Tim with the new Honda CR-V
Tim with the new Honda CR-V
Honda’s CR-V was the sixth best-selling car in the world in 2022 – and it’s now even better.
While it retains a family-friendly feel, it’s been given a significant overhaul, ditching the rounded front for a more robust, prominent appearance.
It is 80mm longer, too – and that should make it even more practical.
The front has a more pronounced grille: a hexagonal shape making up the border and the mesh that fills it, while lower down, each side has a carved appearance, creating an athletic and powerful form.
When you check out the engine, powerful is an overstatement, as it's a 2.0-litre four-cylinder producing a so-so 184PS. But that’ll suffice for most, especially given some of that clout comes from electric motors in two hybrid variants.
The bottom two trims are a self-charging hybrid (badged e:HEV), and the top grade is a plug-in hybrid (badged e:PHEV).
All models have 18-inch alloy wheels, with the entry-level Elegance getting a nine-inch Honda Connect infotainment system with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and a digital radio. It also boasts navigation, a 10.2-inch digital instrument display, leather seats, a panoramic glass roof, a heated leather steering wheel, keyless entry/start and a powered tailgate.
A wireless phone charger, LED lights, and a rear-view camera are also included.
The Advance trim adds a head-up display, heated front seats with driver’s-side powered adjustment and memory function. The model also houses a Bose sound system, a multi-view camera and an adaptive driving beam.
The e:PHEV’s grade is Advance Tech and gets black wheels, MyHonda+ (a smartphone app enabling you to control various things remotely, including pre-heating the cabin) and Honda Parking Pilot (which automatically finds a space and parks the car for you).
One curious thing is that while the e:HEV is all-wheel drive, the e:PHEV only comes with front-wheel drive. However, the latter has a tow-driving mode, enabling it to pull up to 1,500kg (braked).
Both hybrids have the same 0-62mph time of 9.4 seconds, which isn't spectacular but adequate for an SUV. Mind you, filling all five spacious seats with adults will make it slower in practice.
There is little to choose between the two hybrids, given both get a thump of torque from a standing start thanks to the electric motors. But it’s only marginally more noticeable in the e:PHEV.
Apart from that, you'd be hard-pressed to tell the difference, as the handling is similar in both, even though the e:HEV has all-wheel drive, while the e:PHEV gets adaptive dampers.
Honda has done an excellent job with the car's setup, creating a delicate balance between ride comfort and handling.
There are softer SUVs and better-handling SUVs, but the CR-V seems to suffice in both departments, dumbing down the thuds of potholes well. It is also reasonably engaging to drive.
It isn’t exactly enthralling to take around a bend - if anything, it'll understeer and generate a bit of lean if you take corners too quickly. But it's okay if you're not being stupid on a mountainous B-road.
Inside, the CR-V’s interior is impressive. It offers plenty of colour variation, with piano black, brushed aluminium and dark greys, with a hexagonal mesh pattern along the dashboard.
The infotainment system, which peeps over the top, is well laid out and intuitive. That said, the lack of a rotary controller makes things tricky while driving.
Nevertheless, there are helpful shortcut buttons, while physical dials for the climate control have been retained so you’re not jabbing the screen on the move if it’s too hot or cold.
The digital instrument display replaces the traditional analogue dials, and it's equally lovely to look at. However, the lack of customisation regarding the information displayed is a downside.
Overall, though, the interior is very nice and has a sophisticated feel.
The additional 80mm in the car’s length means the cabin is very big, so you won’t be struggling for headroom or legroom whether you’re in the front or back. A high driving position will also impress would-be SUV owners, while boot space is a generous 596 litres in the e:HEV.
It is rare that the plug-in model gets more, but that's the case in the CR-V, with the e:PHEV getting 635 litres.
You can trade off boot space for even more legroom in the rear by sliding the bench forwards and backwards, while tall people can gain even more headroom by reclining it.
These are plus points, but the rear seats only fold down in a 60:40 configuration rather than the more customisable 40:20:40 split. That said, the boot is so big that you’d rarely need to fold the seats down anyway.
A 17.7kWh battery is what you’ll be replenishing if you choose the e:PHEV. But Honda has limited the charging speed to 6.8kW, taking two-and-a-half hours to do a full top-up with empty batteries.
That means a 7kW home wallbox will be enough to achieve the maximum rate, but it won’t top up any faster if you plug it into a lightning-quick public charger.
Honda claims an all-electric range of 50 miles but expect less than that in practice.
Combining an engine and electric motor means you’ll achieve a whopping 353mpg in the e:PHEV, emitting just 18g/km of CO2.
That will please company car users who want to maximise savings by being in a low band for Benefit in Kind tax, which is far kinder to those driving economical cars.
The e:HEV can’t get near it, returning 42mpg, emitting 151g/km of CO2, but that’s still good for a big-ish SUV with a petrol unit.
The new CR-V should be reliable, too, with Honda generally scoring well in this department.
There is no Euro NCAP safety rating yet, but Honda focuses a lot on this area, so there should be no concerns.
The CR-V comes with Honda Sensing 360, which provides 360-degree monitoring of cross traffic and blind spots, plus lane-keeping and lane-departure assists. The vehicle also vaunts traffic sign recognition, driver attention monitoring and automatic emergency braking.
Additionally, front and rear parking sensors are included on all models, plus the rear-view or multi-view camera, depending on the trim.
If the old CR-V was the sixth most popular car on the planet, the 2023 CR-V should (in theory) move it up the list.
The price might prevent that, as hybrids aren’t cheap, but rivals' lower prices are deceptive, as you won't get this level of standard equipment with most of them.
Honda ought to have made it a seven-seater to appeal to larger families. But, apart from that, the only drawback is the lack of all-wheel drive in the e:PHEV, given the e:HEV has it as standard, although it's no significant loss unless you need it.
The 2023 Honda CR-V is roomy, highly practical, lovely to sit in, comfortable and performs reasonably well on the road. Plus, it’s very economical, particularly in plug-in hybrid form.
