Overview
As soon as the new CR-V debuted last year it was a hit, immediately earning a 10Best Trucks and SUVs trophy. The CR-V offers reliably good performance, with plenty of usable space, friendly driving dynamics, front- or all-wheel drive, a 190-hp turbocharged engine, and an optional 204-hp hybrid version. That hybrid powertrain delivers a stellar 40 mpg combined. Even in base form, the CR-V shines with a deep layer of modern tech and safety features that don’t hog the spotlight deservedly occupied by its superb chassis. The CR-V is our favorite in the highly popular compact-crossover segment, even amid stiff competition from the Mazda CX-50, Volkswagen Tiguan, and Kia Sportage.
What’s New for 2024?
The Honda CR-V adds a Sport-L trim level for 2024, and starting prices are up across the board. The new Sport-L bridges the gap between Sport Hybrid and Sport Touring Hybrid trims, and like those two is only offered as a hybrid. Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is optional for the new trim level. The Sport-L gets leather seats, a four-way power passenger seat, front and rear parking sensors, a wireless charging pad, satellite radio, driver’s-seat memory, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. Additionally, the Sport-L comes standard with a 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system (2.0 inches larger than the Sport’s) and an eight-speaker audio system that betters the Sport’s six-speaker setup but falls short of the Sport Touring’s Bose-branded 12-speaker system.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
The CR-V’s LX, EX, and EX-L are all gas-only models. The Sport Hybrid, Sport-L, and Sport Touring Hybrid come exclusively with the hybrid powertrain, and these are what we’d recommend most. On the more affordable end, the front-wheel-drive CR-V Sport Hybrid is tempting. It comes at a reasonable price and carries an EPA-estimated 43 mpg in the city, beating the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid’s city rating. The Sport Hybrid comes with stylish black exterior accents, black 18-inch wheels, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The Sport Touring Hybrid is more expensive but comes standard with all-wheel drive and a host of luxury features that really elevate the experience.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Behind the CR-V’s upright grille is a standard 190-hp turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder. It pairs with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and either front- or all-wheel drive. This setup is standard on the LX, EX, and EX-L models. The Sport and Sport Touring only come with the hybrid powertrain, which pairs a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with two electric motors for a combined total of 204 horsepower. While the Sport can be had with front- or all-wheel drive, the latter is standard on the Sport Touring. At our test track, the Sport Touring Hybrid hit 60 mph in a respectable 7.9 seconds. Every CR-V has hill-descent control that helps modulate the compact SUV’s speed on steep or slippery declines when traveling at low speeds. Most models are fitted with a set of 18-inch wheels, with the Sport donning black ones. The Sport Touring gets exclusive 19-inchers that are also painted black. While it lacks the handling thrills we love in the Mazda CX-50 and the Volkswagen Tiguan, the new CR-V provides a smooth ride and enough moxie to avoid being boring.
Towing and Payload Capacity
The Honda CR-V can tow up to 1500 pounds while the CR-V Hybrid is limited to just 1000 pounds, when equipped with optional towing accessories.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The CR-V’s powertrain options mean you must decide between a 190-hp 1.5-liter gas engine against a 204-hp hybrid unit consisting of a 2.0-liter and two electric motors. The front-wheel-drive CR-V with the turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder gets EPA estimates of 28 mpg city and 34 mpg highway, while the most fuel-efficient CR-V is the front-wheel-drive Sport Hybrid, which achieves 43 mpg city and 36 mpg highway. We haven’t tested the nonhybrid CR-V yet, but when we took the all-wheel-drive Sport Touring Hybrid on our real-world 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, it registered 31 mpg. For more information about the CR-V’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The CR-V’s handsome interior design is highlighted by a honeycomb-textured insert spanning most of the dash, discreetly hiding the air vents. The steering wheel frames a partially digital gauge cluster with an analog speedometer and a 7.0-inch display that allows the driver to swap between different informational menus. Honda says the front seats are designed to decrease driver fatigue on long trips and that the new CR-V’s driving position has been improved. Between the front-seat passengers is a large center console bin, and behind them are reclining back seats with an extra 0.6 inch of rear legroom compared with the outgoing CR-V. There are 36 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 39 cubes on gas-only models with the adjustable load floor in its lowest position.
Infotainment and Connectivity
The CR-V’s infotainment system operates through a 7.0-inch touchscreen on the LX, EX, and Sport trim levels. The setup features physical volume and tuning knobs as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. The EX-L and Sport Touring models have a 9.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While the bigger display doesn’t include a tuning knob, there is a volume knob that accompanies the built-in navigation, plus two USB-C ports for rear-seat passengers and wireless smartphone charging. Those who want the 12-speaker Bose sound system will have to spring for the top-of-the-line CR-V Sport Touring.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Honda equips every CR-V with a boatload of standard driver-assistance technology. Along with newly standard blind-spot monitoring, the compact SUV now comes with a driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, and a back-seat reminder. For more information about the CR-V’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
- Standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
- Standard lane-keeping assist and lane-departure warning
- Standard adaptive cruise control
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
There’s nothing particularly special about the CR-V’s limited and powertrain warranties. Both include coverage periods comparable with most competitors. On the other hand, Honda will start offering complimentary scheduled maintenance on 2024 models, which includes the new CR-V.
- Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
- Complimentary scheduled maintenance is covered for two years or 24,000 miles
Specifications
Specifications
2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid Sport Touring
Vehicle Type: front-engine, front-motor, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $39,845/$39,845
Options: none
POWERTRAIN
DOHC 16-valve 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle inline-4, 145 hp, 138 lb-ft + AC motor, 181 hp, 247 lb-ft (combined output: 204 hp, 247 lb-ft; 1.1-kWh lithium-ion battery pack)
Transmission: direct-drive
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 12.3-in vented disc/12.2-in disc
Tires: Continental CrossContact LX Sport
235/55R-19 101H M+S
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 106.3 in
Length: 184.8 in
Width: 73.5 in
Height: 66.5 in
Passenger Volume: 104 ft3
Cargo Volume: 36 ft3
Curb Weight: 3914 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 7.9 sec
1/4-Mile: 16.3 sec @ 85 mph
100 mph: 24.7 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.4 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 8.0 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 3.6 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 5.2 sec
Top Speed (gov): 111 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 171 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.85 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 30 mpg
75-mph Highway Driving: 31 mpg
75-mph Highway Range: 430 mi
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 37/40/34 mpg
2023 Honda CR-V EX-L AWD
Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $37,055/$37,510
Options: Radiant Red paint, $455
ENGINE
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 91 in3, 1498 cm3
Power: 190 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 179 lb-ft @ 1700 rpm
TRANSMISSION
continuously variable automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 12.3-in vented disc/12.2-in disc
Tires: Hankook Kinergy GT
235/60R-18 103H M+S
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 106.3 in
Length: 184.8 in
Width: 73.5 in
Height: 66.5 in
Passenger Volume, F/R: 53/51 ft3
Cargo Volume, behind F/R: 77/39 ft3
Curb Weight: 3612 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 8.3 sec
1/4-Mile: 16.4 sec @ 88 mph
100 mph: 22.2 sec
120 mph: 40.4 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 8.9 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 4.4 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 5.6 sec
Top Speed (gov ltd): 121 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 168 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.84 g
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 29/27/32 mpg
