2023 Honda CR-V review:
- 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid: ($31,610 – $39,100)
- Pros: The 2023 Honda CR-V has been redesigned with bold new looks inside and out, revised powertrain, and a quieter ride.
- The negatives: The hybrid powertrain could be more fuel efficient, and the CVT makes the drone engine under heavy acceleration.
Of all the segments in the automotive business, the compact segment has to be one of the toughest to compete. The good thing about Honda is that they have been competing in this category for decades and are taking on competitors with Floyd Mayweather-like precision. The CR-V, the Japanese automaker, is one of the most popular cars in America.
It has been completely redesigned and now sports a bolder aesthetic, an upscale interior and an updated hybrid system. We drove the all-new CR-V for a week and were quite impressed with all of the updates, except for one problem.
What’s new for 2023?
The 2023 CR-V comes with a host of upgrades, including a larger body, refreshed exterior design, and a more spacious interior. Honda has modified the turbocharged engine to improve efficiency and response.
What trim level of Honda CR-V should you get?
Shopping for the 2023 Honda CR-V is as easy as choosing from four different trim levels:
- : 31,610 dollars
- CR-V Sport Hybrid: $32,950
- CR-V EX-L: $34,260
- CR-V Sport Touring: $39,100
If you want the best results for your money, we recommend the 2023 CR-V Sport Hybrid, because it’s affordable and comes with sleek black exterior accents. Our test car for the week was the CR-V Hybrid Sport Touring with a total price of $39,845.
How’s the 2023 Honda CR-V going?
Driving the 2023 Honda CR-V is a surprisingly quiet experience. When first setting off in the car, we couldn’t get over how quiet the cabin was at every speed. In addition, the car’s steering was smooth, it felt confident on the highway and compliant on the potholed street we drove it on. It even handled well in the snow.
In terms of power, our Hybrid Sport Touring test car felt lively when accelerating off the line thanks to its twin-motor system. However, when accelerating on the highway and passing cars, the four-cylinder engine would go haywire due to the nature of the CVT when it was in Sport mode. However, in the other modes, the dummy shifts made the car look like a regular car.
Visibility from all four corners of the car is exceptional. However, we wish the Sport Touring trim level had a 360-degree camera to make parking easier. It comes with a backup camera and sensors, which is good enough, but for $39,000 it would be nice to get more.
As for fuel economy, the EPA estimates that the 2023 CR-V Sport Touring can achieve up to 40 mpg city and 34 mpg highway. In our testing week, we were able to squeeze an average of 33 mpg in mixed driving situations. Overall, the CR-V feels more comfortable than before, and we wouldn’t hesitate to take it on a cross-country ride.
Does the 2023 CR-V have a nice interior?
yes. Honda has developed the CR-V’s interior for the new generation, and it’s very Acura-like. In fact, there are some items from the 2022 Civic as well. For example, there are retro-style grille inserts on the dash vents, a 9-inch color touchscreen located front and center, and a traditional style shifter in place of buttons.
Everything on the dashboard is within easy reach, and every button is clearly laid out so as not to cause confusion. We even liked that the wireless phone charger was placed neatly before the shifter.
