2023 Honda CR-V interior revealed ahead of July 12 debut

Honda has shown the interior of its sixth-generation CR-V ahead of the full reveal on July 12.

It’s already teased the front and rear ends of its mid-sized SUV, and images have already been leaked out of China.

The new CR-V follows the Civic in offering a dashboard with clean lines and a distinctive, honeycomb-patterned insert running from the steering wheel to the passenger door which disguises the air vents.

There’s what appears to be a full digital instrument cluster, with one view simulating analogue gauges. The Civic offers a 10.25-inch digital display overseas.

The touchscreen for the infotainment system is larger. The current model features a now quite small 7.0-inch screen, while the new Civic is sold here with a 9.0-inch unit.

Honda says it’ll soon roll out vehicles with embedded Android Automotive, though it’s unclear if the CR-V will be a recipient.

The CR-V’s now tablet-style screen sits further up than the current car’s screen, and the shifter has been moved further down.

The latter change gives the CR-V’s dashboard a more car-like (and less MPV-like) look.

The featured model offers orange accent stitching on the shifter, seats and steering wheel, while attractive metal-look inserts can be found on the dash and doors.

Other features present include a heated steering wheel, heated seats, and hill descent control.

The smaller North American HR-V, expected to be sold in markets like Australia and Europe as the ZR-V, features a similar interior design albeit with an arguably sportier-looking centre console.

Expect the next-generation Accord to follow this new, cleaner design language.

Likewise, earlier teasers and leaked images of the CR-V show its exterior design has a neater, crisper style.

The CR-V’s trademark high-mounted tail lights remain, but there are flatter surfaces and a sharp shoulder line running the length of the vehicle.

It appears Honda may offer a sportier-looking variant, as evidenced by previous teasers showing a CR-V with a blacked-out grille.

It’s larger, too – in China the new CR-V measures 4703mm long, 1866mm wide, 1690mm tall, and rides on a 2700mm wheelbase.

This means it’s 68mm longer, 11mm wider, 11mm taller, and has a 40mm longer wheelbase than the current car.

For the Chinese market, the new CR-V will be available with either five or seven seats, and we’d expect the same for the local model considering Honda Australia has said the current three-row CR-V is filling the outgoing Odyssey’s seven-seater role for the time being.

With a longer wheelbase, the new CR-V could offer a more spacious third row. The current car’s third row, like those of rivals such as the Nissan X-Trail, is best saved for occasional use by small children.

A leaked Chinese Government filing reveals the CR-V will offer a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 142kW of power.

It’s mated with a continuously-variable transmission and either front- or all-wheel drive.

Honda has confirmed the CR-V will offer a hybrid, as the outgoing model currently does in markets like Europe and the US.

The company has previously confirmed all new model launches locally will feature the option of a hybrid powertrain.

The outgoing CR-V Hybrid (not sold in Australia) featured a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, with total system outputs of 158kW and 315Nm.

A plug-in hybrid is a possibility, given Honda recently introduced one in the CR-V in China.

With the CR-V growing in size, that frees up some space for a third SUV model for the local line-up.

Honda Australia has confirmed one will come in the next 12-18 months, and it’ll offer a hybrid option.

It’s almost certain to be the North American HR-V (aka ZR-V), which will slot in between the ‘global’ HR-V sold here plus the CR-V.