Reader Review: 2023 Honda CR-V Touring Hybrid (2023)

article content

If you bought a vehicle last year and want to share your experiences with Driving.ca readers, we want to hear from you! Send us a note telling us a little about the vehicle you purchased to info@driving.ca and you may be covered in an upcoming owner review.

article content

After a week of driving Honda's all-new 2023 CR-V Touring Hybrid, Don Harold says the five-passenger SUV would suit a broad demographic. “I would say it would work for a rich young couple as it would meet a lot of driving needs,” says the Calgarian and adds, “or, for a retired couple like us, it's also very suitable for all our needs. ”

In fact, if he and his wife Mimi Harris hadn't bought a 2020 Honda Passport three years ago, this new sixth-generation CR-V Hybrid would be their preferred choice. Not having owned a Honda before the Passport, Harold and Harris were originally looking for a Pilot, but the biggest SUV in Honda's lineup wouldn't fit in their garage. The slightly shorter Passport would do, and when they bought it, the couple were considering buying a travel trailer. The Passport offers a towing capacity of 2,268 kg (5,000 lbs.), but the RV never landed in its garage. “Mimi's main vehicle is the Passport, and she thinks it's a little too big,” says Harold. “The CR-V Hybrid would be better.”

article content

The newest CR-V was released in 2022 and is bigger in every direction than its predecessor. It's clad in new exterior panels that give it a sporty look, and the interior is more spacious with improved comfort. In Canada, the CR-V is available in eight versions, from the LX-B 2WD to the top of the line Touring Hybrid. All but the hybrid are powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a continuously variable transmission. The Hybrid, meanwhile, gets a 2.0L Atkinson cycle four-cylinder engine combined with two electric motors to deliver a total of 204 horsepower and 257 lb-ft of torque via an all-wheel drive system.

Finished in Canyon River Blue Metallic, a $300 option, Harold's CR-V Touring Hybrid had a black leather interior with orange contrast stitching. To get this vehicle off the lot, over $51,000 would have been spent - and that doesn't include any extra packages or taxes. Speaking of packages, Honda offers one for towing, and for $1,725, the buyer gets a hitch and wiring harness, plus the addition of a tailgate kick sensor to help with power tailgate opening. However, the Touring Hybrid is not capable of towing large loads – it is rated to tow 454 kg (1,000 lbs).

article content

“I was pleasantly surprised,” says Harold of his first impression of the 2023 CR-V Touring Hybrid. “I wasn't expecting what I saw and I really like the look – it looks very sleek and the stance makes it look well planted with its 19-inch wheels. It wasn't a fussy look and it was distinctive.

Possessing a 2020 passport, Harold was curious to see how the new CR-V compared when he sat in the driver's seat. “Both Mimi and I like the lack of shiny materials in the interior,” he says. “This one has matte surfaces, while the Passport has lots of glossy ones.”

Familiarity with the Honda product made getting comfortable in the eight-way electrically adjustable driver's seat an easy task. “I'd say it's reasonably intuitive to set up,” says Harold of the Honda's controls. The passenger seat features four-way electric adjustment. “The seats are very comfortable and there is no way to squirm. The side pads were noticeable and this is reflected in the vehicle being able to take some corners.” Harold adds, “It's beautiful inside and not over the top. The interior complements the exterior well and is very well put together.”

article content

article content

When starting out, Harold's first impression was how quiet the CR-V Touring Hybrid was in motion. “The sound deadening is exemplary,” he says.

Having never experienced a hybrid powertrain before, Harold was impressed. “Hybrid power was of interest to me, mainly for fuel economy,” he says, and adds, “if we could only have one vehicle, a hybrid seems like the best of both worlds compared to full internal combustion or full electric. ”

Of the driving experience, he says, “The CR-V's hybrid powertrain is totally innocuous, unless you know what you're doing and look at the fancy display, it would be hard to tell which power source you're using. From the start it's a quiet whisper and then you can hear the gas engine kicking in.”

article content

He says the power is "more than adequate" and that he and Harris drove the CR-V "as we normally would and we didn't have to make any adaptations to the routine. “Give it the whip, and it took really well and didn't go through too much commotion to get there,” he explains.

