New Honda CR-V unveiled, European hybrid version to follow

The new Honda CR-V makes a nice growth spurt with its generation change. Honda’s new SUV is 4.69 meters long, which makes it about 10 centimeters longer than the outgoing generation. The wheelbase also increases, although the distance between the front and rear axles grows by 4 centimeters to a lesser extent than the total length of the SUV. The wheelbase is now 2.7 meters.

Dimensions and design

All those extra centimeters are quite welcome for the CR-V. Next year, Honda will also bring the ZR-V to the Netherlands, an SUV that is 4.57 meters long and has a wheelbase of 2.66 meters. If the CR-V had not grown, the ZR-V would be very close to its bigger brother in terms of size. The placement of the ZR-V between HR-V and CR-V keeps the pecking order in Honda’s SUV range neatly maintained. By the way, don’t be confused by the type names. The model called HR-V in Europe is not available in the United States. The ZR-V coming to Europe in 2023 bears the model name HR-V on the other side of the big puddle.

Honda CR-V

The appearance of the new Honda CR-V is no longer a big surprise for the fervent visitor of AutoWeek.nl. AutoWeek previously published photos of the new CR-V such as the joint venture GAC Honda that will sell in China. The new CR-V has a relatively angular body with flat, Civic-style headlights at the front, a fairly angular and a grille that extends further down than before. The ascending window line is retained and Honda also sticks to the rear lights that dive into the flap under the rear window, but which also go up next to the rear window.

Honda CR-V

Interior

Those who are familiar with the interiors of the HR-V, Civic and the forthcoming ZR-V will find little surprising in the CR-V. That’s not a punishment. The dashboard looks sleek and tidy and is exempt from too many frills. As in its still very young sister models, the CR-V has an optical ventilation grille running over the entire width of the dashboard. Just like in the Civic, the adjustment knobs of those grilles are round. The infotainment screen is centrally located on the dashboard, the island of buttons to operate the climate control system is two layers below. The infotainment screen measures 7 inches as standard and has a diameter of 9 inches in more expensive versions.

For the time being, we only see a version of the CR-V interior with a traditional automatic transmission lever. The Civic with hybrid powertrain does not have a selector stick here in Europe, but push buttons to control the transmission. We are aiming for the CR-V with (plug-in) hybrid powertrain destined for the Netherlands to also have such a control device.

Honda CR-V

Hybrid

A hybrid CR-V is not reserved for the European market. Honda is also launching a hybrid CR-V in the United States. The hybrid powertrain consists of 2.0 four-cylinder and two electric motors. The system power is 207 hp and 335 Nm. This makes it the most powerful powertrain that Honda hangs in the CR-V. The basic motorization is a 193 hp and 243 Nm strong blown 1.5 that is tied to a CVT automatic transmission. As mentioned, the CR-V will be launched in Europe with a hybrid powertrain and with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. Technical specifications of those power sources will follow later when Honda presents the European CR-V.

Honda CR-V

Since the Dutch introduction of the first generation CR-V, Honda has sold 12,816 copies in our country. Honda’s competitor of the Toyota RAV4 left the showroom 780 times in its first Dutch sales year (1998). In 2007 the CR-V had its best year with us, when 1,604 copies left the Honda dealers. In 2023 Honda will bring the CR-V to the Netherlands. In the United States, this CR-V is of immense importance. In 2021 Honda sold 361,271 copies. Although it is one of the most popular cars in the United States – if we do not count the large pick-ups – the CR-V had to beat its major competitor Toyota RAV4. Toyota sold no fewer than 407,739 RAV4s in America in 2021.