![]() It makes 204 hp combined - Honda says that’s up from the fifth-gen’s 201 hp, per International Organization for Standardization ratings the automaker now follows - and produces 247 pounds-feet of torque, a more significant improvement over the previous model’s 232 pounds-feet. I spent the most time driving an all-wheel-drive CR-V Sport Touring, which uses a new hybrid powertrain that combines an updated 2.0-liter four-cylinder gas engine with two electric motors. I also preferred the gas CR-V’s braking feel, which was direct and linear compared with the CR-V hybrid. Ride quality in the gas version remains a strong suit, with more firmness than necessary but impressive isolation. Regrettably, those trends continue in the gas-powered 2023 CR-V it feels pokey, particularly from a stop, and wails under acceleration. That was partly because it also had one of the slowest 0-10 mph times, and its 190-horsepower, turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder and continuously variable automatic transmission were incredibly noisy. ![]() In our 2019 comparison test, the CR-V had the quickest measured 0-60 mph time but tied for last in our powertrain scoring. (Per ’s ethics policy, we pay for travel and lodging when attending such manufacturer-sponsored events.) Driving: Mostly Better, Sometimes Familiar To see what the redesigned SUV is like to drive, I traveled to Santa Barbara, Calif., at Honda’s invitation to test the 2023 CR-V hybrid and (briefly) the gas-only CR-V. Honda said the entry-level LX version of prior generations might return at some point. The EX-L is the most well-equipped gas model, while the Sport Touring hybrid tops that range. The EX is the base gas-powered model, while the next most affordable is the Sport, the cheaper of the two hybrids. The lineup consists of four trim levels: two gas-only models and two hybrid variants. The new CR-V’s exterior and interior design takes after the Civic compact car, and the 2023 CR-V hybrid also gets a new, more powerful powertrain that makes slightly more horsepower and low-end torque. Related: 2023 Honda CR-V Up Close: Keeping the Competition on Its Toes This decline in performance had more to do with improved competition, but it wasn’t a good sign for the CR-V. On top of that, a head-to-head comparison of the 2021 CR-V hybrid and 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid saw the Honda take another loss. In our last three compact SUV comparison tests since the fifth-generation CR-V debuted as a 2017 model, the CR-V has had worse and worse finishes: second out of seven vehicles in 2017 fourth out of seven in 2019 and dead last in a field of six in 2021. Honda’s CR-V compact SUV is a popular choice with consumers - it’s consistently been Honda’s bestselling vehicle - but among ’s editors, its popularity has waned as other compact SUVs have gotten better. Versus the competition: After years of trending downward as the competition got better and it stayed the same, the all-new CR-V rights the ship and is once again a choice worthy of its historically strong sales. ![]() The verdict: The redesigned 2023 Honda CR-V is an improvement over the outgoing fifth-generation SUV, with a much more user-friendly interior and improved hybrid performance.
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