2023 Honda CRV: Honda CR-V Review On The Horizon For Best-Selling Crossover SUV

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2023 Honda CRV A new generation of Honda CRV is in the works, as shown in photos of the redesigned SUV taken during testing in Germany. The 2023 CRV is expected to be offered with both petrol and hybrid engines, but we also believe an electric version could be included, possibly to debut once the next Prolog 2024 electric SUV hits the market.

Growing for quite some time, which could also mean Honda is considering ditching the optional third-row interior to better compete with the Mitsubishi Outlander and Volkswagen Tiguan.

The new CRV is expected to debut in 2022 as the 2023 model. We will know more about this new model as it approaches the date of the sale.

Honda has made the new generation of CRV even tougher. Recent spy photos show the next-generation Honda CRV adopting a more sculpted look that replaces the current model’s fine lines. With the photos in mind, our artist removed the camouflage to imagine what the crossover would look like when it arrived in space.

2023 Honda CRV Review: Honda CRV 2023 New Model

The most notable change from the new CRV is the revised front: the slanted nose makes the crossover even more rugged. Seen from the front, there is a large trapezoidal grille that extends upwards. There are narrower headlights that have a slanted orientation at the corners. A thin strip of trim passes between the headlights just under the hood.

2023 Honda CRV

The sides of the vehicle have a simple style that evokes the latest Passport and Pilot. There are distinct folds that run along the shoulder line. The window between the C and D pillars has an upward notch on the bottom edge, which is a common design element for Honda crossovers.

Although not visible in this rendering, the spy shot offers a view of the rear of the CR-V. Like the front, there is a more chiseled shape. The rear window has a steeper angle, which makes the tail look sharper. The taillights also have a more pointed look.

Overall, the footprint of the new CR-V appears larger, which should mean more room on the inside. This leaves room for the US version of the next-generation HR-V to grow bigger as well. Honda wants to increase the production of smaller crossovers.

It’s not entirely clear when the new CR-V will arrive. The best info at the moment suggests it will debut in 2022 and go on sale in 2023. If this is the case, then there will be more spy shots coming before the unveiling. The current model received an update for the 2020 model year, which will keep it fresh on the market until the new one arrives.

The Edmunds team has long considered the current generation Honda CR-V to be a classic small SUV. Despite coming out back in 2017, it’s still No. 1 in our small SUV rankings. But recent spy shots show that Honda is looking to expand—literally—the fun crossover with a new sixth-generation model featuring a revamped body style and more space.

Here are three things to know about the next-generation Honda CRV.

  1. Expect the next CRV to debut in 2022 or 2023: In early March, Honda was spotted testing a new camouflaged CRV prototype at a European testing facility. The prototype shows that Honda will release a sixth-generation CRV for the 2022 or 2023 model years, with various design changes and aspect ratios. The hood and wheelbase are noticeably longer, and the front overhang appears elongated, as does the rear overhang. A more prominent trapezoidal grille with large honeycomb netting – like the HRV redesigned to European specs – and LED headlights that look thinner. A horizontal light bar appears to have replaced the vertical taillights on the new CRV.
  2. We may see a third-line option: the jury is still out. The three-row CRV was never available in the United States, although the current generation of European CRVs is available in a three-row variant. The Volkswagen Tiguan and Kia Sorento could push Honda to follow suit on our shores, and the prototype’s elongated side profile likely means an increase in the cabin area, which will free up more space for the third row. However, given that the CRV prototype test site is in Europe, we might see models only available overseas.
  3. The interior should receive an update: the spy photo below gives us a glimpse of the interior of the prototype CRV. It looks like a larger tablet-sized infotainment screen has emerged from the dashboard, a change from the current 7-inch CRV screen, which is flush with the dashboard. In our full review of the current CRV, we consider the touchscreen. “clunky”, therefore we expect the next generation CRV to have a more agile interface that feels more contemporary.

Read next: 2023 Honda Civic EG2: The Next-Gen Honda Civic EG2 Upcoming Performance Details

2023 Honda CRV Redesign

A new generation of Honda CRV is in the works, as can be seen in photos of the redesigned SUV taken during testing in Germany. that the new 2023 CRV is expected to be offered with both a petrol and hybrid powertrain, but we also believe an electric version could be included, possibly to debut once the next Prolog 2024 electric SUV hits the market.

Growing for quite some time, which could also mean Honda is considering ditching the optional third-row interior to better compete with the Mitsubishi Outlander and Volkswagen Tiguan.

What’s new in 2023?

The redesigned CRV will debut in 2022 as the 2023 model. We’ll get to know more about this new model closer to the sale date.

2023 Honda CRV Spied

Captured from afar, the next-generation CR-V doesn’t look compact anymore. The fifth-generation Honda CR-V was launched towards the end of 2016 and got a facelift about three years later.

Fast forward to March 2021, our spies have put their extra-long telephoto lens to good use by capturing the camera from afar a new crossover prototype while undergoing handling tests at a facility somewhere in Europe.

With this being our first look at the sixth-generation CR-V, it’s no wonder this prototype is covered in camouflage from front to back. That said, we can’t help but see the crossover seem to have grown in size while the front and rear overhangs continue to be quite large. The overall design looks more angular and the hood looks longer and flatter than before.

The front features a slightly larger grille with a new pattern and is flanked by sharper LED headlights that seem to give the impression of a split design. That said, the headlights likely have a one-piece layout as we’re tempted to believe that the split setup is simply due to the disguise applied across that wide strip.

