2023 Honda CRV Utility vehicles are hugely popular these days, beating auto sales by almost 2: 1.
So it makes sense in our second blog in a series on how automakers can meet the 2025 standard to focus on one of the best-selling utility vehicles on the market, the Honda CR-V.
While sales this year have fallen slightly below rival Toyota, the next-generation Honda CR-V could put one of the longest-running utility vehicle nameplates back on top, both in fuel economy AND sales.
A well-known website reveals that entering its seventh model year since it went on sale, the 2023 Honda CR-V is expected to arrive without any changes.
Despite being a carryover model, the 2023 CR-V will still continue to be the leader in its segment, offering a strong mix of advantages that few competitors can match.
2023 Honda CRV Redesign: This looks impressive you know!
Honda is launching a completely redesigned 2017 CR-V with a sharper and more modern design, but this compact SUV is getting a bit of a refresher in 2023.
Unmistakably, Honda, the CR-V 2022 will share many of the same design elements as today’s SUVs. this. The SUV will use a two-tier grille, chrome elements that connect the headlights to the grille, and a wide air intake at the bottom of the fascia.
The protruding body line that starts at the front fascia and connects with the rear end helps break up the CR-V’s fine lines. At the rear, the CR-V will have high L-shaped taillights, chrome elements just below the rear windshield, and two exhaust holes.
On the inside, it will largely remain the same for the 2023 CR-V. The SUV will continue to feature a classy and user-friendly design. The unique placement of the gear shift in the center console gives the cabin a V-shaped design.
Honda will continue to have well-labeled buttons and dials for controlling the HVAC and infotainment system, while the spacious interior will also carry over to the 2023 model year.
The advent of utility vehicles means that strong standards are essential
Crossover vehicles like the CR-V follow the line between cars and light trucks, at least as far as regulations are concerned – the two-wheel-drive version is treated as a car, and the four-wheel-drive version is classified as a light truck.
As sales drop from true passenger cars that support crossovers, they hold to lower standards, which means increasingly stringent requirements are the only thing standing in the way of backing down on fuel economy like the country has been doing these days.
The 1990s. Returning those standards as proposed by the current administration would be dire as the market continues to favor higher profit margins
Luckily for Honda, the CR-V actually shared the platform with its most popular car, the Honda Civic, which had just passed its sales pitch.
That means to meet tougher standards, the crossover can take advantage of many of the same technologies that drive improvements elsewhere in the fleet, including the highly efficient 1.5L turbocharged engine that is shared between the Civic and the CR-V.
This makes the new CR-V the most efficient conventional vehicle in its class – but by 2025 it needs to do more.
On the right path
The 2019 CR-V is one of the safest cars on the road according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety – in part, thanks to the significant use of high-strength and very high-strength steel (UHSS) in its body.
However, since its debut, the CR-V has gained over 200 pounds – while the latest model has reversed that trend, down about 50 pounds from the previous generation, there is still plenty of room for improvement.
Increased use of UHSS and aluminum fusion can continue to provide Honda passengers with the same safety while lowering the curb weight of the CR-V to the lowest level ever.
The same strategy can be applied across the board – Honda has made great strides to reduce aerodynamic drag and increase the efficiency of the electrical system in its latest CR-V,
But there are also lessons to be learned from across the industry on which progress can continue, further reducing the number. fuel used to advance the vehicle.
I already have one of them!
The biggest change Honda could make on its next CR-V is the basic 2.4L engine – first released in 2013, the current “Earth Dreams” base engine was taken over from the previous generation CR-V and needs an upgrade.
The best replacement engines will take advantage of the future lighter weight of the CR-V and use a more efficient Atkinson cycle than the conventional Otto cycle – and Honda already has an engine on which to base, a very efficient 2.0L (40% peak thermal efficiency !!! ) is now used in the Honda CR-V Hybrid in Europe.
Rather than combining this engine with Honda’s current impressive (and complex) multi-motor hybrid setup used in the lighter CR-V, the engine could act as the main propulsion source paired only with the more advanced 48V stop-start system. simple.
As well as taking advantage of an already developed engine, Honda could also use the latest transmission to significantly increase the efficiency of the CR-V – a specially developed 10-speed automatic already available on the Honda Odyssey minivan and the RDX Acura SUV, which can be used. paired with front and all-wheel drive, the same as on the CR-V.
