Professionals: Clear styling; large inside; environment friendly engine choices; stable infotainment system; many customary security options
Cons: Lack of specialty choices equivalent to plug-in hybrid and off-road fashions
Honda’s best-selling car is again and greater than ever within the type of the 2023 Honda CR-V. The compact SUV has been a typical bearer for its phase with a robust mix of fine driving dynamics and glorious practicality. We’re not in a position to share impressions about how the brand new mannequin drives (test again later this month), however even when inspecting it standing nonetheless and trying out the spec sheet, it appears to deliver a bunch of enhancements over its already stable predecessor.
Among the many large enhancements is, properly, that it is greater. It is the biggest CR-V but, and that is mirrored in a really spacious inside with most cargo house that when once more sits on the high of its class. It additionally will get a massively improved infotainment system, and the hybrid powertrain has been up to date to supply extra torque. We additionally discover the styling to be considerably improved.
The brand new 2023 CR-V is getting into an especially aggressive phase, although, and whereas it well goals itself on the coronary heart of the market, it gives not one of the branches into the assorted niches which have sprung up lately. There is not any plug-in hybrid provided to reply the Toyota RAV4 Prime, Hyundai Tucson PHEV, Kia Sportage PHEV and Ford Escape PHEV. There’s additionally no higher-performance engine obtainable (lengthy a CR-V criticism) equivalent to within the Mazda CX-5 and VW Tiguan, nor a extra rugged trim stage as with the Sportage, Mazda CX-50 and Subaru’s Forester and Outback. Mainly, the CR-V may stand to be a bit extra attention-grabbing. However when you’re searching for a extra typical small SUV, the brand new CR-V will nonetheless be one thing to regulate and add to your test-drive checklist.
Inside & Know-how | Passenger & Cargo House | Efficiency & Gas Economic system
What it is wish to drive | Pricing & Trim Ranges | Crash Scores & Security Options
What’s new for 2023?
The 2023 Honda CR-V is absolutely redesigned for the brand new mannequin 12 months.
What are the CR-V inside and in-car know-how like?
With a complete new exterior comes a complete new inside. Or at the very least, new to the CR-V. If you happen to’ve been in a brand new Civic, its structure and design will look extraordinarily acquainted. It is also similar to the additionally new HR-V. Luckily, it is an excellent inside. The look is clear and uncomplicated. The sprint can be low and aids in each visibility and making the cabin really feel spacious. All of the switchgear feels high-quality with tight, stable motion whether or not it is a flip sign stalk or the extremely welcome local weather management dials. Although there are lots of plastics, they’ve engaging finishes and patterns. It isn’t fairly as much as the premium really feel of the Mazda CX-50 or CX-5, but it surely’s akin to Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson. It is also a lot nicer than what you may discover in a Ford Escape or Chevy Equinox.
As for devices and infotainment, the CR-V options an analog speedometer mixed with a 7-inch display screen that may show the tachometer and different data. The usual infotainment show is a 7-inch touchscreen with quantity and tuning knobs and a few bodily menu buttons. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are customary. On the upper EX-L and Sport Touring trims, the CR-V will get a bigger 9-inch touchscreen with only a quantity knob and menu buttons, and each wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto plus wi-fi charging. With both display screen dimension, this infotainment system now makes use of the working system and interface from the Accord and different Hondas reasonably than the gradual, buggy and ugly system utilized by the earlier CR-V. It’s miles extra engaging; options massive, engaging and easy-to-press icons; there are fewer layers of menus and much quicker reactions. It is a system that is truly aggressive with its opponents, although we nonetheless desire the Hyundai/Kia system.
How large is the CR-V?
The CR-V has grown considerably with this technology. It is 2.7 inches longer with a 1.6-inch longer wheelbase, and it is 0.4 inch wider. That additionally makes it just a few inches longer than its key rival, the Toyota RAV4. All this stretching pays dividends in all points of inside house. Honda hasn’t launched specs on passenger quantity, however sitting within the SUV’s cabin, it definitely appears extra spacious and cozy. The entrance passengers have plenty of leg, knee and shoulder room. Head room is not fairly as beneficiant, however there’s nonetheless sufficient for most individuals to be completely snug. The entrance seats themselves do not have an enormous quantity of form, however they’ve thick padding and a welcome quantity of facet bolstering. There is a good quantity of adjustment, too, so a cushty seating place needs to be straightforward to search out. That hasn’t all the time been a given within the CR-V.
The rear seats are the true showstopper, although. They are a bit firmer and flatter than these up entrance, however they’re snug sufficient and the house is unbelievable. There’s a great deal of room in all instructions, notably for the legs. There’s additionally plenty of house underneath the entrance seats for ft, successfully including extra space and permitting rear occupants to actually stretch out. The rear seat backs recline, too, as much as 10 levels. As such, passengers might be snug for a lot of, many hours at the back of a brand new CR-V.
Cargo house is now the identical no matter powertrain. The official determine of 36.3 cubic-feet is mainly proper in between the outdated hybrid and gas-only quantity specs, which means the brand new CR-V has each extra and fewer cargo house than earlier than. It additionally places it behind the massively enlarged Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage, in addition to the Toyota RAV4. Finally, although, we’re speaking levels of big right here. With the seats down, the CR-V is the brand new most cargo house king, measuring 76.5 cubic ft.
What are the CR-V gas economic system and efficiency specs?
Two powertrains can be found for the 2023 CR-V. As earlier than, the usual turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder makes 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque. Energy goes by means of a constantly variable transmission and on to both simply the entrance wheels or all 4 with the non-obligatory all-wheel drive. Gas economic system numbers haven’t been introduced for the brand new CR-V but. The outdated mannequin received round 30 mpg mixed with mainly the identical powertrain, so numbers needs to be related or barely higher.
The opposite powertrain is the hybrid. It makes use of a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder and a pair of electrical motors. Underneath most circumstances, it operates as a collection hybrid with the gasoline engine producing electrical energy and the bigger of the 2 motors turning the wheels. There are some conditions the place the gasoline engine can present drive energy immediately. Mixed energy is 204 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque. That is much less 8 horsepower lower than the 212 horsepower listed for the earlier CR-V Hybrid, however 15 extra pound-feet of torque. Once more, gas economic system for the brand new mannequin has not been introduced, but it surely needs to be related, probably greater than the 38 mpg mixed of the earlier mannequin.
What is the CR-V wish to drive?
We’ve not been in a position to share our first drive expertise with the CR-V but, however we are going to replace this part with our impressions as quickly as our first drive overview publishes.
What’s the 2023 CR-V value?
Pricing has not but been introduced for the CR-V. We count on the bottom value to extend over the present mannequin’s place to begin of $28,045. The reason is that Honda has eradicated the entry-level LX trim, as an alternative choosing simply EX and EX-L for the non-hybrid, and Sport and Sport Touring for the hybrid.
What are the CR-V security scores and driver help options?
The 2023 CR-V as soon as once more comes with many customary security and driver help options. It options ahead collision warning, computerized emergency braking, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning, lane-keep help, and adaptive cruise management. These have all been upgraded from the final CR-V, which is nice information, as their predecessors have been comparatively rudimentary in efficiency in comparison with rivals. Judging by the same up to date programs within the new HR-V and Civic, the CR-V’s driver help programs needs to be vastly improved.
The brand new CR-V hadn’t been crash examined by a 3rd social gathering on the time of this writing.
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