levels to underline that it actually has considerably more power and torque than the gas-only version. Toyota, Hyundai and Kia employ a similar powertrain lineup, and like them, the CR-V hybrid is now available with front-wheel drive in addition to the previous standard all-wheel drive. We've yet to test the hybrid, though, so we can't say if it claws back some of the ground the underwhelming base powertrain loses. And since we're talking powertrains, it's important to note that the CR-V does not offer a plug-in hybrid answer to the Toyota RAV4 Prime, Hyundai Tucson PHEV, Kia Sportage PHEV and Ford Escape PHEV. It's not going to, either, so don't get your hopes up. The most electrified future Honda is going to be the Prologue EV

Besides the revised hybrid and newfound sense of style, the 2023 Honda CR-V mostly sees a series of incremental improvements everywhere. Its more stable, refined and quiet to drive. The front seats are more comfortable and the back seat seat is a bit more spacious. The infotainment and safety tech have been appreciably upgraded to the point they erase what had been previously cons for the CR-V. It's without question a new-and-improved compact crossover. Could it be even more characterful, including offering sportier or off-road-oriented niche models as rivals do? Sure, as always, the CR-V could be more interesting. Honda has also gotten rid of its base LX trim level and made the EX even more expensive, raising the cost of entry by many thousands. Relatively few people bought the LX, but it still means you can't get a CR-V at a price that begins with a 2. But if you're looking for a more conventional small SUV, the new CR-V will still be something to keep an eye on and add to your test-drive list. 

Interior & Technology   |   Passenger & Cargo Space   |   Performance & Fuel Economy

What it's like to drive   |   Pricing & Trim Levels   |   Crash Ratings & Safety Features

What's new for 2023?

The 2023 Honda CR-V is fully redesigned for the new model year.

What are the CR-V interior and in-car technology like?

With a whole new exterior comes a whole new interior. Or at least, new to the CR-V. If you've been in a new Civic, its layout and design will look extremely familiar. It's also very similar to the also new HR-V. Fortunately, it's a very good interior. The look is clean and uncomplicated. The dash is also low and in conjunction with relocated front pillars, improves visibility and the sense of spaciousness. All the switchgear feels high-quality with tight, solid action whether it's a turn signal stalk or the highly welcome climate control dials. Though there are many plastics, they have attractive finishes and patterns. It's not quite up to the premium feel of the Mazda CX-50 or CX-5, but it's comparable to Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson. It's also much nicer than what you'll find in a Ford Escape or Chevy Equinox.

As for instruments and infotainment, the CR-V features an analog speedometer combined with a 7-inch screen that can display the tachometer and other information. The standard infotainment display is a 7-inch touchscreen (below left) with volume and tuning knobs and a couple of physical menu buttons. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. On the higher EX-L and Sport Touring trims, the CR-V gets a larger 9-inch touchscreen (below right) with just a volume knob and menu buttons, and both wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto plus wireless charging. With either screen size, this infotainment system now uses the operating system and interface from the Accord and other Hondas rather than the slow, buggy and ugly system used by the previous CR-V. It's far more attractive; features large, attractive and easy-to-press icons; there are fewer layers of menus and far faster reactions. It's a system that's actually competitive with its competitors, though we still prefer the Hyundai/Kia system.

How big is the CR-V?

The CR-V has grown with this generation. It's 2.7 inches longer with a 1.6-inch longer wheelbase, and it's 0.4 inch wider. That also makes it a few inches longer than its key rival, the Toyota RAV4. Ultimately, you're unlikely to notice that much of a difference. There's less than an inch of extra space between the first and second rows, and if anything, an addition 10.5 degrees of back seat recline are the bigger deal. Ditto the more easily accessed car seat LATCH anchors. Basically, the CR-V was one of the biggest and most passenger-friendly compact SUVs around before and continues to be. 

