If you’re waiting for the Honda CR-V to finally spice things up with attractive upgrades, you aren’t alone. We’ve been tracking clues about the 2023 Honda CR-V for months and finally got a juicy lead. The new design may have been leaked. 

Here’s what the 2023 Honda CR-V might look like 

According to MotorTrend, the 2023 Honda CR-V’s design patent may have been leaked. This provides clues about the upcoming generation. The Honda CR-V has looked the same since 2016, so it’s past due for an upgrade. 

The patent displays a revised front end with a more prominent grille and thin headlights. Perhaps they will be LED. Also, the grille lines flow down to the fog lamps and front vent cluster. It looks similar to the new Honda HR-V. 

While the side profile looks mostly unchanged, the side mirrors look like they have been moved to the car doors. Also, a larger crease extends from the front headlights to the rear to provide a more shapely look. 

But we haven’t seen the rear end. It may gain a new taillight design and a revised tailgate. The shape of the rear bumper could be updated too. 

What to expect with the 2023 CR-V 

We hope to learn more about the 2023 Honda CR-V soon. Honda typically releases new vehicle designs toward the end of the summer. Perhaps we will get a few more updates during the spring. 

It will arrive just before the Toyota RAV4 gets a facelift, giving it fresh competition. Some critics suggest that the new CR-V looks longer, meaning it could have a third row. However, the Honda Pilot is doing just fine as the family hauler in the lineup. 

The 2022 Honda CR-V has a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 190 hp and 179 lb-ft of torque. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 8.2 seconds, which is adequate. We hope for a little more power to make things more engaging. 

Also, the hybrid engine pumps out 212 hp. An updated hybrid powertrain and an all-electric model may arrive later. The current CR-V hybrid gets an EPA-estimated 40 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway. These figures are excellent. 

Will the 2023 CR-V have better features? 

The 2023 Honda CR-V will have much-needed tech upgrades. Base models currently come with a 5.0-inch color radio screen, while other models get a 7.0-inch touchscreen. At least it comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 

Adding more physical controls would be beneficial. Plus, the system is noted for having slow responses, and it doesn’t have an auxiliary input. Perhaps it will gain wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 

We can speculate that the CR-V might gain ventilated seats, a head-up display, a larger panoramic moonroof, an upgraded sound system, more USB and USB-C ports, and a digital gauge cluster. But we will have to wait and see. 

The current model has standard forward-collision warning, automated emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Perhaps these features will be enhanced to include pedestrian and cyclist detection. 

We will keep you updated as we learn more about the 2023 Honda CR-V. So far, we know that the Toyota RAV4 should be nervous.