2023 Honda CR-V V Turbo CVT – Is the new entry variant worth the coin?
If anyone’s noticed anything about the 2023 lineup, it’s that the entry-level variant, the Honda CR-V V, starts at a pretty unprecedented price point. Much of Honda’s beloved crossover’s following has grown, and despite that price sheet fact, we still see many of them being purchased and rolling along our roads. What is it, then, that the V maintains, so much so that its cost doesn’t seem to matter to the CR-V faithful? Let’s have a look, shall we?
Why does the Honda CR-V V Turbo CVT remain top-of-mind for many?
First of all, we’d like to reiterate that we are looking at the entry-level variant, the CR-V V. Starting with its looks, the overall shape of this 6th iteration looks almost exactly the same as that of the past generation. The sharp corners have been retained while it’s very-well balanced by subtle bulges and creases, all of which are most obvious when looking at the side. That said, this variant comes with black accent pieces on the bumpers and the side skirts. Odd, too, that this test unit had something of a stepboard installed. That places it lower towards the ground, which, in my opinion, is a scraping hazard on our roads.
The front is also reminiscent of the 5th generation. The 2023 CR-V V maintains a very prominent matte black grill with an alternating horizontal slat pattern, finished in black. The LED headlights neatly incorporate themselves into the grill’s top corners and a solid, horizontal accent piece brings the look together. The bumper also looks more muscular this time around with stronger corners that drop into the very conservative LED foglight housings. Perhaps it’s just me, but black accents that run to the bottom of a bumper make any car’s front fascia stand out. Very “macho”, if I may say so.
The rear contrasts greatly with the front. As (minimally) fancy as the fascia goes, the rear has a lot of negative space on it. “Negative space”, meaning everything below the taillights on the tailgate is void of any adornments. Save for a few badges, plus the wide black rear skirt, the CR-V V looks pretty high off the ground. I’ll compare this to my opinion on the rear end of the HR-V, that it looks “chopped off”; however, the way that the taillight assemblies hug the D-pillar and, along with the tailgate wing, frame the wide backglass still make it attractive overall. Again, “macho”.
When you go inside the CR-V V, the first thing you’ll notice is the heavily different dashboard. The 6th generation CR-V was made to keep up with Honda’s current design language – a look that’s shared with the current Civic – and that’s your first cue that this is, indeed, a new model. Gone is the infotainment screen that’s tucked in the center stack as it’s now placed atop the center of the dashboard.
With the infotainment screen being mentioned, you get yourself a 9-inch unit. Resolution may be better, but it’s not bad at all; some colors just look a little washed out. The view from the camera is better, though, but still lags behind others. Not a deal-breaker, mind you.
Haptic controls for the AC have also been done away with and rotary dials now take their place. I was never a fan of the former controls, so this is a breath of fresh air. Further down sits a wireless charging pad, a USB-3 and USB-C socket, a leather-wrapped shift knob with a leather shift boot, toggles for functions like the e-brake and brake hold to its left, cupholders to its aft, and very wide armrest lid that can serve as a place to prop your shoulder on.
Most importantly, there sits a 10.2-inch gauge cluster in front of the driver of the CR-V V. The colors and brightness on this unit are both very impressive, with colors and the information that they bear coming out rather crisp and clear. It is very minimal in its functional displays, and if I were to point something out, it’s the fact that the right dial looks just a little bit cluttered with the speed, odometer, and other driving information such as the fuel economy, trip meter, and remaining mileage are all crammed with the dial. I understand that there’s no space for a bit of a smaller MID in the middle of the gauge, so this will have to do.
Nitpicking, more like, no?
The CR-V V’s interior is upholstered in two-tone, black and brown leather. Allow me to say that the design is rather attractive, and a very good balance to a “sporty” (by way of the slatted seat and backrest) look and subtle (by way of the smooth lines on the door sidings and seat bolsters). In front, I find that the driver and passenger are both well-supported by the seat bolsters and padding. It won’t hold you in as a proper bucket would – this is a crossover, yes? – but the padding is very supple and comfortable.
Much can be said about the CR-V V’s rear seats. The middle row is intended for 3, and yes, we can fit three adults but expect a tad bit of a squeeze. It won’t be as uncomfortable in a smaller crossover, but the CR-V’s middle row holds its own in the space and comfort department. Also, the CR-V V also has a 3rd row. Yes, there are two extra seats in the very rear which, while as well-padded as they are, are better reserved for smaller adults or little children. It gets to be a bit of a squeeze in the 3rd row as far as shoulder and headroom are concerned.
Seeing that the CR-V V is a 3-row, 7-seater crossover, the rearmost seats fold down for additional trunk space if more people space is not needed. The trunk is bi-level, with a lower compartment for smaller things such as shoe boxes or maybe a laptop bag that you’ll store on its back, and the top level is for the bigger cargo like boxes, gym bags, golf bags, and others of the same sort. Safe to say that you are not left wanting for luggage space in the CR-V V, and that’s always a good thing anyone could and should expect from a crossover.
Now, on to the CR-V V’s comfort and performance.
Make no mistake that the ride that many have come to expect from this crossover has also been carried over into the 6th generation. The CR-V V’s ride is very comfortable. I was honestly expecting it to be softer, wallowy, but I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t. Yes it was soft, but it didn’t have the “maalon” quality that some of its competitors do. Handling is also quite good, although it takes a bit more input on the steering wheel to feel any feedback. It’s not tack-sharp when steering, but it does respond quickly with the steering wheel’s movements.
As for the engine, the 1.5-liter turbocharged mill is mated to a CVT. It makes about 190 HP and its torque, all 240 Nm of it, is already available at 1,500 RPM to 5,000 RPM. Pull is noticeable and may very well be helped along by the turbo. The CR-V V has no problems moving forward from a standstill and it can also climb up the speedometer with a great deal of ease. It’s not meant to be quick, but it is pretty fast.
The one noticeable result of this engine-transmission-vehicle weight combination is the CR-V V’s fuel consumption. At its worst, I was able to only get 8.3 kilometers per liter. This did not include the horrendous Commonwealth-Katipunan traffic that I brave daily, and being realistic about it, it could drop lower if that were the case. However, city driving along open roads did net me close to 10 kilometers per liter, including some spirited bursts. We can imagine that it can possibly do upwards of 15 kilometers plus per liter on the highway. Overall, not as bad as it could be, but also not stellar. “Good” is a good baseline.
And now comes the sticking point. The 2023 Honda CR-V V is priced at a hefty PHP 2,100,000.
One of the key additions to the entire range is that even the entry-level CR-V V comes with the brand’s proprietary safety suite Honda SENSING. It includes a very long list of safety features such as Adaptive Cruise Control, Collision Mitigation Braking System, Lane Keeping Assist System, and Forward Collision Warning among many others. Safety is something of a premium for any vehicle, and it’s pretty clear that it’s one of the reasons why the CR-V may cost this much.
That and many other factors such as hardware shortages, material and production costs, and importation taxes all have a say on the CR-V V’s price tag.
That said, and all these notwithstanding, you still get a comfortable, spacious, relatively fuel-efficient, and attractive Honda crossover with a CR-V V. Many will argue that it’s very expensive because it is. But we can say that the CR-V V will get you your money’s worth if you have it.
More photos of the 2023 Honda CR-V V