On driving and handling, he says, “I like vehicles for the driving experience they provide, and this CR-V was great. The steering felt very well connected with good feedback - it might even have been better than my 2013 Audi S4. There was very little body roll and no jolt feeling with a tight but pleasant ride.

In the hybrid CR-V there is 1,028 liters of cargo volume with the rear seats in the upright position (these also have a reclining feature), while when folded, there are 2,030 liters. “More than enough for our needs,” says Harold.

article content

article content

Harold and Harris drove the CR-V into town and also traveled north to Innisfail to see a used BMW F800 motorcycle - a machine he ended up buying, in fact. In this mix of conditions, after filling the tank and analyzing the numbers, Harold noticed that the hybrid returned 7.4L/100km. He says that number was very close to what the on-board computer showed, and Honda suggests the hybrid will get 6.4L/100km (combined).

“I thought what we got for fuel economy was pretty decent,” says Harold, and Harris concludes, “It fit me perfectly.”

DRIVER'S DIARY

JOURNEY 1

First impressions of the CR-V Touring Hybrid – it's a very attractive vehicle. It has a rather low, aggressive stance and a flattering silhouette. The dark blue color added to its overall good looks. Inside, it had some familiar features compared to our 2020 Honda Passport, so navigating the dash area was pretty easy. We took it into a spring snowstorm at night and found it to be very quiet and easy to drive.

article content

DIA 2

Tweaked in stereo to get better sound from premium system. As I understand it, hybrid power is provided by a system consisting of a gas engine, an electric generator, an electric motor and battery, all working in unison. The system works well and you only notice the gasoline engine when the accelerator pedal is pressed aggressively.

DIA 3

This is a good looking vehicle. I could get used to looking at him in the driveway. I think the design will age well. First gear on the highway as I head south on Stoney Trail. Impressed with a very smooth ride. Please believe that the windshield and front glass have a thicker than standard. After a trip to the grocery store, Mimi reported that it's not as easy to fold the rear seats as it is on our Passport, which has accessible buttons on the back that remotely fold the rear seats for extra storage when needed. Mimi found parking easy and liked the visibility of the screen better than with the Passport. She also commented on the good handling and quiet ride. Heading out to see an evening performance gave us a chance to check out the CR-V in a more urban setting. We think it will make a great city vehicle with easy parking and high visibility in most directions.

article content

DAY 4

Drive to Innisfail to check out a used motorcycle. Google maps via CarPlay helped us navigate to our destination. Occasionally the gas engine would fire on a steep hill, but other than that the powertrain was not noticeable. User challenges were eventually overcome to make cruise control work. He reminded me that it would be smart to review the manual before taking any kind of road trip with a new car. Not surprisingly, the precise handling and quiet cabin make the CR-V a great long-haul vehicle (in line with the Touring model level).

DAY 5

Drive to Balzac to help a friend with a job in his caravan. Leaving Bucars, one of their salespeople rushed over to ask a few questions about the car. He was looking for a mid-size SUV and was taken by the CR-V's new exterior styling. There was a two year old CR-V lying around for comparison and the 2023 looks much longer and sleeker. The seller also praised the exterior paint color and its high-quality leather interior. The ride home on QE2 and Stoney was silent, allowing for easy conversation with my friend. He was only interrupted occasionally by the gas engine revving up a hill, which made him turn his head to see what was making so much noise. This would be the only crash in a model vehicle.

DAY 6

He washed the car and took another look at the flake paint sharpened in the sun. I appreciated the speed limit detection and display capability while driving around town and speed limits are always changing. Being a hybrid, I was curious to know what the mileage would be (7.4 L/100 km calculated). This is within my expectations and I think a higher proportion of city driving would give even better mileage.

Check out the latest Honda CR-V Hybridhere.