The all-new sixth-generation of the Honda CR-V has surfaced thanks to the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, fully revealing its design before its imminent debut this year. In all likelihood, this is what the 2023 CR-V will look like in the rest of the world too, as you can see from spy shots of North America’s prototype models.
The photos of the SUV confirm what we saw
a few months ago in an alleged patent filing, and in our own spy shots from
last year. The front end is where most changes occur, with a longer bonnet,
slim LED headlights, a larger grille, and a cleaner design for the bumper. The
profile inherits a horizontal character line and surfacing similar to the
smaller HR-V, with an evolutionary shape for the windowline.
At the back, the CR-V retains the model’s
signature L-shaped taillights which extend towards the sides of the rear
windscreen. In the new generation vehicle, they are slightly reshaped,
resembling those of the Volvo XC60 while losing the chrome trim element between
them. The license plate holder has moved higher, but the large tailgate is
retained offering a low loading area. Finally, the rear bumper of the pictured
Turbo-badged variant features dual tailpipes, although this could be different
in the electrified model.
Speaking of powertrains, Chinese buyers
will get an ICE-only version of the CR-V with the turbocharged 1.5-liter
four-cylinder engine producing 190 hp. Power is transferred
to the front (FWD) or all four wheels (AWD) through a CVT gearbox. We also
expect a couple of hybrid variants with the e:HEV badge. One of them will
certainly combine a 2.0-litre engine with dual electric motors – as in the
current CR-V e:HEV – while a new plug-in hybrid variant is also rumored to be
in the works. The CR-V e:HEV will be the only powertrain option in Europe,
where Honda has electrified its entire range. North America will get both
ICE-powered and hybrid variants, with Honda gunning for a 50/50 sales mix.
According to the spec sheet we have, the
Chinese-spec CR-V measures 4,703 mm long, 1,866 mm wide, and 1,680 mm or 1,690 mm tall, depending on the
trim. This makes it 80 mm longer and 11 mm wider compared
to its predecessor, with exactly the same height. The wheelbase has also grown
by 41 mm to 2,701 mm, which should translate to a
slightly roomier cabin, with five-seater and potentially, seven-seater
variants.
While we don’t get to see pictures of the
interior yet, the CR-V will likely get a new digital instrument cluster and a
larger infotainment touchscreen, making it more attractive to buyers compared
to its predecessor which was introduced back in 2016. As with the new Civic,
the design of the dashboard is expected to be minimal with horizontal lines.
Finally, an array of ADAS systems from the latest Honda Sensing suite will
bring the SUV on par with the competition.
The debut of the new Honda CR-V is expected sometime in the coming months, with a market launch next year. Besides China, which will get the CR-V by Dongfeng Honda and the closely-related Breeze by Guangqi Honda, the SUV will roll out in Europe, Australia, and North America. We don’t know if Honda is planning on offering a different design for each market, but we suspect that any changes will be extremely minor likely being limited to trimmings.
