If you want an concept of how essential the Honda CR-V is, remember that it’s Honda’s bestselling car within the United States, promoting 361,271 models in 2021, sufficient to make it America’s fifth bestselling car.
Only the Toyota RAV4 and Detroit’s full-size pickup trio outsell it. But the car’s recognition is world, manufactured in 10 services worldwide, with Honda’s Ontario, Ohio taking the lead. Along with the automaker’s Indiana facility, Honda has the capability to construct greater than 400,000 models yearly for the American market.
Nevertheless, the corporate officers say stock is at historic lows, with half of all CR-Vs offered earlier than they hit the lot.
Overview
The sixth technology of the Honda CR-V will get a easy lineup for 2023, with a selection of a traditional gas-powered driveline in EX and fancier EX-L trim, or a gas-electric hybrid in Sport and top-of-the-line Sport Touring trim. All fashions might be had in front- or all-wheel drive, apart from the Sport Touring, which comes solely with all-wheel drive. A repeatedly variable automated transmission is customary. Of the CR-Vs being constructed for the brand new mannequin 12 months, Honda expects half shall be hybrids.
Exterior
It’s clear that designers appeared again to the primary Honda CR-V when creating the sixth-generation mannequin. The 2023 CR-V’s new design is boxier than earlier than, however in some ways returns to the straightforward, clear traditional design that’s the hallmark of traditional Honda design. It additionally endows the CR-V’s general demeanor with a demeanor that makes it extra interesting to these with Y-Chromosomes. It replaces the mushy types and overwrought proboscis that characterised the fifth-generation mannequin.
But as you may count on, it’s additionally bigger than its predecessor, being 2.7 inches longer general with a wheelbase that’s 1.6 inches longer and 0.4 inch wider.
Interior
The 2023 CR-V’s boxy construct additionally yields noticeably extra inside house, though designers have been cautious to unencumber as a lot house as potential. The new mannequin feels far much less claustrophobic for entrance seat passengers, exchanging the cockpit really feel for that of a extra horizontal design orientation.
Noticeably, the middle console not dominates the entrance row. The instrument panel is analogous in look to these used for the smaller HR-V and Civic. It incorporates a distinctive honeycomb texture that makes one marvel how a lot mud and particles will accumulate behind it over time.
The entrance seats show supportive and comfy, with a commendable quantity of headroom. But it’s the rear seat legroom that’s significantly spectacular. And Honda added a brand new decrease anchor for little one seats, making them simpler to find and use.
Notably, Honda went to nice lengths to make the cabin quieter, as most Honda automobiles are likely to have noisy cabins at velocity. But using Active Noise Control, sound absorption supplies and thicker aspect glass have the specified impact, quieting the din that often permeates Honda cabins.
And it swallows extra stuff, with 36.3 cubic toes of cargo room, up 3 cubic toes, rising to 76.5 cubic toes with the rear seats folded.
Powertrain
For 2023, EX and EX-L CR-Vs include a 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine rated at 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet or torque. It returns an EPA-rated 30 mpg in mixed metropolis/freeway driving with front-wheel drive, 29 mpg with all-wheel drive.
Sport and Sport Touring Hybrids get a 2.0-liter Atkinson cycle 4-cylinder engine paired with a traction motor in addition to a generator motor that recharges the battery pack. This driveline is rated at 204 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque. Hybrid fashions are EPA-rated at 40 mpg with front-wheel drive, 37 mpg with all-wheel drive. A repeatedly variable automated transmission is customary. Front- or all-wheel drive is obtainable in all fashions besides the Sport Touring, which will get customary all-wheel drive.
The all-wheel-drive system can break up its energy distribution 50% entrance and 50% rear. The firm says that 70% of gross sales are all-wheel drive rising to 100% all-wheel drive gross sales in snowy states.
Towing is rated at 1,500 kilos with gasoline engine, 1,000 kilos with the Hybrid driveline.
Safety and Technology
Neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has crash-tested the 2023 Honda CR-V.
