By: Joshua Lee
April 18, 2023
The sixth generation CR-V is here, and we’ve been looking forward to getting our hands on one! While the previous generation is popular, we did find it outdated and not exciting to drive compared to its competitors. With a complete redesign and on a new platform, has the CR-V improved in any way?
Honda Canada handed us the 2023 Honda CR-V Touring Hybrid for the week so we could find out for ourselves. Did you know there was a hybrid variant for the previous generation? It was sold in the U.S. in 2019, but it wasn’t made available to Canadian consumers. This means the new generation CR-V is offered both in gasoline and hybrid models for the first time in Canada. Powering the Touring Hybrid is a 2.0L four-cylinder engine with two electric motors for a combined output of 204 horsepower and 247 lb-ft of torque at 2,000RPM. The fourth-generation hybrid system from Honda now puts the two electric motors side-by-side, allowing for a larger propulsion motor, an additional direct-drive gearset, and a new low-speed lockup clutch, which allows the CR-V to tow up to 1000 pounds (453 kilograms).
The CR-V provides a smooth ride and feels more composed behind the wheel than its predecessor. There is more steering response, and the suspension isn’t as floaty as before. We feel more engaged while driving this SUV, and the power is enough to get you where you need to go. The engine and the CVT are smooth when accelerating, and switching into sport mode provides a little more fun. Honda makes driving hybrids simple; the switch between EV Drive mode, Hybrid Drive mode, and Engine Drive mode is seamless. Putting the car in D lets you set how much regenerative braking you’d like using the paddle shifters, while B mode mimics one-pedal driving.
Our Touring Hybrid comes with the optional Canyon River Blue Metallic paint finish, 19-inch black aluminium-alloy wheels wearing P235/55 R19 Continental CrossContact LX Sport all-season tires, black side mirrors, a piano/gloss black honeycomb front grille, and a chrome exhaust finisher. The new CR-V looks more mature than its predecessor, with sharper lines and a beefier stance.
The interior is also redesigned and feels familiar since it’s almost identical to the current generation Honda Civic. The cabin layout is clean with its full width honeycomb style air vents, a seven-inch driver’s information display, and a nine-inch centre touchscreen infotainment system with navigation. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and there’s also wireless charging right under the climate control buttons. The 12-speaker Bose Premium Sound system provides good bass and clear treble settings.
Sitting behind the steering wheel, we got comfortable right away with the 8-way power adjustable driver’s seat and had clear views all around. The CR-V is 2.7 inches longer, 0.4 inches wider, and has a 1.6-inch longer wheelbase than the last generation, which means rear seat passengers have a little more legroom to stretch out. Heated front and rear seats and a heated steering wheel are standard on this model. Cargo capacity is 1028L with the 60/40 folding seats up and 2030L with them down. The hybrid model does get significantly less space since the 1.06 kWh battery is under the cargo floor. Regular CR-V models get 1113L of cargo room with the seats up and 2166L with them down.
We can’t forget to mention Honda’s fleet of safety and driving assistance technology. Auto high beam, forward collision warning, lane departure warning with blind spot detection, a backup camera with rear camera washer, and parking sensors are just some of the standard features on the Touring Hybrid. We especially like Honda’s adaptive cruise control, which works effectively and always kept the car stable during our highway tests.
According to Honda Canada, the Touring Hybrid can do 6.0L/100KM city, 6.9L100KM highway for a combined 6.4L/100KM. While testing this SUV for the week, we found that the hybrid powertrain tends to be in EV mode most of the time, relying on battery power. We’ve even cruised up to 90 km/h without the engine engaging. You don’t have to be extremely light on the throttle, but the system really does a good job trying to maximize efficiency. We’ve managed to get 6.9L/100KM for our test, and we’re sure it would drop slightly lower if we had the car for longer.
There are two FWD versions to get; the LX-B starting at $36,374 and the LX at $36,924. AWD versions start at $39,174 with the LX-B, $39,724 for the LX, $43,074 for the Sport-B, $43,621 for the Sport, $45,521 for the EX-L, and $51,021 for the Touring Hybrid. Ours came to $57,995.56 after taxes and delivery. Please also note that the hybrid powertrain is only available in the top Touring trim.
The redesigned 2023 Honda CR-V is a major improvement over the last generation. Adding in the hybrid powertrain was worth the wait and has performed well in our drives. A bolder exterior style, a spacious interior, and an improved infotainment system make this compact crossover SUV stand out again from its competitors. We all know the CR-V to be a perfect all-around vehicle, and this generation proves to be the best one yet.
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