5 Reasons Why the CR-V Is the Best-Selling Honda Model in 2023
Honda is a Japanese auto giant that has a lot of great cars in its lineup, and one of its best cars overall is the CR-V. Recently, the automaker made the CR-V even better as it was redesigned for the 2023 model year. That’s helped make the Honda CR-V the automaker’s best-selling model, but there are five reasons why it’s continued to succeed.
Updated: 11/12
Here’s how well the Honda CR-V is selling
GoodCarBadCar released the most recent sales data for the CR-V, and it’s doing great. In the first four months of 2023, Honda has moved just over 99,000 units of the compact SUV. That made it the best-selling Honda model by a large margin, and it also made it one of the most popular vehicles overall. However, the Toyota RAV4 is the CR-V’s main rival, and it’s selling better overall.
In fact, the RAV4 is the most popular car in multiple states, such as New York and Oregon. The CR-V, meanwhile, is only the best-seller in one state, and that’s New Jersey. Regardless, there are a couple of reasons why the CR-V continues to be so popular
1. The 2023 Honda CR-V has an attractive redesigned exterior
One of those reasons, Edmunds pointed out, is the compact SUV’s new exterior design. It doesn’t make the car look wild or unique by any means, but it’s still a step up from the prior generation’s design. Overall, the car critic described the CR-V’s new design as “a classy yet restrained style.”
2. Honda gave the CR-V some great engines
Additionally, the CR-V continues to be an efficient workhorse. This is true with the standard powertrain option, and it’s especially true if drivers opt for the hybrid option. The standard option gets about 30 mpg combined, while the hybrid pushes that number up to 40 mpg combined.
On top of that, the Japanese automaker improved the power output of the hybrid powertrain, and it now gets 204 hp. That’s a bump from last year’s 201-hp powertrain.
3. It has a comfortable and smooth ride
The Honda SUV is also a comfortable car to be in as the car “rides well” and provides a smooth experience overall. It’s not perfect by any means, and passengers can feel bumps in the road when they’re in the CR-V. However, the cabin is well-insulated, as folks won’t hear much noise from the road.
4. The 2023 Honda CR-V is spacious for passengers and cargo
The big reason why the CR-V is such a good car is because it’s practical, and that’s what many drivers are looking for. An example of that practicality is how much space the $28,000 compact SUV has. There are over 41 inches of legroom in the front and rear seats. The rear seats have 38 inches of headroom, while the front seats have 40 inches. Both rows of seats also have over 50 inches of shoulder and hip room.
The Honda SUV is also one of the most spacious options in terms of cargo capacity. Drivers have access to 39.3 cu. Ft. of space without having to fold any seats down. When the rear seats are folded down, that number jumps up to 76.5 cu. Ft.
5. It has easy-to-use controls
The compact Honda SUV comes standard with a 7-inch touchscreen and that can be upgraded into a 9-inch one. No matter which option drivers choose, though, the infotainment system that’s behind that touchscreen is easy to use. It’s responsive to the touch, and the car’s smart safety features are in a similar boat as they work well and are easy to use.
