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We’re getting a big update to Honda’s best-selling SUV. Honda released the 2023 CR-V Hybrid SUV on Tuesday. It’s longer, wider, more powerful, and has a new hybrid powertrain. Honda says that the new CR-V is inspired by its Ridgeline and Passport TrailSport truck and SUV, and backs that look up with some off-road ability. It also has suspension and steering updates that should make the CR-V more fun to drive. The big news, though, is the new hybrid system for the new 2023 Honda CR-V.

The new 2023 Honda CR-V will hit dealers this summer

The new 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid has 204 horsepower. Look out RAV4?
2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid | Honda

The new CR-V is coming to dealers this summer and the Hybrid model will come later in the year, Honda said. The new CR-V is wider and longer than the previous one, and that new look is highlighted by a horizontal line that emphasizes the new styling. The base EX and EX-L versions have a 1.5-liter 190-horsepower four-cylinder engine. It’s mated to a CVT transmission, but it does add step-shift programming that should make it feel more like a conventional automatic.

The new CR-V also gets Honda’s Real Time AWD optional, which should help in slippery and dirty driving situations. The new system can send up to 50% of the engine’s power to the rear wheels automatically. But, for the first time, the CR-V is getting one feature that off-roaders love: Hill Descent Control. In the CR-V it’s speed is selectable from 2 to 12 miles per hour.

The new hybrid motor is available on the two top trims of the CR-V. It combines a 2.0-liter four-cylinder and a two-motor hybrid system to make 204 horsepower.  It is available on the top Sport and Sport Touring trims of the 2023 CR-V. It’s Honda’s fourth-generation hybrid system.

Honda’s new hybrid system has two motors, mounted side-by-side. The new configuration, Honda said, allows it to fit more powerful motors. The system makes 204 horsepower and 247 lb-.ft. of torque. That means, Honda says, the CR-V can tow up to 1,000 pounds, a first for the SUV. Honda expects half of its 2023 CR-V sales to be hybrid versions.

What trim levels is the new 2023 CR-V available in?

The 2023 Honda CR-V comes in several new trim levels, including this Sport Touring version.
2023 Sport Touring Honda CR-V

You can order the 2023 Honda CR-V in four trim levels, including the Hybrid. It comes in base EX and EX-L versions, while the Sport and Sport Touring offer more. The EX and EX-L come with the 1.5-liter, while the Sport and Sport Touring come with the new hybrid system.

Honda has not released pricing information, but expect to pay more than you would for a 2022 Honda CR-V. A fully-loaded 2022 can be almost $37,000.

Honda didn’t forget about the interior

2023 Honda CR-V interior
2023 Honda CR-V interior | Honda

The new interior has new higher-quality materials, Honda said. That means it should be quieter and more comfortable than the 2022, which is saying a lot. The new SUV also has Body Stabilizing Seats to reduce driving fatigue.  The dash will get a new nine-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on the EX-L and Sport Touring trim, while the EX and Sport get a standard seven-inch screen.

The interior is also larger than any CR-V before. All versions of the CR-V get the Honda Sensing driver’s aids, 10 airbags, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and more. The EX-L and Sport Touring trims have some extra goodies, like wireless charging and some extra trim.

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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.

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