Honda reveals all-new 6th gen CR-V

The Honda CR-V has always been one of the more popular compact crossover SUVs ever since it was first introduced way back in 1996. Now, Honda has just officially unveiled its sixth generation for the US market.

“As America’s outright best-selling SUV of the past 25 years the Honda CR-V has played a critical role in our past, but what’s significant about the all-new CR-V is the important role it will play in our future – with the CR-V hybrid to represent about 50 percent of sales,” said Mike Kistemaker, assistant vice president of Honda sales at American Honda. “More stylish, more rugged, more tech and more fun-to-drive, this 6th generation CR-V will be best in class in a large segment where that really matters.”

Completely new for 2023, the all-new Honda CR-V is larger and features a mix of more rugged and sophisticated design cues. In front is a large front grille flanked by slim LED headlights. On the side, the CR-V now has door-mounted side mirrors and a new set of wheels. The rear still features the model’s signature vertical taillights with a more premium look.

Inside, the all-new CR-V is strongly influenced by the current generation Civic, highlighted by the honeycomb mesh grille for the airconditioning vents. Infotainment is controlled through a 7- or 9-inch touchscreen with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The top-spec variant would also get a 12-speaker Bose audio system. There is also a 7-inch digital instrument cluster with a traditional analog speedometer. 

Under the hood, 2023 Honda CR-V for the US market comes with two engine choices. First is a 1.5-liter Inline 4-cylinder VTEC Turbo petrol that produces 190 horsepower and 243 Nm of torque. Second is a 2.0-liter Atkinson cycle 4-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor. It produces 204 horsepower and 335 Nm of torque. Power is sent through a continuously variable transmission for both powertrains.

For safety, the 2023 Honda CR-V’s Honda SENSING suite of safety tech now uses a new wide-angle camera and millimeter-wave radar. As expected, the CR-V gets Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow, Lane Keeping Assist, and Autonomous Emergency Braking. New are Traffic Jam Assist, Low-Speed Braking Control, Traffic Sign Recognition, and Blind Spot Information. 

For the Philippines, we still do not know when the all-new CR-V will be launched here. Given the outgoing model’s popularity, it surely is an important model for Honda in the country. We can assume that the local version will maintain a 5- or 7-seater layout depending on the variant, and will be available with a gas and diesel powered engine options. A hybrid is also not far fetched considering that those are starting to gain popularity.

Sales for the North American market are expected to start soon. It is still unclear when it will be launched in other markets. Anyway, what do you think of the all-new 2023 Honda CR-V?