The 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid Gets Things Done With More Refinement

The Honda CR-V has always been a family favorite. The all-new 6th generation is ready to take the brood on their next adventure. The big news? There’s a new hybrid powertrain with more powerful electric motors that are mounted side-by-side now. Available in front or all-wheel drive, it’s EPA rated as high as 40 MPG average. Tom Voelk checks out the AWD Sport Touring model to see if it can get that kind of efficiency.

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About Tom: Tom Voelk is an award-winning automotive contributor to The New York Times. His podcast was the first to win an Emmy Award (and he's won for photography, editing, producing and reporting). But really, all you need to know is in the videos.

00:00 INTRO
00:40 Price
1:07 Powertrain
2:57 Performance
4:10 Off Roading
4:49 One Pedal Driving?
5:52 Vehicle Dynamics
6:36 Efficiency
7:10 Interior
8:35 Back Seat
9:28 Design
9:57 Cargo
10:56 Red Light Green Light
12:06 Summary
13:19 Epilogue
13:50 Martin!
14:14 Before I go, let’s talk sound

[pdbordelon]

I just bought, 2 days ago, the 2024 Honda CRV Hybrid Sport. Wow what a car. It's got a magic carpet feel and not for someone who wants a "performance road feel" car. Still, there is a feel to this car that has to be experienced to believe and understand.

[LanceRomanceFE]

First time Honda buyer completely happy with my 2023 CR-V Hybrid Sport. Great looking SUV inside and out, comfortable ride, quiet and sporty (enough). Paid MSRP and waited three weeks for delivery. Getting 34.6 MPG with commuter driving. Had just one flat in 30+ yrs driving, so no concerns with no spare unless in a very remote area. The foam quick fix works for most flats- no worries. Only neg is no built in garage door opener or ventilated seats. Living in the South, I’d trade my heated seats and steering wheel for that option every time. BL: This is the best car I’ve ever had. Sorry Porsche. sorry Bimmer. Sorry Ford.

[texasjoe]

I bought the touring and absolutely love it. I am 6’ 1” and fit comfortably. a few things I have noticed that need attention. The TSR needs an update. It misses traffic signs and often gets them wrong. rear camera has issues at night with glare due to other ambient light sources. I did price Hyundai and Kia at the time of purchase and they wanted hefty market adjustment premiums making the CRV less. money. I am exceeding the mpg ratings for highway and city but I do the speed limit and no jack rabbit starts. I use B mode in town and D on the highway- setting on economy. I’m getting 43 city and 38 highway- No a/c on. With ac and you lose 2 mpg, putting it in line with the stated fuel efficiency. Just wanted to share. you do a superlative job on your videos. Nice work. Congratulations to your cameraman. We need more Dad’s like him. Happy Motoring from Central Texas!

[Mojo]

Congratulations Martin! I wish you and your family all the happiness, health, and longevity you could wish for. Thank you once again. You're appreciated.

[carlosux]

im constantly impressed by your reviews. no wasted words / frames / time. jeez how do you storyboard for the little stuff.

[MarioDallaRiva]

My son and his young family rented a CR-V Hybrid in Palm Springs recently. He was shocked at how little fuel it consumed in their time there 👍🏼 Great vehicle when you have young kids.

[tonyboone]

I bought a 2023 CR-V Sport Hybrid a couple of weeks ago. Really am enjoying it.
Getting 36.4 mpg.

[Brayant]

I bought the sportage hybrid minus $400 MSRP for the Sx prestige. I can't be more happier. It has everything the CrV lacks and I love the design because it stands out from the crowded sea of cross overs. Ventilated seats, Panoramic sunroof, 360 degree camera, smart park, 12.3 inches of infotainment and digital instrument cluster display and its all wrapped around in a curved display not tacked on like an iPad 😀. 8.3inches ground clearance, 6 speed auto transmission and spare tire for a peace of mind when venturing out the wilderness. And it is rated 38mpg combined. I'm currently averaging the EPA ratings. There's so much more to the sportage and it still undercuts the Crv by $2000.

[leeholden]

I own a Mk2 CR-V as a first car. In 14 months I’m coming up to 11, 000 miles covered so far and we love it. When we bought it we was only thinking of owning it 2-4 years depending how much we pump into it. At the start it needed a bit spending on it, but since we covered the few replacement parts (discs, pads and a rear caliper, front strut, o2 sensor and a replacement CAT) we’ve only paid out for a set of all season tyres (£500) and rubber bushes etc (£170) for a 20 year old car with 124, 000 miles on the clock I think it still go a lot of miles left it in. Previous owner also removed the rear prop shaft to make it just a FWD vehicle which people have said gives a little more fuel economy and we only use E5 petrol. I believe the mk2 was very popular in the USA

[StacieS]

I pick up my Sport Touring in Meteorite Gray Metallic tomorrow. I have waited almost 3 months since putting a deposit down on it, but worth it. Coming from a 19 MPG Grand Cherokee Trailhawk with the 5.7L Hemi that takes mid-grade gas, this is going to be like night and day for me.

[jp]

We’re a CR-V family with a 2010 and 2015 in our driveway. We also owned a 1999 first-gen with the load floor/picnic table! That being said, the Kia Sportage hybrid is pretty high on our shopping list this time.