The 1.5L Turbo already on the CR-V will see a performance boost as a result of reduced weight, but incorporating a similar cylinder deactivation to the Jetta EA211’s “Evo” mentioned on the previous blog will help further improve fuel economy as well in the next iteration.
Honda didn’t need to slow progress
It is clear from our analysis that the best thing Honda can do to meet the 2025 standard in the CR-V is to basically continue to do what it has been doing – the company continues to gradually improve technology,
Developing solutions that can be applied across a wide variety of vehicles. These are mostly reasons why Honda routinely tops our Auto Manufacturer Rankings.
It also helps explain why Honda pushed back more than any other major automaker in the Trump administration’s setback and has now struck a deal with California – a company well-positioned to meet 2025 standards as they stand, thanks to ongoing investment in progress.
If Honda really lived up to the standards as written and not with the help of the paper credits they pushed for, their customers would save thousands of dollars on fuel.
Better performance and better fuel economy could help put the CR-V back into the top position in sales – but at the very least, it makes an easy case for how a crossover utility vehicle can meet 2025 standards.
For more details on the analysis, see our methodology and blog posts on other vehicles.
2023 Honda CRV Interior
Inside is the cabin of the Honda CR-V and you won’t find anything other than what you expected.
The current generation CR-V uses soft-touch plastic across the board. Upholstery is standard on the lower models but the top-tier Touring trim and the EX-L get leather upholstery on the seats and steering wheel.
The seats up front are quite comfortable and allow plenty of adjustments to find the sweet spot between comfort and utility. The viewing angles are actually good for the driver as there are very few obstructions other than the pillars.
A 5-inch touch screen is standard on the lower trim, but you get a larger 7-inch screen at the top trim level. You can expect a 7-inch screen to become standard across the trim lineup in the next generation.
The rear seats are comfortable enough and roomy enough to allow seating for the 6’3 ”tall average Joe. Any more than that and you may find your head hitting the roof more than you think.
Even though it is full capacity with 5 passengers, you will have no problem in terms of cabin space as it is already laid out considering it will likely be used to full capacity.
Due to that fact, the Honda CR-V 2022 will actually be bigger than it already is to give more space to travel in comfort. The cabin features that stand out include:
- Driver Seat with 12 Way Power Adjustment, including 4 Way Lumbar Power Support (EX and above)
- Front Passenger Seat with 4-Way Power Adjustment (EX and above)
- Automatic Climate Control (Dual Zone for EX trim and up)
- Tilt and telescopic steering column
- Multi-Function Center Console Storage with Slide Armrest
- Rear seat center armrest
- Upholstery (leather upholstery for EX-L and Touring trim)
- Automatic dimming center mirror
- 60/40 split rear folding seat
- 5.0 inch (base trim) or 7.0 inch (higher trim) touch screen system
- Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
- 330 Watt Premium Audio System with 9 speakers
- Cordless Phone Charger
- Bluetooth connectivity
- 12-volt outlet
Using customization, you will be able to spawn new characters or add a new dimension to the normal daily driver character.
The additional options are quite affordable and so you can take everything you want without worrying about bloating prices.
2023 CRV Engine: What kind of power is under the hood?
In our speculation engine section, the 2023 Honda CR-V serves as one of the early options in the brand’s crossover lineup and therefore does not tie into overly bulky engine units.
On that note, the 1.5L turbocharged inline-4 unit will continue to make generational changes. This unit is very good and makes 190 hp and 179 lb-ft of torque.
Connected to the CVT, this is the classic daily chauffeur for those who want the feature-rich value that doesn’t make sense for money travel.
But for those wanting something more, the 2.0L turbocharged unit will also find its home under the hood with a generational change. This machine will be honed to produce 212 ponies and the torque figure is still unknown.
It will also come with a CVT but one of the biggest changes to expect is that FWD is discontinued and AWD is full time. With so many exciting changes in store, it gets even more exciting to expect with the Honda CR-V 2023.
Regardless of whether a more powerful powertrain comes along or not, you get a powertrain that performs very respectably with the CR-V as it is one of the best when compared to its foe.
The only one better was Honda’s local rival, the Toyota RAV4. The Ford Escape is certainly not the most powerful, but when it comes to pure performance, it leads everyone else by more than half a second in the 0-60 mph sprint.
The Kia Sorento is big in terms of numbers on paper, but when tested, it’s actually a slowpoke and prefers to stay a comfortable rider rather than a player.