Cargo space is now the same regardless of powertrain. The official figure of 36.3 cubic-feet is basically right in between the old hybrid and gas-only volume specs, meaning the new CR-V has both more and less cargo space than before. It also puts it behind the massively enlarged Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage, as well as the Toyota RAV4. Ultimately, though, we're talking degrees of huge here. With the seats down, the CR-V is the new maximum cargo space king, measuring 76.5 cubic feet. One important element to note: the CR-V hybrid does not have a spare tire nor underfloor cargo storage. The gas-only version has a spare, as do the Sportage and RAV4 hybrids. The load floor also isn't totally flat when the back seat is folded. 

What are the CR-V fuel economy and performance specs?

Two powertrains are available for the 2023 CR-V. As before, the standard turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder makes 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque. Power goes through a continuously variable transmission and on to either just the front wheels or all four with the optional all-wheel drive. Fuel economy is the same as the previous model. The front-drive version is 28 mpg in the city, 34 on the highway and 30 combined. All-wheel drive brings those numbers down to 27 in the city, 33 on the highway and 29 combined.

The other powertrain is the hybrid. It uses a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder and a pair of electric motors. Under most circumstances, it operates as a series hybrid with the gas engine producing electricity and the larger of the two motors turning the wheels. There are some situations where the gas engine can provide drive power directly. Combined power is 204 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque. That's 15 more pound-feet of torque than before, and although it would seem like it has less horsepower, a change in horsepower measurement for 2023 means 2022 and 2023 figures aren't actually comparable. If both used the same measurement, the new CR-V hybrid would have 3 more horsepower. Unlike before, the hybrid can be had with front- or all-wheel drive. The front-drive version bests the old hybrid in fuel economy with 43 mpg in the city, 36 on the highway and 40 combined. The all-wheel-drive version does slightly worse with 40 mpg in the city, 34 on the highway and 37 combined.

What's the CR-V like to drive?

The new CR-V is a fairly average SUV to drive in its non-hybrid form. The engine is smooth, but can be noisy, in part due to its CVT that still has some rubber-band characteristics and also makes the powertrain feel somewhat unresponsive. Power is perfectly adequate, but not inspiring. The chassis is stiff and the suspension is tuned for a comfortable ride that doesn't feel floaty. It's far more composed than the outgoing model with fewer lateral motions. The steering may not be as crisp and responsive as some may like, and definitely won't keep someone from choosing a Mazda SUV should "fun-to-drive" be on their must-have list. 

We haven't had an opportunity to try out the hybrid model yet, but as we preferred the outgoing hybrid to its turbocharged counterpart, it's hard to imagine that'll change with the new-and-improved version. 

What other Honda CR-V reviews can I read?

2023 Honda CR-V First Drive Review: Bigger, better, pricier

The CR-V has improved in many ways with a better and more spacious interior. But the competition is starting to leapfrog the CR-V, and with better pricing.

2023 Honda CR-V

What is the 2023 CR-V price?

Pricing has increased notably over the old model's starting point of starting point of $28,045. Part of this is because Honda has eliminated the entry-level LX trim, instead opting for just EX and EX-L for the non-hybrid (pictured above), and Sport and Sport Touring for the hybrid (pictured at the top of this page). The EX now starts at $32,355 with destination. All-wheel drive is an extra $1,500 on the EX, EX-L and Sport. Only the Sport Touring trim comes with standard all-wheel drive. Pricing for the line-up is listed below.

  • EX (Turbo): $32,355
  • Sport (Hybrid): $33,695
  • EX-L (Turbo): $35,005
  • Sport Touring (Hybrid): $39,845

What are the CR-V safety ratings and driver assistance features?

The 2023 CR-V once again comes with many standard safety and driver assist features. It features forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. These have all been upgraded from the last CR-V, which is good news, as their predecessors were comparatively rudimentary in performance compared to rivals. These ones are much better, but don't quite rise to Hyundai/Kia's systems, particularly in terms of the adaptive cruise control and steering assistance systems. 

The new CR-V hadn't been crash tested by a third party at the time of this writing.

Related video:

Honda CR-V Information

Honda CR-V

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