Next Honda CR-V rendered

The sixth-generation Honda CR-V broke cover back in March when spy photos of the all-new mid-size SUV were snapped in Europe, and now a new render provides a better idea of how it will look.

These com-gens posted by Kolesa.ru take the new-look slim-line headlights and grille treatment seen in the spy pics and blend them into an undisguised form to reveal a contemporary new take on Honda’s most iconic SUV.

Inspired by the next-gen Honda HR-V, which is set to arrive in Australia early in 2022, the unofficial CR-V render offers up a cleaner, less busy design than the current model.

It’s not known when the new Honda CR-V will break cover officially, or when it will eventually land in Australia, where the current CR-V was launched in 2016.

But given most mainstream models have an average shelf life of about six years these days, the next CR-V could be expected to appear in late 2022 as a MY23 vehicle.

To compete with the top-selling Toyota RAV4 and other popular models in the medium SUV segment – Mazda CX-5, Nissan X-TRAIL, Subaru Forester, Hyundai Tucson and Mitsubishi Outlander – the new Honda CR-V will likely benefit from significant upgrades in driver assistance tech.

A new interior concept is likely to mirror the upmarket design seen in the new Honda Civic hatch, which is set for a late 2021 local launch.

That would mean a new 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, along with a larger, free-standing tablet-style central touch-screen with improved connectivity features.

The spy photos show what appears to be a longer vehicle than the current version, so it’s expected that seven-seat model grades will continue to be part of the CR-V portfolio. It’s not clear if the longer bonnet means a shift in engine strategy though.

Like the new HR-V and Civic, the next-gen CR-V will also bring a hybrid powertrain, which would be a first for the model in Australia. A 2.0-litre e:HEV hybrid powertrain (158kW/315Nm) is already offered with the CR-V in overseas markets, but it’s not clear whether this will be updated, replaced or carried over for the new generation.

Medium SUVs with hybrid powertrains in Australia currently include the Toyota RAV4 and Subaru Forester, while the MG HS and Mitsubishi Outlander offer plug-in hybrid versions.

Given Honda’s shift to a new fixed-priced, no haggle sales strategy, as well as the upmarket shift for the new Civic and the upward trend of new car prices market-wide, the next CR-V SUV could become a more expensive vehicle too.

For reference, the current CR-V is accompanied by drive-away pricing of between $35,300 and $53,200.