The CR-V has always been vastly important for Honda. It is one of the most popular models in its lineup, as well as one of the biggest moneymakers. That’s why Honda engineers are approaching this redesign with special attention. The all-new model is in the works and if we can trust the latest reports, it will hit the market sometime in the next year, as the 2023 Honda CR-V. This will be the company’s answer to the recently redesigned Nissan Rogue, as well as to the most popular model in the class – the RAV4.
The test mule has been spotted in Germany but the company keeps most details a secret. At this point, we can only speculate but some of the things are quite easy to predict, starting from the overall design, which will have a lot in common with the all-new 11th-generation Civic. Pretty much all about the new generation should be evolutionary.
2023 Honda CR-V Redesign
As we already mentioned, the new 2023 Honda CR-V should share many parts with the new Civic. Just like the current generation, it will ride on the same platform as the popular compact car, which means that many mechanical parts will be shared. Considering that the outgoing CR-V is still one of the best models in class in most aspects, there’s no doubt that we won’t be seeing any radical changes.
Instead, the 2023 Honda CR-V will bring evolutionary changes, which means that you may count on a similar but slightly upgraded suspension and chassis setup, which will provide a similar but slightly improved ride quality. Once again, we expect to see a great balance between comfort and athleticism, which has always been the CR-V trump card in the segment.
Exterior
The test mule has been around for a while, as we already mentioned. It still wears a lot of camouflage, so it’s hard to talk about details. On the other hand, we can clearly see that the new model will feature a cleaner design, with a more mature look. The front end may take a lot of inspiration from the new Civic, especially in terms of headlights.
Another thing we can see is bigger size. The hood appears to be longer, as well as the rear overhang. We count on a little bit longer wheelbase, while a three-row model has been confirmed as well. However, it’s still a mystery whether the new 2023 Honda CR-V redesign will bring the third row as an option only, or we are about to see a stretched version, slotted between the standard version and the Pilot. In any case, this version will compete directly with three-row compact crossovers, such as VW Tiguan and Mitsubishi Outlander.
Interior
Honda has always been known for making solid interiors, with nice materials and good build quality. The 2023 Honda CR-V redesign should bring further improvements and what we expect to see are improvements, mostly in terms of aesthetics. We believe the new dashboard could take a lot of inspiration from the new Civic and offer the same combination of retro styling elements and modern tech features. Of course, we also count on lots of tech goodies, starting from a prominent infotainment screen, digital instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, etc.
Just like the current generation, the new model should offer plenty of space on the inside. The first two rows will be very generous with space, while the optional third row should offer decent accommodation too. The cargo area should offer spectacular numbers, just like the current model. This would probably mean over 75 cubic feet of the total cargo volume.
2023 Honda CR-V Engines
When it comes to 2023 Honda CR-V specs, we expect no surprises. The base model will continue with the same 1.5-liter turbo-four engine, which currently puts out 190 horsepower but which could come with a slight power increase for the next year. The engine comes in pair with the CVT gearbox and offers pretty impressive acceleration and overall driving dynamics. Furthermore, we might also see slight improvements regarding fuel economy, though the current model, is already impressive in this aspect, as it returns around 28 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway.
The hybrid version will come too. We presume the Japanese manufacturer will offer slight upgrades over the current system, which combines a 2.0-liter with two electric motors, for a combined output of 212 horsepower. The outgoing model is good for about 40 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway.
2023 Honda CR-V Release Date and Price
We expect that the next generation will hit the market sometime in the second half of 2022. When it comes to the 2023 Honda CR-V price, we don’t expect to see some significant increase compared to the current generation. So, base versions should go around 27.000 dollars, while the hybrid version should cost around 31.000 dollars.