Photo: Honda
Despite a fresh new look, more tech and improved efficiency, the 2023 Honda CR-V is going to have a harder time staying among the best-selling vehicles in Canada when it arrives in dealerships this fall. Why? Because it’s much more expensive than its predecessor.
Honda Canada today announced pricing for the sixth-generation CR-V, which is available in LX, Sport and EX-L models with the same 190-horsepower turbo engine as before, plus the first-ever CR-V Hybrid in Canada.
The cheapest 2023 CR-V you can buy starts at $36,740 including freight and PDI—an increase of $3,205 from 2022. And that’s with front-wheel drive only. The AWD option will cost you an extra $2,800.
Standard LX content includes a power sunroof, heated side mirrors, LED headlights, 17-inch wheels, heated front seats and dual-zone automatic climate control. A new multimedia system powers the seven-inch display at the top of the centre stack and is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
There’s of course the Honda Sensing suite of advanced driver assistance features, now complete with a wide-view camera and radar, plus new Traffic Jam Assist, Low-Speed Braking Control and Traffic Sign Recognition. Standard Rear Seatbelt Reminder and Rear Seat Reminder are also new to CR-V.
Next up is the CR-V Sport at $43,440. As the name suggests, this model boasts a sportier look with gloss black exterior accents and 18-inch wheels in a berlina black finish. Inside, a leather-wrapped shift knob and heated leather steering wheel are part of the mix.
Photo: Honda
The CR-V EX-L goes a step higher at $45,340. It builds on the LX model by adding leather seating surfaces, a nine-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an eight-speaker premium sound system and wireless smartphone charging, among other things.
Saving Fuel Comes at a Big Price
The star in the lineup is the CR-V Touring Hybrid, which can be ordered from $50,840. That’s a sizable amount of money, especially by CR-V standards. You see, Honda chose to offer the new hybrid tech exclusively with the most luxurious and most expensive model. Combined fuel consumption is estimated at 6.4 L/100 km, down two litres from the gas-only variant.
This CR-V Hybrid is also more potent with 204 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque on tap. It further stands out with 19-inch wheels, a 12-speaker Bose sound system, navigation and a Wi-Fi hotspot.
Photo: Honda
Honda insists on the fact that the 2023 CR-V benefits from key upgrades to the chassis and body structure, as well as a revised AWD system that can now send up to 50 percent of the engine’s torque to the rear wheels for sharper handling. Off the road, drivers will appreciate the new Hill Descent Control system.
Just how successful the new CR-V will be remains to be seen. Competitors like the Toyota RAV4, Ford Escape, Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage all have much more affordable hybrid models.
The sixth-gen CR-V is built in North America, including at the Alliston, Ontario plant.
Keyword: Big Hikes for 2023 Honda CR-V Show Inflation is Not Fading Away