2023 CRV MPG: What types of MPG strengths can be expected?
So far Asian carmakers have always been praised for setting the tone in terms of reliability as well as in fuel economy. Honda is one of the pioneers in this as the CR-V has been one of the pioneers in this regard.
While details about the larger 2.0L unit are unknown, the standard 1.5L unit will offer 27 MPG in the city, 32 MPG on the highway, and 29 MPG overall.
The standard fuel tank needs to be upgraded as the current 14-gallon fuel tank seems a bit crippling to ride. It is hoped that a 16-gallon fuel tank will appear with the Honda CR-V 2023.
While hopes of a bigger fuel tank seem a long way from its current ethos, standard equipment would still put in good enough numbers to push the CR-V into second place.
The top position is claimed once again by the Toyota RAV4 which stands out on the road. The runaway Ford came in the last place on the podium while Kia Sorento was somewhat of a “gas-drunk”, so to speak.
2023 CRV Safety: Can this vehicle provide comfort and safety?
The safety section of the 2023 Honda CRV is already equipped with pleasant travel technology, it’s hard to forget how much technology is used to protect you while on the road.
Luckily Honda is not one to boast and let its work speak for itself and thus provide the CR-V with one of the most complex safety suites for budget-friendly travel.
While it’s not much known what all the new generations will add to the ride, many rumors are circulating that it will have an AI neural engine running under standard systems to help make cars safer.
If it arrives or not, it’s not in sight yet, but the following features will definitely find their way to the CR-V 2023:
- 6 standard airbags (front, front and side airbags (with a rollover sensor)
- Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) with forwarding Collision Warning (FCW) and pedestrian sensing capabilities.
- Road Departure Mitigation with Departure Lane Warning
- Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD)
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System
- Auto Spotlight Headlights
- Adaptive Browse Control
- Lane Keeping Assist
- LATCH
- Rear Door Child Safety Lock
- Immobilizer Machine
- Stability Control
- Remote Anti-Theft Alarm System
- Auto Delay Off Headlights
- Traction control
- 4 Wheel ABS
- Front Fog / Driving Lights
- Child Seat Anchors
- Emergency Braking Assistance
- Dusk Sensing Headlights
- Blind Spot And Lane Departure Warnings Accident Avoidance System
If the complex security suite still doesn’t satisfy you, there are IIHS and NHTSA ratings too. The CR-V 2021 received an excellent 5-star rating from the NHTSA and an overall “Good” rating from the IIHS. Add to this the fact that it is also IIHS’s Top Safety Pick 2020 for its segment. CR-V 2023 will definitely continue this record and open new horizons.
2023 Honda CRV Price and Release Date
As for the current price and release schedule, Honda has not released information on when it will officially introduce the 2023 CR-V.
Based on previous years, we estimate a sales date in the fall of 2022.
The price of the Honda CR-V 2023 is also unclear. Without any major changes, we expect prices to stay close to the current model, which ranges from $ 27,470 to $ 35,770 with objectives.
2023 Honda CRV Looks: Does this vehicle look good and impressive, do I have to own it?
Is the 2023 Honda CRV the right answer for you? The Honda CR-V has been a spectacular looking vehicle from the very beginning of its useful life.
The previous generation got a facelift in 2019 which made it even more stylish than before.
The new generation is ready to burn bridges with the old foundations pre-laid in terms of design and will embellish a more fluid and bold design to face the new generation.
Driving tall 18-inch wheels, the CR-V has a nice silhouette. To keep costs under control, there won’t be any changes to the wheel size, but the design is sure to shake things up a bit to take on its foes.
There will also be 19-inch wheels available in the top trim tier. The following are the features you would expect standard on the next generation CR-V:
- Active Shutter Grid
- Integrated Roof Rail
- 18 or 19-inch alloy wheels
- 8 bright exterior colors are offered
- Dual Chrome Exhaust Plates
- Fin Type Roof Mounted Antenna
- Plastic sheath all over the lower body
- LED headlamps and taillights with LED Fog Lights
During the adjustment, you can select the type of vibration it will emit. While its innate nature as a stylish daily driver will never leave you alone,
The way you define it with an add-on and package options can make or break the vibe it has.
So, you should definitely buy the Honda CR-V 2022 when it launches.
The Honda CR-V is not only comfortable to drive but also pocket-friendly which has repeatedly set a precedent for its thrifty lifestyle and reliable build quality.
Packing one of the best safety suites in the business, the next generation will only soar, which is why the Honda CR-V 2022 is invaluable to anyone out there.