The new SUV hasn’t been officially revealed, yet here it is.
Honda’s worst-kept secret, the new CR-V, made an unofficial debut back in February when fully revealing patent images of the exterior showed the SUV’s evolutionary styling. These matched what we had seen in spy shots on a couple of occasions last year when camouflaged prototypes were caught testing. The sixth-gen model is now making the headlines, and once again, we’re taking a closer look ahead of its official premiere.
The revamped model has been homologated in China by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. As part of the process, images of upcoming models are published on the MIIT site, so they’re as legit as possible. While these photos depict the version that will be sold in the world’s most populous country, the global model should be virtually identical. It’s certainly not the most exciting design out there, but it does look more modern than the aging fifth-generation model on sale since 2016.
We also have some specs to go along with these images. The 2023 CR-V from the local Dongfeng Honda joint venture stretches at 4,703 millimeters (185.1 inches) long, 1,866 mm (73.4 in) wide, and 1,690 mm (66.5 in) tall. While it may seem that you’re looking at the same car, there are two different vehicles depicted in the adjacent photo gallery. The one featuring all-wheel drive is a five-seater model while the one without the AWD badge on the tailgate accommodates up to seven people.
If you’re wondering about weight, both tip the scales at around 1,685 kilograms (3,714 pounds) and have a wheelbase measuring 2,700 mm (106.2 in). Power is provided by a turbocharged 1.5-liter gasoline engine rated at 190 hp (142 kW) sent to the road via CVT. This hardware setup is good for a top speed of 117 mph (188 km/h). The CR-Vs shown here have different wheels as the FWD model sits on 17-inch alloys while the AWD version has a larger 18-inch set.
An official reveal is likely scheduled to take place in the coming months, but as you can see, the cat is (mostly) out of the bag already.
