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Honda redesigned and reimagined the 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid for 2023, but it left off one key thing that many SUV buyers want. Up until 2022, the CR-V Hybrid was only available as an all-wheel drive SUV. For 2023, that’s no longer standard. All wheel drive is an option, and that may be a good thing.

The 2023 CR-V Hybrid mpg is better than ever

2023 CR-V Hybrid badge
2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid badge | Honda

The new 2023 CR-V Hybrid mpg is better than ever. Thanks to its efficient hybrid drive, the EPA says it gets up to 43 mpg in the city and 36 on the highway. The EPA said that the 2022 version of the five-passenger hybrid SUV got 38 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway. That’s not bad at all, but the new one is better because it ditches the heavy, power-sapping, all-wheel drive mechanisms.

Sure, you can add all-wheel drive for $1,500 to the 2023, but that will drop your mpg rating. With all-wheel drive, the city mileage drops to 40 mpg in the city. All CR-V Hybrids get a new 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with a two-motor hybrid electric booster. The combined output is 204 horsepower.

Do you really need all-wheel drive

2023
2023 Honda CR-V EX-L | Honda

The benefits of all-wheel drive are obvious because with four tires giving you traction, you can get though bad weather, mud, snow and who knows what else with ease. But all-wheel drive comes with some drawbacks, including extra cost, complexity, decreased mileage, and extra weight. So, if you’re buying a hybrid SUV to save on gas, why would you want to buy an inefficient version?

The CR-V, like every other new SUV, has traction control. That means that a computer recognizes when a tire is slipping and can compensate by hitting the brakes, cutting engine power, or increasing power to the wheel that has most traction. Today’s front-wheel drive vehicles, like the 2023 Honda CR-V, can often match their all-wheel drive counterparts in all but the most extreme conditions.

What’s the difference between a Hybrid CR-V and a regular CR-V?

The 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid and regular CR-V are, basically, the same vehicle with different powertrains. The new CR-V Hybrid is the most powerful hybrid version of the CR-V yet, with 204 horsepower. The Hybrid makes more power than the regular gas-powered version. The 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gas version of the CR-V makes 190 horsepower.

The big difference is in price, though even that isn’t much. The regular CR-V starts at $31,110. The Hybrid version starts at $32,450. Oh, and the gas mileage difference could save you quite a bit. The gas version gets just 28 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway.

What is new for the 2023 CR-V?

2023 Honda CR-V interior
2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring interior | Honda

Both versions of the CR-V got a redesign for 2023. The previous version has been around since the 2017 model year. The new version is slightly longer and wider, which is reflected in its larger cargo area and increased legroom. But, of course, the new more rugged styling is what will attract many buyers. Inside, Honda replaced the tiny, standard 5.0-inch screen in the 2022 version with a much more generous 7.0-inch screen in the 2023 version, or a 9.0-inch version in higher-level trims.

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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.