Eagle-eyed readers will notice the rearview mirror now sits lower in the door than at the base of the A-pillar, perhaps for reduced wind noise and/or better aerodynamics. The prominent character line above the door handles extends almost the entire side profile of the CR-V, from the headlights to the taillights. The exposed orange side markers indicate that Honda is testing a US-spec version.

The side angles not only depict the size bulge – accentuated by the larger quarter glass – but also allow us to peek inside the cabin where the dashboard has tablet-style infotainment above the center console. The touchscreen stands tall compared to the current CR-V where the infotainment is slightly tilted and rests on the center console.

It will be interesting to see if the growth inside will push Honda to accommodate the third row or the Pilot will remain the company’s only SUV in the United States to offer seven seats. Side note – the CR-V is currently offered in some markets with a third row but the US-spec model is available exclusively with five seats.

Either the disguise is playing tricks on us, but the prototype doesn’t have the current CR-V’s vertical headlights. However, we’re willing to bet it’s still around given that all generations of popular compact crossovers have the same taillight layout, starting with the original 1996 model.

Depending on the market, the current Honda CR-V is already offered with both a hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrain, so look to the next-generation model to embrace electrification even further. It’s too early to say whether Honda has any plans to make a version without a combustion engine, but even if that were the case, it wouldn’t be available from day one.

Since this is our first batch of spy shots, it’s unlikely that the official reveal of the new CR-V won’t be happening anytime soon. It could debut in 2022 and go on sale in North America in 2023MY.

Read next: 2023 Honda Accord Concept: The Next-Gen Honda Accord Review, Redesign, Price and Release Date

2023 Honda CRV Prototype

Originally introduced back in 1995, the CR-V was Honda’s first crossover-SUV designed in-house and not engineered badges from other automakers.

Traditionally based on the Civic Platform, the compact crossover has spawned no less than five generations so far, each more successful than the previous, with a sixth generation now in development for next year.

Developed alongside the eleventh-generation Civic, the all-new Honda CR-V 2023 is expected to increase significantly in size, though part of that extra inch is unfortunately reserved for the giant front overhang.

Possibly there for better pedestrian protection, the oversized front end makes the car seem much heavier than its predecessor.

That said, there appears to be increased interior space as well, with a seven-seat option most likely on offer and not just for marketing purposes. The new CR-V is expected to be based on a heavily reworked version of the same platform that underpinned its predecessor, which was essentially the tenth-generation Civic.

In addition to the extra space for seven passengers, the CR-V 2023 should also welcome them with an all-new interior design, especially for the driver. The latter will play with an all-new instrument cluster and a nine-inch touchscreen that sits above the center console, much like the upcoming Civic.

Since the CR-V is already featuring hybrid and even plug-in hybrid versions in some markets, it is hoped that this new model will join in on further hybridization.

There are even rumors of an upcoming full-electric version, but we don’t think Honda will try to convert the ICE-powered model to an electric model after what it did with the subcompact e, which has a bespoke architecture developed from the ground up. up to EV.

An assortment of 1.5-liter and 2.0-liter four-cylinder units will comprise the engine lineup, with some of which will be used for the hybrid or plug-in hybrid route, as their current predecessors.

2023 Honda CRV Hybrid

2023 Honda CRV Hybrid In early March this year, we took aim at the new generation of Honda CRV for the first time. At the time, we only had remote spy photos, showing the basic shape and dimensions of the compact SUV (not very clear).

But now we are happy to share with you the latest batch of spy photos, which show the new CRV during testing on German public roads. Captured by the camera in full camouflage, this prototype appears to carry all the production components.

Notice the headlights with LED technology, and the chrome strip that connects the two clusters and divides them into different arrangements. There is also a large grille with a hexagonal pattern and a large Honda logo in the middle.

In general, the new Honda CRV looks bigger than the previous model. The flatter and wider hood, combined with the mirrors that have now been moved from the base of the A-pillar to the doors, create a more mature overall design look.

The rear overhang appears to be slightly longer than the current CRV model, which makes the SUV look more angular at the rear. From what you can see, this prototype has five seats, which makes us wonder whether the next-generation model will have a three-row version or not.

At least in the United States (US), the CRV is currently only available in a five-seater configuration, though that may change with the arrival of a replacement. As a reminder, the CRV has been sold in a seven-seater configuration in several other regions of the world.

Unfortunately, we don’t know much about the basics of this new CRV.

However, the prototype has two exhaust pipes at the rear, showing a hot engine under the hood. We suspect Honda will rely heavily on electric powertrains, there are even rumors of a potential electric version expected later in the model’s lifecycle.

Given that not much has changed since we first saw the next-generation CRV, it’s very likely that this SUV will be ready to debut next year. If this assumption is correct, the CRV could be offered for sale in the United States as a 2023 model.

2023 Honda CR-V Price

We’re guessing prices here, but the new CR-V shouldn’t stray too far from the current model’s pricing and trim structure. As we learn more about the price, features, and trim of the CR-V 2023, we’ll update this story with those details.

  • LX $27,000 (est)
  • EX-L $32,000 (est)
  • EX Hybrid $32,000 (est)
  • EX-L Hybrid $35,000 (est)
  • Touring $35,000 (est)
  • Touring Hybrid $38,000 (est)

We hope that everything we love about the current generation CR-V will carry over to the new model, while some of the key flaws will be addressed. Whether the third line makes it to our market remains to be seen, but, hey, we can dream. Be sure to visit Edmunds for the latest details on the redesigned CR-V when we get it.

2023 Honda CR-V Release Date

When will the new Honda CR V be released?
The redesigned CR-V is expected to debut in 2022 as the 2023 model. We will know more about this new model closer to its sale date.