2023 Honda CR-V
If you’re shopping for your next vehicle, have you considered an SUV? If you’re looking for the perfect compact SUV to travel with the kids or commute with a few friends and colleagues in the morning, all while keeping everyone safe and saving you money on fuel, the 2023 Honda CR-V may be the one for you. The Honda CR-V is unique in a few ways, including its ability to convey luxury while firmly rooted in good value. The 2023 model is exceptionally crafted, bringing a host of exciting upgrades over its predecessor, kicking off the sixth generation of the titular SUV.
The CR-V is anything but an unfamiliar name to anyone who has browsed Honda’s lineup since the mid-1990s. With a long tenure in the market, the 2023 model is the result of nearly thirty years of research and development, but how does this translate to the real-world experience you can expect from your SUV? When driving the 2023 CR-V, you can expect reliability, versatility, efficiency, and much more.
The 2023 CR-V is available in four trim levels, and it’s here where you’ll find the first deviation between last year’s model. The base trim, known as the EX, starts at an MSRP of $31,610, but the keen eye will notice the EX used to be a higher-tier trim.[a] The 2022 CR-V was the last CR-V model to offer the base LX trim and the Special Edition. Also new to the CR-V is the Sport trim, which sits between the base EX and the EX-L, another long standing CR-V trim. Preceding CR-V models had the Touring as the top-tier trim, but now the Sport Touring takes the top slot in 2023.
Starting MSRP: $31,610 [a]
Fuel Economy (city/hwy MPG): 43/36 [a]
Horsepower (hp): 190-240
Cargo Space (cu.ft.): 76.5
Performance
Engine and Fuel Economy
The 2023 CR-V offers one gasoline-powered engine, but there’s also a hybrid variant for those who want a greener-focused powertrain with exceptional fuel efficiency. Every gas-only CR-V comes equipped with a turbocharged 1.5L I-4 engine paired with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT.) The launch of the turbocharged 1.5L I-4 engine coincided with the launch of the 2017 model, which was the last model to start a new generation for this beloved SUV. The turbocharged engine became the standard engine with the launch of the 2020 CR-V. From a logical standpoint, replacing the 2.4L I-4 engine with the turbocharged 1.5L I-4 was the right choice for Honda, given the latter was more powerful and efficient with its 190 hp and 179 lb-ft of torque.
With the 2023 CR-V, towing is possible thanks to this turbocharged engine, but it’s best to keep it on the lighter side as its maximum towing capacity of 1,500 lbs only allows for a bit of versatility. The most notable benefit of a turbocharged engine is retaining impressive performance while being fuel-efficient. The 2023 Honda CR-V gets an EPA-estimated 28 MPG in the city and 34 MPG on the highway with front-wheel drive, while all-wheel drive models have an EPA-estimated 27 MPG in the city and 32 MPG on the highway.[b]
Yes, There Is a Hybrid Option
What about the hybrid model? The new Honda CR-V Hybrid features a 2.0L I-4 engine similar to old CR-V models but comes paired with the assortment of hybrid components you’d expect to find, like a battery and electric motor. Like the gasoline-powered CR-V, the CR-V Hybrid links its powertrain to a CVT, and as you’d expect, the EPA-estimated ratings of the hybrid are superior to the non-hybrid version. With the 2.0L I-4 hybrid combo, the CR-V Hybrid outputs a respectable 204 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque. With that comes an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 43 MPG in the city and 36 MPG on the highway with front-wheel drive, and an EPA-estimated 40 MPG in the city and 34 MPG on the highway with all-wheel drive.[b]
Features
Features to Enhance Your Comfort
The 2023 Honda CR-V has an assortment of features, some premium, others more on the essential side. For example, every Honda CR-V comes equipped with a cozy ten-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, with added two-way power lumbar support to alleviate your lower back of stress and strain during long drives. Only the top two trims swap out the cloth for genuine leather, but all four trim levels have heated seats.
