After 26 years on the road and five versions, the 4-door, 5-seat Honda CR-V has established itself as one of the most popular small SUVs on the market. Honda’s sixth-generation redesigned CR-V, set to debut in 2023, is a more distinctive machine overall and, in hybrid form, one that pushes a very electric-friendly message to drivers by adding an enhanced regenerative braking mode with one-pedal driving. The CR-V hybrids from Honda are packed with additional amenities and upgrades compared to the regular gas-powered versions, including more power, torque, and performance modes.
The Toyota RAV4 hybrid arrived in 2016, while RAV4 EVs were released in limited quantities as early as 1997, so Honda may be late to the electrification party. Still, the company is bullish on hybrids to raise market interest and establish customer trust in electrification. Sending home the EV message, the 2023 CR-V hybrid has a new “B” mode instead of the previous “D” mode to improve regenerative braking. The left paddle shifter has four settings for adjusting the amount of regenerative braking. An upward arrow on the dashboard shows how much regenerative braking is used. Consider it a live example of regenerative braking in action.
The Toyota RAV4 is the most direct rival to the CR-V Hybrid. It’s a competitive market. However, the Kia Sportage, Hyundai Tucson, and Mitsubishi Outlander all offer many hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and conventional engine choices. The Nissan Rogue, Mazda CX-5, and Volkswagen Tiguan are just a few options if you’re set on a standard gas-powered CR-V. The RAV4 is unique because it has a plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) variant; the CR-V currently lacks a PHEV option, but we anticipate that Honda will add one shortly.
Honda decided it was best to keep things essential for the first (in part) electric CR-V by offering just four trim levels. The hybrid models are the Sport and Sport Touring trims, whereas the “Turbo” versions of the gasoline models are the EX and EX-L trims. The new CR-V departs from previous hybrids because the electrified version offers more acceleration. The 2.0-litre gas engine and the two electric motors in the hybrid system produce 204 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque. The gas-powered models are propelled by a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque.
Hybrid vehicles cost between $33,695 and $39,845; gasoline models cost between $32,355 and $35,005 for the EX and EX-L trim levels. All-wheel drive is a $1,500 option, except for the top-tier Sport Touring hybrid. A $1,245 destination charge is included in the total price.
Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Honda Sensing advanced driver aid systems with new features, including traffic jam help, traffic sign recognition, and low-speed braking, are standard equipment across all trim levels. All-wheel drive (AWD) is available for an additional $1,500 on all trim levels except Sport Touring. In addition to standard features like leather upholstery, a power liftgate, and power front seats, the Turbo EX-L and Sport Touring add wireless phone charging, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Sport Touring model also has a Wi-Fi hotspot, sat-nav, and USB outlets for the back row of seats.
Performance Honda CR-V
Driving with just one foot on the pedals is making headlines. To maximize the CR-V’s efficiency, drivers may choose “B” from the gear selector and then activate one of four regenerative braking settings by pulling the lever to the wheel’s right. The default setting is 1; increasing it to 2 mimics the resistance of a downshift; increasing it again to 3 and 4 gradually increases regen, and raising it again to 4 may bring the vehicle to a complete stop without hitting the brake pedal. It’s easy to get the hang of, and although it can’t compare to the excitement of driving a high-performance car, learning how to maximize fuel economy can be a lot of fun in its way.
With more effort on the pedal, the CR-V can still get up to speed quickly and confidently in B mode, and it has enough power to merge with traffic. In Sport mode, the CR-V unleashes all its torque before the vehicle, providing a faster-than-anticipated ride. But even the Turbo variant is enjoyable to drive, with enough power for comfort on highways and city driving. The non-hybrid versions may seem inadequate when you’ve experienced the thrill of regaining energy by pausing.
The 2023 CR-V can weigh 1,500 pounds, while the CR-V hybrid can weigh 1,000; this may not be a high priority for most customers in this market, but it is helpful to know. The standard RAV4 has a towing capacity of 1500 pounds, while the RAV4 Hybrid can haul 1,750.
Fuel Economy
The EPA has given the front-wheel-drive hybrid CR-V an official rating of 43 mpg in the city, 36 mpg on the highway, and 40 mpg in the combined cycle. That’s an improvement of 3 to the town, two on the road, and 2 in the combined compared to the CR-V hybrid from 2022. The hybrid’s fuel efficiency drops somewhat from 40 city/34 highway/37 combined if all-wheel drive is used. RAV4 hybrids with all-wheel drive provide slightly better fuel economy (41 mpg city, 38 mpg highway, 40 mpg combined).
Front-wheel drive Turbo models return 28 mpg city, 34 mpg on the highway, and 30 mpg combined; with all-wheel drive, those numbers drop to 27, 32, and 29, respectively. Similar numbers may be expected from the all-wheel-drive RAV4.
