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Honda CR-V hybrid: an expensive quest for frugality

While its first fully electric vehicle is still awaited, Honda has decided to opt for a transition based on a hybrid offensive. This reorientation – whose central core includes the Accord, Civic and CR-V – ultimately aims to ensure 50% of the manufacturer’s sales. The hybrid CR-V freshly landed in dealerships is undoubtedly the one with the highest potential for popularity. But this sobriety at the pump has a price.

Contents

Design


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The side portion exhibits different proportions due to the repositioning of the front pillars.

The marketing of this first hybrid CR-V in Canada coincides with the launch of a new and sixth generation of the compact SUV. Like the Pilot, it looks more utilitarian and beefier than before. The curved design of the bonnet of the previous generation thus gives way to a front which is adorned with more incisive front optics and forming a whole with a hexagonal grille. The side portion also exhibits different proportions due to the repositioning of the front pillars, set back by 119 mm, and the rather long hood. This profile is also refined, with a belt line delimited by a discontinuous line from the front to the rear. Behind, the “Volvoesque” lights that hug the pillars remain, but with various LED hooks that make the look more refined. Honda also succumbed to the presence of fake exhaust pipes. A uselessness, it goes without saying.

On board


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The interior of the 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid

The compact SUV adopts many of the aesthetic elements introduced by the new Civic, including this horizontal honeycomb stripe. It is in short much more mature than before, both in the choice of materials and in their arrangement, without overbidding of glossy plastics. The ergonomics are extremely efficient and the physical controls give a quality feeling when you activate them. In this aspect, the CR-V is the example to follow in a segment that is increasingly attracted to haptic keys. Moreover, the interior volume ranks at the top of the pack, with rear seats as generous as those at the front due to the extended wheelbase. The presence of a tall driver has little impact on legroom. The cargo space, very spacious at 1036 L, is very accessible, but we regretfully lose the handles used to fold down the rear seatbacks, which were present on the previous vintage.

Under the hood


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Unlike the RAV4 Hybrid, which relies on a rear electric motor to ensure its all-wheel drive, the CR-V Hybrid uses a more conventional system with a drive shaft that transmits torque to the rear axle.

It falls to a 2.0L Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder backed by a 181-hp electric motor to move the compact SUV. A second electric motor is used to recharge the battery. It is therefore a conventional parallel hybrid system producing a maximum of 204 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque. Certainly, no one will be overwhelmed by the rather reserved nature of this mechanism whose mandate is essentially to be as unobtrusive as possible. However, we like its progressive power curve and the effective control of its speed, despite the fact that the torque transfer is ensured by a direct drive. It is undoubtedly the best hybrid group among compact SUVs in terms of its overall refinement. Where it shines a little less is in terms of consumption. It was around 7 L/100 km during the test, climbing quite markedly at highway speeds. It’s less brilliant than that of the Toyota RAV4 hybrid.

Behind the wheel


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The steering of the 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid is arguably the best in the arena, both for its precision and its feel.

Like all of its hybrid competitors, the CR-V is only offered with all-wheel drive, which makes it more comfortable when the weather is less clement. This system has been tweaked and can now send up to 50% of the available torque rearward. Add to that wider tracks, a 15% stiffer platform and revised suspension elements. Thanks to a rather low driving position and excellent visibility, there is a desire for dynamism in this CR-V even before hitting the road. The steering supports this assumption, arguably the best in the arena, both for its precision and its feel. The SUV also presents a nice shape when slightly abrupt. Its behavior is predictable and safe. However, we like much less the calibration of its springs, giving rise to a jump that is much too nervous on uneven surfaces.

Embedded technologies


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The touchscreen of the 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid

Like the work, the multimedia system assigned to this CR-V is nothing extravagant. It is operated by means of a 9-inch touchscreen in this hybrid variant. It is placed on the top of the dashboard to avoid looking down too much. Its definition is correct, nothing more. It offers a rather well-thought-out interface available on a configurable home screen made up of various readable tiles. A volume wheel remains, as do two physical buttons for better navigation. Moreover, note the presence of Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto as well as induction charging for the most expensive liveries. The Bose chain integrated as standard in this hybrid CR-V – the only one that can be equipped with it – offers an acceptable rendering without really standing out.

The verdict


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The 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid

Despite its undeniable overall qualities, this hybrid CR-V is also a striking example of Honda’s risky “skimming” pricing strategy. At nearly $51,000, the compact SUV is significantly more expensive than its tougher rival, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, which has better fuel efficiency. Admittedly, it is more modern than the latter and has a larger and more user-friendly interior, but this CR-V remains however short of arguments to justify such a price difference on the other aspects of its offer. It does not present a revolutionary character that one would associate with such a price increase, which places it at the doorstep of luxury brands. Honda would clearly benefit from offering this engine to a greater number of liveries. Because in the meantime it’s just too expensive.

Notebook

One-pedal braking

Inspired by fully electric vehicles, this hybrid CR-V can partly be driven with a pedal thanks to the energy storage system whose degree of intervention is variable.

Finally a (real) gear lever

While several manufacturers use unnecessary inventiveness to replace the good old gear lever, Honda has chosen to keep it in its CR-V. You know what ? It works fairly well.

Instrumentation not fully digital

The instrumentation block combines a physical speedometer needle with digitized elements on a black background for beneficial simplicity in its construction.

Light Tow

With its towing capacity of 454 kg, this CR-V is behind the RAV4 Hybrid, which can tow up to 794 kg.

Hydrogen, the future according to Honda

The manufacturer announced a few months ago that it will market in 2024 a fuel cell livery of its CR-V also equipped with a plug for recharging a battery.

Technical sheet

  • Model tested: Honda CR-V Hybrid Touring Hybrid
  • Engine: L4 DOHC 2.0L + two electric motors
  • Power: 145 hp at 6100 rpm (thermal engine) + 181 hp (electric drive motor): 204 hp in total
  • Torque: 138 lb-ft at 4500 rpm (combustion engine); 247 lb-ft total
  • Transmission: direct drive
  • Engine architecture: front transverse hybrid engine
  • Consumption (EnerGuide): 6.4 L/100 km
  • Price (with options, transport and preparation): $50,995
  • Competitors (CR-V hybrid): Hyundai Tucson hybrid, Ford Escape hybrid, Kia Sportage hybrid and Toyota RAV4 hybrid
  • New in 2023? : new generation (CR-V)

See also:   Autonomy of 614 kilometers for the Hyundai IONIQ 6 according to the WLTP standard
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