The top two trims allow for two-position memory on the driver’s seat, meaning you can save a preset when you’ve found the perfect seated position. Two-position memory is an excellent quality-of-life feature to have. If you share your vehicle with a spouse or other family member, you can switch back to your personalized seat position with the click of a button if they have adjusted it to what they prefer. And, if you opt for the trim levels that sport the leather seating, your CR-V will also come with a four-way power-adjustable front passenger’s seat.
Features for Infotainment
Something great about the 2023 CR-V is that it doesn’t matter which trim you choose because your experience will be an excellent one. The base-level of this Honda SUV includes a feature-packed infotainment center with a built-in seven-inch touchscreen for navigation and features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. With the base model and its standard infotainment center comes a 240W speaker system with half a dozen speakers––a surprising amount of power going into the speakers, considering the price, and the sound quality reflects this. However, you can upgrade to an eight-speaker system if you opt for the second-to-highest trim level, the EX-L. The EX-L upgrades the infotainment center to a larger nine-inch screen, which also appears on the priciest trim, alongside wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. These trims also include one more speaker upgrade to a Bose sound system with a dozen built-in speakers and deep and impactful bass channels, thanks to an accompanying subwoofer.
Features for Safety
Honda has also equipped every 2023 CR-V trim level with the Honda Sensing suite of driver-assistance features. With Honda Sensing, the CR-V gets features like a Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keeping Assist, Road Departure Mitigation System, a Blind Spot Information System with Cross Traffic Monitor, and Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow. In addition to the standard safety features, your 2023 CR-V also comes equipped with a Forward Collision Warning to work with the Collision Mitigation Braking System.
Interior
Plenty of Room to Accommodate Passengers or Cargo
The 2023 Honda CR-V provides plenty of cargo space, and sitting inside its cabin is a comfortable experience for yourself and your passengers. The CR-V has ample space for special occasions that call for larger pieces of cargo, with the backseats folded down for a total of 76.5 cu.ft. of space, accommodating storage both wide and long. Even more impressive is the remaining cargo space when the back seats are upright, so if there are five people aboard, you’ll still have a respectable 39.3 cu.ft. of space, which is still over half of what you’d get with the seats down. You won’t be worrying about cargo space with this compact SUV––it’s exceptionally spacious for its size, making it quite versatile.
Some compact SUVs become cramped, especially if the car strongly emphasizes cargo space. Honda has ensured the CR-V provides both equally. The 184.8-inch long vehicle that measures 73.5 inches in width accommodates passengers of all types of builds, big or small. Headroom is identical between the front and back rows across all trim levels, meaning everyone has 38.2 inches. Legroom is also virtually the same, albeit the front row has slightly more, with 41.3 inches against 41 inches in the back. Another similar dimension is shoulder room, in which you and your front-row passenger will have 57.9 inches of shoulder room, while passengers in the back have a slightly smaller 55.9 inches. Finally, the available hip room is 55.6 inches for front-row occupants and 52.6 inches for those in the back. As you can see, there is quite a bit of space, so you and all of your passengers, whether they are adults or kids, will feel comfortable.
Visit Our Dealership To Check Out The 2023 Honda CR-V
If you’re in the greater area of Midland, TX, and need a new Honda, come visit Classic Honda of Midland. You’ll find the latest Honda vehicles, like the 2023 CR-V, on our lot, or for the more value-friendly driver, we have a large selection of pre-owned vehicles for sale that includes Honda models and those from other brands. We are well-versed in the cars we sell, and we give you the tools to make an informed decision on which vehicle you feel comfortable with, both from a monetary standpoint and also based on your wants and needs.
Once you own your 2023 Honda CR-V or any of the other vehicles we have available for sale on our lot, bring it back to our Honda service center for maintenance. We will handle all the oil changes and tire rotations your SUV needs, and if you find yourself in need of a major repair, our team can handle that too. With the help of our knowledgeable team of staff members, you’ll have all the help you need when it's time to upgrade to a new ride or get your current one serviced.