The new CR-V nails what makes a great CR-V, but it misses on much of what makes a great modern compact SUV.
That slip in the handling figures turned out to be a harbinger. In all of our other tests, the new CR-V failed to match or beat its predecessor. Tipping the scales at 3,613 pounds , the new CR-V is 92 pounds heavier than the '21 Touring. Despite the same output from the same engine—190 hp and 179 lb-ft—the new CR-V took 8.7 seconds to get to 60 mph, 0.9 second longer than the old CR-V, and it ran the quarter-mile in 16.7 seconds at 86.4 mph, 0.6 second and 0.
Lest you think that '21 CR-V Touring was a particularly good sample, well, it wasn't—it was actually the slowest of several fifth-gen examples we tested. Now, to be fair to Honda, the 2023 CR-V we tested was a very early production model. But to be fair to us, we've tested other early-production Hondas and found their performance to be consistent with regular production models, which is a testament to the brand's legendary build quality.
Our performance test results weren't the only letdown. Opinions on exterior styling were mixed; some staffers thought it looked nose-heavy while others found it a welcome deviation from the bulbous shape of previous CR-Vs. Most of us, however, agreed that the dash design felt dated. It's extremely user-friendly, mind you-the classic two-dial instrument panel has been a successful and unambiguous way of communicating information for decades.
with thoughtful touches, has curtailed them so mercilessly on this latest CR-V. Much as we like the CR-V's space and driver appeal, we'd happily trade a bit of both for more of those little extras that make day-to-day life with an SUV easier, or at least more with the times. And while we're whining, Honda is an innovator in small, powerful engines—the 1.
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