The upcoming, and as-yet-unnamed, Honda will be hybrid-only when it goes on sale next year
- New Honda will only use hybrid power
- Teaser sketches hint at sporty styling
- Expected to share tech with the next-gen Honda Civic
Honda has revealed for the first time that it’s planning a new family SUV model, which is currently pencilled in for a market launch sometime in 2023.
The Japanese car maker has yet to confirm a name for this new car, though it has revealed the SUV will be on par size-wise with the current Honda CR-V and the forthcoming new Honda Civic hatchback. It’s also confirmed the car will only be available with hybrid engines, though it hasn’t yet said which specific engines will power this new model.
It’s likely, though, that the unnamed SUV will share a similar hybrid setup with the upcoming Honda Civic. As a result, there’s a strong chance the new Honda SUV will use a 2.0-litre petrol engine and electric motor system, which could have the same 181bhp power output as the one in the recently unveiled European spec Civic.
Full technical specs will be revealed closer to the car’s launch in 2023, though more recent Honda models give us an idea of what to expect from the new SUV. For instance, interior tech on the upcoming car is likely to include a nine-inch touchscreen that you can connect your smartphone to using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Likewise, higher-spec models will potentially get an upmarket sound system and a 10.2-inch digital instrument display as standard.
If the car’s exterior styling is anything to go by, the new Honda SUV could have more of a sporty emphasis than the rest of Honda’s current mainstream car range. As suggested in the teaser sketches, the forthcoming model will have a large front grille and big air intakes in the front bumpers, while around the back there appears to be a small roof spoiler. Other visual touches, such as the slim headlights and rounded rear light clusters, are similar to what can be seen on current Honda cars.
Prices for the upcoming Honda SUV will be announced closer to launch, though we anticipate it will slot somewhere in between the smaller Honda HR-V and the mid-size Honda CR-V models, meaning a potential base price of around £30,000.
In addition to this upcoming new SUV, Honda plans on launching additional cars in 2023. One has been confirmed as the next-generation version of the Honda CR-V, which will be available with regular hybrid and plug-in hybrid options, whereas the other will be a small electric-only SUV to rival the Vauxhall Mokka-e, Hyundai Kona Electric and MG ZS EV, previewed by the Honda e:Ny1 Prototype.
Keyword: Honda to launch a new CR-V sized family SUV in 2023