2023 Honda CR-V Review

The base and midlevel EX and EX-L trims will be powered by a revised version of the turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine found in the current CR-V. It has the same output (190 horsepower, 179 lb-ft of torque) but peak torque arrives 300 rpm sooner, which could result in slightly snappier acceleration. However, weight may have increased for this larger CR-V, which would make the tinkering underhood essentially moot. Honda does say that the engine and continuously variable automatic transmission are tuned to be less noisy than before, so the driving experience should be a bit more pleasant.

Honda is restructuring the CR-V lineup for 2023, so the CR-V Hybrid will no longer be its own model. Instead, the hybrid will now be positioned as the upgraded powertrain and will drive the new Sport and Sport Touring trims. Consisting of a 2.0-liter four-cylinder and two electric motors, on paper, the hybrid system actually seems a little down on power. Total system output now stands at 204 horsepower (compared to last year's 212 combined hp), but this figure is derived from the new ISO net standards for measuring horsepower. Honda says that when the ISO net standard is applied to the current CR-V Hybrid, the new powertrain is actually more potent to the tune of 3 hp. Torque output from the electric motors has increased from 232 lb-ft to 247 lb-ft. All-wheel drive is optional for all models except the Sport Touring, where it's standard, and can now divert up to 50% of power to the rear wheels.

We like the turbocharged 1.5-liter engine in the current CR-V. While it doesn't offer thrilling performance, acceleration is quick enough for this kind of vehicle. Unfortunately, today's CR-V Hybrid is quite a bit slower than the standard version, and a long-term test of a 2021 CR-V Hybrid revealed that its fuel economy was nearly the same as with a non-hybrid. We'll temper expectations for the revised hybrid system until we can get behind the wheel of the 2023 CR-V.

So far we've only driven the CR-V with the hybrid powertrain. We knew going in that there's room for improvement for the hybrid powertrain in the CR-V. We drove and lived with a 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid for a year as part of our long-term testing program and came away unimpressed. We never achieved the EPA's estimated fuel economy in real-world driving, and its occasionally slow and noisy acceleration made us think the regular CR-V and its turbocharged engine is the better buy for most shoppers.

We know this powertrain is more efficient in the city, but unfortunately, our first drive was almost entirely on the highway. And right away, we encountered some bad mannerisms. The first hill forced the engine to dig deep, keeping the revs pinned and introducing a less-than-stellar engine note into the cabin. Any time we were met with an incline, the engine felt overworked to supply power.

Things didn't get better on the descents either. It's great that Honda includes variable brake regeneration with the hybrid powertrain, but when the battery is collecting power (going downhill, for example) the whine from the electric motor is loud — really loud. We actually thought it was the engine kicking back on, but indeed it was the e-motor making its presence known. A hybrid powertrain is supposed to be seamless and quiet. More often than not, the CR-V Sport Touring was neither of those two things.

And that's unfortunate because the brief time spent on city streets was a completely different story. From stoplight to stoplight the car was quiet and composed, spending an impressive amount of time in electric mode. Around town, this is a great car to drive, and the 13 extra miles per gallon (city figure) over the gas-only model is a huge gain.

In a perfect world, Honda would use the turbo engine for all models, but such is not the case. Buyers need to make the choice between the hybrid's fuel economy and the turbo's livability.

With the powertrains staying largely the same as last year's, the Honda team mostly turned its attention to the CR-V's cabin. The current model's interior is already one of the most spacious in the segment, with ample headroom and legroom in both rows. The new CR-V looks to be even more accommodating thanks to a 1.6-inch increase in wheelbase (which typically translates to more legroom). Cargo room stays virtually the same in the gas-only models, though you'll have to slot the two-tiered cargo floor panel in its lower position to maximize space. There's no lower tier in the hybrid model, but the hybrid's maximum cargo space behind the rear seats increases by 3.1 cubic feet year over year.

The 2023 CR-V's cabin design takes obvious inspiration from the recently redesigned Civic. An almost identical layout means you'll find a honeycomb element that stretches across the dashboard, a 7-inch digital instrument panel, a spiffy new front console and a touchscreen perched atop a low-profile dash. While the interior isn't as visually arresting as that of, say, the Mazda CX-50, the CR-V is packed with high-quality materials that are a cut above those in most other compact SUVs.

An unintuitive technology interface is the current CR-V's singular weak spot. Thankfully, the 2023 model receives Honda's newest UI. It doesn't feature slick graphics, but it is thoughtfully laid out and easy to use — a vast improvement over the CR-V's current system. EX and Sport models feature a 7-inch central touchscreen and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. Step up to the EX-L or Sport Touring, and you'll get a 9-inch screen with wireless smartphone compatibility, plus a wireless charging pad. Rounding out the tech improvements is a 12-speaker Bose audio system, which comes standard on the Sport Touring, perfect for blasting Doja Cat on Costco runs.

The Honda Sensing suite of advanced safety systems is once again standard on the CR-V. As a refresher, the suite consists of forward collision mitigation, lane keeping assist and adaptive cruise control. Those features are joined by new enhancements such as lane centering assist at speeds up to 45 mph, speed limit sign recognition, a driver drowsiness monitor and a rear seat reminder. A blind-spot monitor is also newly standard for 2023.

Honda says the new CR-V hybrid will achieve an EPA estimate of 37 mpg in combined city/highway driving with all-wheel drive (AWD). This is slightly less fuel efficient than its predecessor — 38 mpg combined — which came with AWD as standard. You can get the 2023 CR-V with the hybrid powertrain and front-wheel drive, however, and that results in an estimated 40 mpg combined.

These numbers are certainly decent, but one might have hoped for a little more from an all-new Honda hybrid. For comparison, an AWD Toyota RAV4 Hybrid posts an EPA-estimated 40 mpg combined, and we've found it gets that in real-world driving, too. We look forward to recording our own real-world numbers for the CR-V soon.

The 2023 Honda CR-V comes in four trim levels, EX, Sport, EX-L and Sport Touring. The CR-V Hybrid is no longer a separate model; Sport and Sport Touring models receive the hybrid powertrain. The first three trim levels have front-wheel drive as standard and offer optional all-wheel drive. The Sport Touring has AWD as standard.

EX
The entry-level EX model comes exclusively with the 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It comes nicely equipped with additional features such as:

• 18-inch wheels
• Push-button start
• LED headlights and taillights
• Ambient lighting
• Heated front seats
• Power-adjustable driver's seat
• 7-inch touchscreen
• Two front USB-C ports
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
• Six-speaker sound system
• Dual-zone climate control

The CR-V also comes with these driver assist features:

• Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning (alerts you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse)
• Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
• Lane keeping assistance (steers the CR-V back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)
• Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the vehicle and the car in front)

Sport
The Sport trim is the most affordable way to get into a hybrid-powered CR-V. It's equipped similarly to the EX, but with:

• Sport appearance package with darkened exterior elements
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob
• Two rear USB-C ports

EX-L
This trim is the best-equipped CR-V with the turbocharged engine. On top of the EX's features, it has:

• Front and rear parking sensors
• Power liftgate
• Leather seating surfaces
• Power-adjustable front passenger seat
• Driver's seat memory settings
• 9-inch touchscreen
• Wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Wireless charging pad
• Eight-speaker sound system

Sport Touring
The fully loaded Sport Touring trim has all-wheel drive and the hybrid powertrain as standard. Honda also includes:

• 19-inch gloss black wheels
• Rain-sensing windshield wipers
• Hands-free liftgate
• Integrated navigation system
• Heated steering wheel
• Bose premium audio system