Protection and Help for Driver: Honda CR-V
Honda’s standard package of safety and assistance technologies, Honda Sensing, is growing with each new model. Honda’s 2023 models will come equipped with improved collision avoidance, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, and blind spot monitoring thanks to additional cameras and sensors. Using adaptive cruise on the road alleviates significant tension caused by heavy traffic and works well. However, it also takes away the option of using regenerative braking and one-pedal driving, which may significantly reduce fuel use when stuck in traffic.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not yet evaluated the 2023 CR-V, although it gave the 2022 model a perfect score of five stars. Similarly, the 2023 CR-V has not yet been crash-tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Still, the 2022 model was named a Top Safety Pick, the IIHS’s second-highest award. We anticipate that the CR-V’s rating will improve after both organizations provide statistics.
Room and Comfort
Due to the CR-V’s popularity among families, Honda made installing child safety seats easier, making the rear lift gate more accessible to open and close and increasing the room for passengers and baggage. The 0.6-inch increase in rear legroom and moderate recline of the rear seats is a consequence of the CR-V’s larger and broader dimensions. Specifically, the CR-V has 41.3 inches of front legroom and 41 inches of legroom in the second row. Neither of those numbers is quite enough to buy a Hyundai Tucson. The RAV4 and Rogue come close with dimensions of 41 and 37.8 inches and 41.5 and 38.5.
Honda made the back doors simpler to open, making lower anchors more visible for kid safety seats. The inside is roomy and inviting, and the ride itself is surprisingly quiet, making it ideal for carrying on a conversation or enjoying some tunes.
Infotainment Honda CR-V
Honda’s new 7-inch (or 9-inch in the Sport Touring) system is well-thought-out and intuitive. The system is the same as found in the Civic and the HR-V and has two physical buttons on the top left of the screen for quick access to the “Home” and “Back” menus. Those vehicles equipped with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto may connect to their devices the moment they turn on the car through a climate control panel below the media screen.
Finally, the system’s optical clock is a nice touch; you can access it by tapping the time in the top right corner of the screen. The clock offers a variety of visually appealing display options, such as sea turtles and ladybugs on a sunflower, for the driver or passenger to choose from.
Cargo Space
In 2023, the CR-V will provide more cargo room, with 36.3 cubic feet of space behind the second row for the hybrid model and 39.3 cubic feet with the floor folded down for the gas models. There are 76.5 cubic feet of space with the second row folded down. The RAV4 has those numbers: 37.5 and 69.7.
The Tucson and the Sportage have larger cargo capacities (38.7 and 74.8 cubic feet, respectively) behind the back seats and the rear seats folded down respectively. The Nissan Rogue comes in at a distant second with 74.1 cubic feet of space when both seats are folded flat. While the CR-V Turbo’s optional cargo floor adjustment provides a little extra room, both versions are among the best in their class.
Design Honda CR-V
The CR-V’s redesigned, boxier snout, new mesh grille, and slimmer headlights give the front end a more angular and contemporary appearance. The chrome strip that crossed the back of the CR-V’s gate has been removed for a cleaner look. The taillights have been modernized with a stylish scroll pattern.
The new design language adopted by Honda in the Civic and HR-V has inspired several interior modifications. In the upper trim models, there is also a wireless phone charge pad, USB-A and USB-C ports, and a honeycomb mesh grille that stretches across the dashboard to cover the air vents; this new DNA also includes a vertical multimedia touch screen and a large cubby under the dashboard large enough to hold two oversized phones side by side. There are also knobs and buttons for adjusting the radio volume and climate control. Leather seats in the Sport Touring trim are accented with red stitching.
The conventional leather-wrapped gear selector, driving mode selection, parking brake, downhill descent control, and brake hold button are housed in the low and clean center console. In addition to the cupholders in the rear seat center armrest and bottle pockets in the door panels, two cupholders are tucked between the console and the armrest.
Honda CR-V: Is it worth it?
The Sport hybrid versions of this compact SUV are the most enjoyable to drive. It’s reasonably priced for how much space you get and how many significant (and even some expensive) features you get. In addition, you may master the “game” of electric driving by coasting and regenerating energy when braking.
The Sport Hybrid All-Wheel Drive ($35,195) is the range’s sweet spot. A hybrid engine, enhanced 240-watt sound system, USB-C charging for rear seats, black roof rails, and chrome exhaust finishers are included for just $1,340 more than the EX AWD’s starting price of $33,855. In exchange for saving $4,600 above the Sport Touring hybrid AWD, you give up a bigger 9-inch touchscreen screen, hands-free tailgate, heated steering wheel, and other luxuries.
How Much Does Honda CR-V Insurance Cost?
The Honda CR-V has reasonable insurance rates. Our research shows that a 30-year-old woman with a spotless driving record may expect to pay an average annual premium of $1,755 across all 50 states. The Nissan Rogue is $1,951, the Toyota RAV4 is $1,930, and the Kia Sportage costs $1,900.
conclusion
The 2023 Honda CR-V aims to introduce consumers to the benefits of electric driving. It is more extensive and powerful than the previous year’s model. Improved regenerative braking and single-pedal driving are standards on Honda Hybrids, which the company expects will account for half of the sales. Honda has equipped its hybrids with more powerful engines and upscale amenities, such as a performance mode absent from the gas-only version to entice buyers. However, it gets about the same mileage as the previous gas and hybrid versions. The 2023 Honda CR-V exceeded expectations with its revised exterior and increased cabin capacity and performance, further improving the recipe that made it Honda’s best-selling passenger car of all time.
