New Honda CR-V teased

The all-new 2023 Honda CR-V has been officially teased for the first time, ahead of its world debut in mid-2022 and its Australian release, potentially before the end of this year.

As we already know from spy shots and leaked images, Honda’s sixth-generation mid-size SUV will grow in size, wear a more aggressive design and be available with a petrol-electric hybrid – and perhaps plug-in hybrid – powertrain for the first time.

That will make the 2023 Honda CR-V a direct competitor for Australia’s top-selling hybrid vehicle, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, as well as the largest medium SUVs including the Mitsubishi Outlander, Skoda Kodiaq and Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace, with five- and seven-seat versions set to continue.

Leaked Chinese specifications indicate the new CR-V will ride on a 2700mm wheelbase and measure 4703mm long, 1866mm wide and 1690mm high – up 40mm, 65mm, 10mm and 10mm respectively over the current model.

The expanded dimensions will make room for an all-new small/medium Honda SUV that will be positioned beneath the 2023 CR-V and the new-for-2022 HR-V light SUV, to be called the ZR-V – a nameplate that’s already been trademarked in Australia and will also be used in Japan and Europe, although it will be badged as the HR-V in the US.

The new Honda HR-V e:HEV L hybrid, which already commands a six-month-long waiting list and petrol-powered Vi X may eventually be joined by a cheaper variant, but expect the new CR-V to arrive here in at least a single, highly-specified and expensive model variant, as part of the Japanese brand’s new ‘agency’ sales model with fixed national drive-away pricing.

All three models within Honda Australia’s expanded SUV range will be available with hybrid power, which along with a hot Type R performance flagship is also coming to the latest Honda Civic hatch this year.

No technical details of the new CR-V have been announced by Honda, whose North American released these three teaser images and the statement: “Rugged and sophisticated design. Increased versatility. A more advanced hybrid system for a sportier driving experience and more capability.”

As you can see here, the current CR-V’s ‘happy’ headlights will be replaced by slimmer, back-swept LED units and, while its rear haunches and presumably side shoulder line will be more pronounced, a sharper version of the model’s trademark vertically stacked tail-light design continues to extend up the D-pillar to a tailgate spoiler.

Large blacked-out grille openings, silver dual exhaust outlet surrounds and matching front foglight bezels complete the more athletic look, while a hybrid badge appears on the tailgate and a subtle AWD logo resides on the rear windscreen.

Under the bonnet, expect a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder to continue to deliver around 140kW and 240Nm to either the front or all four wheels via a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).

Meantime, the hybrid version should deliver more performance than the 158kW/315Nm 2.0-litre petrol/electric powertrain in the existing CR-V available overseas.

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