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We’ve seen some of the sneak peek pics of the new 2023 Honda CR-V. It looks good. But, are those minor styling updates enough to make you want a new 2023? There are still some 2022 Honda CR-V SUVs left on dealer lots, and with an updated version on the way, dealers will want to get rid of their leftover 2022s. So, should you buy a 2022 Honda CR-V or wait for that new 2023?

What we know about the 2023 Honda CR-V

A teaser image of the front of the Honda CR-V. Is it different enough to persuade you to wait?
New for 2023 Honda CR-V | Honda

Honda has been stingy with updates about the new 2023 CR-V. About the only thing Honda says in a news release is that the CR-V will have a new, more advanced, hybrid system for “a sportier driving experience and more capability.” Regardless, a lot is riding on the new 2023 CR-V because it’s Honda’s best-selling SUV.

From the cropped pictures Honda released we can see a few hints of the new design. The 2023 Honda CR-V will have LED headlights and taillights. It will have a blacked-out grille that looks more like it came from Audi’s Q5, not a Honda. It also has shoulders, more like Volvo SUVs, in the rear, and an updated hybrid badge that is a giveaway about the new hybrid system. It’s also expected to be larger and come with a third row of seating.

Do you need the new CR-V’s third row?

A teaser image showing the back of the 2023 Honda CR-V. Is the new style enough to keep you from buying a 2022?
The new for 2023 Honda CRV | Honda

The big difference will be the third row. That extra seating ability will move it from Toyota RAV4 to 2023 Toyota Highlander territory. Speaking of the Highlander, one of the most popular versions of that SUV is the Hybrid. While we don’t know a lot about the new CR-V, the images Honda shared show a prominent “hybrid” badge on the rear. That could mean that Honda is moving the CR-V from Toyota RAV4 competitor and setting its sights on the larger Toyota Highlander.

Honda said that it expects CR-V Hybrid sales to make up 50% of the model’s sales. It’s also introducing the new hybrid system on the 2023 Honda Accord.

The 2022 CR-V is Honda’s best-selling SUV

A lot is riding on the 2023 Honda CR-V redesign because CR-Vs are super popular. But there are plenty of reasons to buy a 2022 Honda CR-V. The 2022 starts at $27,750 in two-wheel-drive LX trim. The only change for the 2022 model was that all-wheel drive became standard on the $35,550, and most expensive CR-V trim, the Touring. For all other models it’s a $1,500 option. The Hybrid starts at $30,960.

The five-seat 2022 Honda CR-V comes standard with the Honda Sensing suite of driver-assist and safety tech, as well as a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine. The interior of the CRV is also a nice place to spend some time, especially in Touring trim. But even the base models have a well-laid-out dash, premium plastics, and supportive seats.

Or, should you wait for the larger 2023 Honda HR-V?

Front angle view of the larger 2023 Honda HR-V. Maybe the new HR-V fits your needs than a 2023 Honda CR-V?
Urban Gray Pearl 2023 Honda HR-V | Honda

Honda did tell us a lot about the 2023 Honda HR-V and it seems to slot in more where the CR-V does. The new five-seat HRV is longer, more powerful, and starts at $24,895. The old HR-V was small, but the new one is only two inches shy of the 2022 CR-V in length, and the seats fold flat so you can put a lot of stuff in the back. You could buy a 2022 Honda CR-V, but if it’s a five-seat SUV you need, it could be a good idea to wait for a 2023 HR-V.

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Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.