The 2023 Honda CR-V Is a Reminder Of How Good Normal Cars Have Become

Our Take on the 2023 Honda CR-V

The 2023 Honda CR-V is about as normal as a car can get. Sold by a mainstream brand for a mainstream segment, it's meant to appeal to a wide swath of buyers and offend as little as it possibly can. With SUVs and crossovers now the overwhelming majority of car sales, the CR-V has become the go-to for drivers across the country looking for pleasant, reliable transportation. And this new car is more of the same.

The 190-hp 1.5-liter turbocharged engine under the hood delivers enough power to get you around, sure, but you won't be winning drag races any time soon. We recommend going for the optional all-wheel-drive, as it can send up to 50 percent of the torque to the rear wheels when needed—perfect for snowy weekdays when you just want to get to work or get home safely.

Where the 2023 Honda CR-V really shines is inside. The crossover gets a similar cabin to the layout found in the Civic, with a simplistic design, neat honeycomb trim, and easy-to-use functions. The EX-L trim shown here gets a nine-inch touchscreen with wireless CarPlay for all your infotainment needs, along with leather seats front and rear.

Ride, steering, and visibility are good too, making us question why'd we spend $50,000 on something like a Lexus NX when this CR-V comes in at just under $37,000, sporting many of the same features.

What's New

The 2023 Honda CR-V is all-new for 2023, with a new design that doesn't stray from Honda's corporate looks, with a big grille and slim, streamlined headlights. It's a nice look that isn't outwardly offensive to look at, but it isn't too exciting either.

The sixth-generation CR-V also gets a roomier and much better-designed interior with more features, like available wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While the 1.5-liter turbo engine is a carryover from the last-gen car, Honda says it's been retuned for more responsiveness and efficiency.

Pros

• Pleasant, compliant ride

• turbocharged drivetrain is unobtrusive, provides adequate power

• Genuinely nice cabin

Cons

• Not exactly exciting to drive

• Suspension can crash over bigger bumps

• Fuel economy could be better

Performance, Engine & Horsepower

Under the hood of the CR-V EX-L sits a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine making 190 hp and 179 lb-ft of torque. While it's not particularly powerful or exciting, there's enough grunt here to get you around town or merge onto a busy highway, so long as you're not afraid to bury your foot into the throttle every so often.

Honda CR-V 0-60

The CR-V also has a hybrid powertrain available, which pairs a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with two electric motors, totaling 204 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque. The Honda CR-V can sprint to 60 mph in a respectable 7.9 seconds.

Features & Specs

The 2023 Honda CR-V is well-equipped in EX-L trim, with a standard turbocharged engine and optional all-wheel-drive. There's front MacPherson struts up front and a multi-link suspension setup in the rear, with disc brakes on all four corners.

Curb weight for the 2023 CR-V comes in at just under 4000 pounds, while cargo volume rests at 36 ft cubed. Inside you'll find leather trimmed seats, a leather trimmed steering wheel, and a leather trimmed shift knob. There's also a nine-inch touchscreen with a backup camera.

Honda CR-V MPG & Range

The 1.5-liter-powered Honda CR-V with all-wheel-drive is EPA rated at 27 mpg city and 32 mpg highway, with a combined rating of 29 mpg.

We were only able to scrum up 24.1 mpg during our 200-mile test, according to the onboard computer. Most of our driving took place in the city, but we were still left disappointed considering the tiny displacement and CVT transmission should've worked wonders to improve mileage.