Bigger and better. Honda’s venerable CR-V has been relaunched for the 2023 model year, and even at a glance, you can see it’s grown up. Quite literally – the new model is longer and wider than before, while more efficient packaging has transformed the interior into a truly spacious beast of burden.
Rear legroom of over 40 inches is class-leading, while the front seats are so large that you’re enveloped by them rather than sitting on them. The good news keeps coming when you lift the tailgate, to find a tiered trunk offering almost 40 cubic feet of storage. By the time you’ve dropped the split-folding rear seat, that figure has increased to over 76 cu ft – an excellent amount of space in a mid-sized SUV. A particularly impressive feature is the completely flat floor between the seats, with no transmission tunnel for the fifth passenger to endure. The CR-V is a true five-seater in a way many rivals aren’t.
Easy to miss in the car park. The CR-V may have grown up, but in doing so, some of the older model’s design ethos has been lost. This is now just a slab of SUV, and many people would find it indistinguishable from either other Hondas (notably the Passport) or even Volkswagen’s Tiguan. It even cribs design details like its slimline A-pillars from the new Civic, while the giant hexagonal radiator grille is borderline ugly – the old louvered design was far more tasteful. The rear has a passing resemblance to a Volvo and some interesting lights, and this is the new car’s best angle.
There’s more Civic plagiarism inside, where the dashboard sports physical controls in preference to fiddly touchscreen operation. We’re not sold on the mesh band running ahead of the air vents, which will probably get clogged with dust over time, but at least the plastics are of a suitably high quality. The infotainment screen now stands on top of the dash rather than being integrated into it, making it easier to see while suggesting it was an afterthought instead of a central design element. There are welcome touches in here, though – the red engine button, and the sheer amount of storage bins and cubbies for accommodating inevitable family clutter.
Model behavior. As part of the CR-V’s overhaul, the Sport is now the hybrid range’s entry point. That’s fine by us. Costing $33,695, it packs a dual-zone climate and a power moonroof, heated front seats, and smartphone mirroring through a seven-inch touchscreen. It’s so well equipped that we’d struggle to justify an extra $6,000 for Sport Touring, even though it does include everything from a Bose stereo to a power tailgate and heated steering wheel. It’s also got standard AWD, which is a $1,500 option on Sport.
Safety is exceptional across the range, and we like the fact every CR-V buyer receives automatic emergency braking with a wide field of view. Other better-than-the-competition features include adaptive cruise control which can bring the CR-V to a standstill in heavy traffic, active lane control, and standard blind-spot monitoring. Nobody wants to crash, but this is the SUV you’d choose to be in if an impact is unavoidable.
Power station. The CR-V Hybrid is powered by a fairly underwhelming two-liter gas engine, boosted by two separate electric motors. Collectively, they deliver 204 hp and almost 250 lb-ft of torque, which means they can now tow 1,000 lb trailers. More significantly, the hybrid is a better performer than its gas-only sibling, while returning 40 MPG combined even in AWD guise. Switching the car to Sport mode adds simulated engine noise, for anyone wanting to pretend this hybrid SUV is actually a performance sedan.
Final thoughts. It might not be a purchase that’ll quicken the heart, but the CR-V Hybrid certainly appeals to the head. It’s more economical than its gas-powered brethren, while it’s also more refined and punchier to drive thanks to the instant shove generated by twin electric motors. It even looks better, courtesy of rectangular exhausts and the option of black wheels. Safety is beyond reproach, and the base Sport is well-equipped enough, despite failing to live up to its name.
Whether all this is enough to elevate the CR-V Hybrid above a slew of European and Far Eastern competitors is a matter of personal opinion. External styling is slabby and bland, and the driving experience can best be described as functional. On the plus side, the spacious cabin offers generous storage and legroom throughout, and the clever trunk is another neat touch. There’s nothing that significantly elevates the CR-V above hybrid rivals like Toyota’s RAV4 or Hyundai’s Tucson, but as an ownership proposition, it’s hard to fault.
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