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The Honda HR-V is one of the most important new 2023 vehicles for Honda. It’s Honda’s new entry-level crossover SUV and it aims to capture a big part of the market. The new one is larger, in every dimension, and comes with new styling that updated it, too. But, it looks like there’s one flaw that could slow down this all-new crossover’s sales.

Why is the Honda HR-V not good?

silver 2023 Hond aHR-V parked on a street
2023 Honda HR-V Sport | Honda

The new for 2023 Honda HR-V comes with a ton of upgrades over the old one. The new HR-V is built on the new Civic platform, while the 2022 was based on the long-gone Honda Fit. That new Civic platform comes with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 158 horsepower, and that’s part of the problem. In a recent test at Motor Trend, an all-wheel drive EX-L took an amazingly long 9.8 seconds to accelerate to 60 miles per hour. For comparison, a Toyota Tacoma truck can do the 0-60 sprint in 7.7 seconds.

That means it’s slow. In fact, it’s slower than even the last version which had just 141 horsepower, which could get you to 60 in about 9.6 seconds. Of course, those times come from the heavier all-wheel drive version, and with all the cool (but heavier) extras that come in a full-loaded EX-L.  We’d expect a front-wheel drive version with fewer options to be a bit quicker, but not by much. Also, the new version has worse fuel economy than the 2022 version.

How much will the 2023 Honda CRV cost?

2023 Honda HR-V EXl
2023 Honda HR-V EX-L interior | Honda

The Honda HR-V comes in three trim levels. The HR-V starts at $23,650 and goes all the way up to $28,950. All-wheel drive is a $1,500 option on any HR-V, before destination fees. All versions can be ordered with a variety of packages such as the protection packages, the HPD Package, or the Rugged Package which all have a variety of fender flares, splash guards, and door trim. The big thing that’s missing on the LX version that’s standard on the other versions of the HR-V is the blind-spot information system. It has a single-zone HVAC system, and simple gray 17-inch wheels. 

Does a 0-60 time matter?

A zero-to-60 time matters, but not in all the ways you may think. Basically, manufacturers and car magazines test how quick a car is so you can compare it to others, and it’s not really a reflection of how fast your car will go in the real world. The tests that magazines use are two-way averages that, by using sophisticated timing systems, “correct” for variables like altitude, temperature, and more.

Regardless, 9.8 seconds is slow. To put it in perspective, in a theoretical stop-light drag race, a 1998 Toyota Sienna minivan would beat the new HR-V. By a lot.

Related

Don’t Buy a 2022 HR-V, Wait for the 2023 HR-V Instead

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Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.