The 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid AWD Sport Touring SUV
You Are What You Drive — A Bottom Line Review
The Bottom Line: What is a CR-V? The CR-V is a compact SUV built in the Alliston, Ontario, Canada assembly plant, and is sold in North America by Honda. The CR-V model name stands for Compact Recreational Vehicle, and most people today view this class of car as a compact crossover SUV.
The new 2023 Honda CR-V starts at $31,610, and that’s for a very well equipped EX trim model with FWD front wheel drive. The EX-L edition has more features, and is priced from $33,760. All wheel drive is an extra $1,500 with either version. The 2023 Honda CR-V is an impressively redesigned next generation model, with a lower beltline, and a new look on the front end. The 2023 version is longer and wider than the 2022 Honda CR-V. It has new front sheet metal, LED headlights and tail lamps that are now standard equipment.
For the best performance you want to buy the Sport Touring Hybrid Edition with the extra power, luxury and comfort. This Honda model has a 2.0L liter direct injected inline 4 cylinder engine that pairs with two electric motors. The total output is 204 HP horsepower and 247 lb-ft of torque, with more torque than any CR-V before.
To showcase this new hybrid drive train, Honda sent me a 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid AWD Sport Touring SUV to test drive and review. The base window sticker price for this hybrid model is $38,600. The options on the press SUV are: none. The manufactures suggested retail price MSRP, including the $1,245 destination charge, is: $39,845.
After adding in the state and local sales tax, plus the DMV and dealers fees, the out the door and in your garage total purchase price came to: $44,826. At just under $45,000 this is a fantastic buy in the compact crossover SUV class. As the average retail price for all vehicles sold in 2023 are projected to cost $50,000, this Hybrid CR-V is more than $5,000 under the average sales price, and you get a lot of compact SUV for your money.
First up, as a Hybrid, this CR-V gets 34 MPG highway, 40 MPG city, and 37 MPG in overall combined driving. Plus the greenhouse gas rating is a 7, and the smog rating is a 7, both out of 10. So, not only do you get great gas mileage, both exhaust emissions are very low too. A win-win-win situation in daily driving as this is a Honda Hybrid SUV.
To achieve these numbers the CR-V’s hybrid power train relies almost exclusively on the 2 electric motors to power the 4 wheels, as the gas engine is only directly connected when the vehicle is at a constant velocity to maximize efficiency, while a new set of overdrive gear allows the electric motors to operate at higher speeds.
The 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring is not a plug-in hybrid, but it does have all the benefits of battery electric EV driving, if you maintain a conservative right foot. Driving around town it’s great to hear and feel Honda’s 2 motor hybrid whisper quiet power train operating, while saving you money, and not polluting the environment.
Safety is a big factor with Honda, and this CR-V is loaded with features that you need for a safe trip to the store, school or on a road trip to grandma’s house. The list starts with adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation braking, lane keeping assist, road departure mitigation, traffic jam assist, a rear cross traffic monitor, and a driver attention monitor.
Comfort is upgraded in the Sport Touring edition to include a unique interior with leather trimmed seats, a leather wrapped steering wheel, a leather wrapped shift knob, a Bose premium audio system with 12 speakers, a 9” color touch screen with Honda navigation and voice recognition, a multi-view rear camera system, wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a wireless phone charging pad, push button start, SiriusXM satellite HD radio, Bluetooth hands free connectivity, and a heated steering wheel.
The 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid is a great overall compact SUV. It impresses with a high quality interior, cushy seating in both rows, plenty of cargo space, and good fuel economy with lower harmful emissions.
When you’re ready to buy a new compact SUV, the 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid AWD Sport Touring SUV should be on your ride and drive list, as it’s one of the best priced, and highest MPG hybrid SUV’s for sale in the entire compact SUV class.
Call, click or visit your local Honda dealer for a test drive, and a Bottom Line price review, on the new 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid AWD Sport Touring SUV. And remember that the base price for a new CR-V starts at only $31,610. Honda - The Power of Dreams.
Be smart, stay safe, and just breathe. Remember, “You Are What You Drive” And maybe, just for those reasons alone, you should “Drive one, Buy one, Today”.
This Bottom Line new vehicle review is a “Nut & Bolt and Dollars & Sense” editorial provided by Tony Leopardo. “Tony the Car Guy” is an automotive writer, editor and publisher in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you have a question, or comment for Tony, send it to tonyleo@pacbell.net and visit AutoWire.Net at www.autowire.net