[evcoo]

Love your videos Tom. Something so soothing yet informational about your reviews.

[arevee]

Fantastic reviews. Well-spoken, without dozens of filler words like "you guys", no talk of felt-lined glove boxes or door thunks, and one of the few reviewers who actually show the utility of a utility vehicle by folding down the seats and showing us the unfilled backside - with decent lighting. Mr. Voelke, consider giving some of the other Youtube reviewers some elocution lessons - and some schooling in a few other key areas as well.

[nsteblay]

I bought the sport touring a few weeks back and am averaging over 37 MPG. It all depends on the average MPH and weather conditions for a given trip. The car is geared for Urban/Suburban commuting. I'm not sure I could even get it to average 32 MPG for a trip without getting a ticket!

[SM-jurj]

I just bought the 2023 Crv touring in black and I love it! Super smooth drive and excellent on gas. I traded in my gas guzzler Grand Cherokee

[donpaulweatherpluspaul]

Extremely pleasant and detailed review, Tom. Of course, I'm biased since I have the precise CRV Sport Touring vehicle, leased about 3 weeks ago. I love it and the refinement you spoke of. I came out of 7 consecutive leased high-end Accords, including my most recent 2020 Accord Touring edition with its now-vanished great powertrain. (The new Accord is too long for my garage...hence the switch). The off-the-line torque you mentioned is spot on, so while this CRV is slowER than my Accords, it's not slow. Besides, it's essentially the same powertrain as in the 2023 Accord hybrid, excepting that I'm now in an AWD vehicle. This CRV SHOULD have included both the ventilated seats and the handy HUD display the Accord Touring had, especially at this price point. Other than that, however, the cornering is surprisingly very good with little body roll. I'm sure the new Accord Touring is also quieter than previous Accords, but the Sport Touring CRV is the quietest Honda I've had, and does a better job with road noise on coarse pavement than my 2020 Accord did. The Bose sound system is the best Honda's ever offered, also only available in the Sport Touring edition. Much better than the 450w system in my previous Accord. For my stiff knees, the just-right seat height in the CRV is, well, just right. So much easier than the low seats in the Accord for getting in and getting out. Some anecdotal scuttlebutt on Kias and Hyundais from my Honda dealer, which owns dealerships of those brands just down the road. My service manager told me a few months ago there have been an unusual number of major engine problems with some Kias and Hyundais. The fella who picks up and drops off service customers for all the dealerships on this road verified this, and there are lengthy parts delays to get the fixes on those flawed vehicles completed. The dealership owner has not only gotten those stricken customers rental cars, but is picking up their monthly car payments until their vehicles are returned to service. (This same dealer NEVER does markups on new cars at any of his many dealerships in Western New York. He gets, I would think, lots more return customers with ethical behavior.) For that reason, the supposed superior value in the Hyundai and Kia SUV competitors is mitigated in my mind by possible reliability problems, even with their superior warranty coverage. I'll happily stay with Honda. My blue CRV has been a head turner in the supermarket parking lot, "conservative" styling and all. It's an absolute beauty!

[r.c.drummrboy]

In Canada, rear seats are heated in the only available hybrid trim. I’m getting 39 mpg so far ( imperial gallons ) That’s about 33 mpg in US gallons.

[Wised]

As usual, a great review. We are utterly satisfied with our sport model. Note on B mode, the paddles have nothing to do with the (non existent) transmission they simply select how much regen you get. On B mode the level of regen will not automatically return to "normal". Instead, it will remain at the level selected. If you use the paddles in drive mode, the level of regen selected is only temporary. Thus, if you want to drive in (almost) one pedal, you must select B mode and then use the paddles to select the strogest regen level. As you pointed out, even when so selected, it does not come to a full stop. You still need to use the brake at the end. Regarding noise, even without the extra padding on the touring model, the hybrid is still the quietest CRV ever. The earlier models were actually very noisy. I agree with your review, there are no earth shattering changes from the previous model. In usual Honda fashion its an evolutionary transformation of what was a great vehicle made even better in almost all respects. The reason other manufacturers offer even more stuff is simple, they don't make an RDX. Honda is very cognizant of leaving a gap in equipment to give the also excellent RDX its market position.

[jameswohlsen]

Tom, been watching your videos for a couple of years now. I appreciate the video and sound quality and also the common sense commentary. Too many auto You Tubers seem to think that emphasizing the vehicles performance or off-road capabilities is all people want to hear about. While 0 to 60 times and wilderness chops may be important to some, I’m more interested in the drivability and comfort with day-to-day use. I also appreciate your advocacy of hybrid and EV models. I have a BMW 530e sitting at the dock in Germany waiting to be shipped (going on 4 weeks now … Keep up the good work!

[citibear]

I prefer the styling of the Accord, but the versatility of the CR-Vs cargo space makes it very tempting. Tom, I have commented on your excellent quality videos in the past, but I want to add that you choose wonderful locations for filming. I love seeing those beautiful, upscale Seattle neighborhoods with gorgeous homes and lush landscaping. I know that you are proud of your (hard) work, and rightly so. Thank you 👍