New driver help security methods embody Traffic Jam Assist and Traffic Sign Recognition, together with Collision Mitigation Braking, Forward Collision Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist, Road Departure Mitigation, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Information, and a Driver Attention Monitor.
When it involves expertise, 7-inch digital instrument cluster and a normal 7-inch multimedia touchscreen, though a 9-inch touchscreen is out there. Apple Car Play and Android Auto are customary — wired for the 7-inch touchscreen, wi-fi for the 9-inch. Wireless charging can be obtainable.
Honda’s infotainment system appears simpler to make use of that earlier than, significantly with the presence of a quantity knob. But the software program nonetheless lacks any method to direct tune a radio station, forcing you to jab the up or down tuning button a number of instances to get to your radio station. The system nonetheless lacks the straightforward performance that characterizes the very best multimedia methods. Certainly, it trails Toyota’s latest system.
Driving impressions
Of the 2 totally different CR-V drivelines supplied by Honda, go for the hybrid. It simply returns its gas financial system numbers and proves to be the higher drivetrain. That mentioned, it’s a conventional hybrid, not a plug-in hybrid, so it doesn’t run solely on electrical energy for miles at a time. Honda didn’t engineer a plug-in as a result of added weight the driveline brings and the added value it incurs.
Certainly, the hybrid driveline furnishes enough energy and the requisite gas effectivity, with 36 mpg simply being achieved at freeway velocity. The hybrid setup is responsive, however doesn’t have the easy instantaneous feeling of torque typical of electrified drivelines.
While setting the driveline into Sport driving mode does make the CR-V’s response livelier, the gasoline engine turns into unpleasantly vocal when requested to speed up going uphill. There’s nothing right here that one other 50 horsepower couldn’t assist. Still, most drivers will discover it enough. The transmission has the texture of a conventional automated, though it’s a repeatedly variable unit.
The CR-V is a fairly athletic animal, with modest physique lean in corners and well-controlled physique motions. The steering ratio is ideal, fast sufficient with out being overly sharp, and properly weighted. But there isn’t a street really feel to talk of. Overall, it’s a satisfying drive expertise.
2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid Specifications
Dimension | L: 184.8 inches/W: 73.5 inches/H: 66.5 inches/Wheelbase: 106.3 inches |
Weight | 3,926 kilos |
Powertrain | 2.0-liter Atkinson Cycle 4-cylinder engine, twin electrical motors, CVT transmission and all-wheel drive |
Fuel Economy | 40 mpg metropolis/34 mpg freeway/37 mpg mixed |
Performance Specs | 204 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque |
Price | Base worth: $33,695; As examined: $39,845, together with $1,245 vacation spot cost. |
On-Sale Date | Available now |
Wrap Up
The 2023 Honda CR-V is a welcome replace, including room, a extra fuel-efficient driveline, and offering a traditional Honda sensibility to its design that proves for extra tempting than earlier than. While not as a lot enjoyable to drive as Honda’s sportiest merchandise, it proves adept sufficient to be judiciously entertaining whereas remaining sensible.
The 2023 Honda CR-V is a part of a product cadence that began with the HR-V earlier this 12 months, and continues with a brand new Pilot later this 12 months. Honda can be planning new hybrid variants of the Accord and Civic.
2023 Honda CR-V — Frequently Asked Questions
Will the Honda CR-V be redesigned in 2023?
Yes. Redesigned all through, the 2023 Honda CR-V is the sixth technology of Honda’s compact crossover SUV.
When can you purchase a 2023 Honda CR-V?
The 2023 Honda CR-V goes on sale in October 2022.
How a lot will the 2023 Honda CR-V value?
Prices begin at $32,355 for the front-wheel-drive EX with a gasoline engine, topping out at $36,505 for an EX-L in all-wheel-drive trim. The Hybrid mannequin begins at $33,695 for the front-wheel-drive Sport, and tops out at $39,845 for the Sport Touring with all-wheel drive. All costs embody vacation spot cost.
Source: www.thedetroitbureau.com