Honda North America begins production of 2023 CR-V

MANILA: Honda of Canada Mfg. (HCM) employees commenced the mass production of the brand-new 2023 Honda CR-V — the sixth generation of the best-selling crossover in America over the last 25 years.

As the 2023 Honda CR-V has just begun production as of this writing, we think the model would arrive in the Philippine market late next year or 2024.

The HCM plant in Canada, which has been producing the CR-V since 2012, is the industry leader globally. Production of the brand-new CR-V will start soon at the East Liberty Auto Plant (ELP) and Indiana Auto Plant (IAP) in Ohio, USA.

The Honda CR-V hybrid model will begin manufacturing in Canada the following month, followed by IAP and ELP. The manufacturing of the hybrid vehicle will be increased by Honda for the model to reach 50% of sales, which is an important step in the company's entire electrification strategy.

“Becoming the global lead plant for the 2023 Honda CR-V was a big challenge, and I’m proud of our experienced team at Honda of Canada Manufacturing and the level of teamwork we had in North America to create this incredible new product for our customers,” said Clement D’Souza, Senior Vice President of HCM.

“Next up is the CR-V hybrid that is more important than ever to the CR-V lineup and a model we are very excited to deliver to our Canadian customers for the first time.”

In showrooms in 2023, the brand-new Honda CR-V wears a tough yet stylish design, and comes in two turbocharged trim levels (EX and EX-L), as well as the hybrid-electric Sport and Sport Touring trims.

The new CR-V is larger and wider with premium proportions and a noticeably broader stance, furthering the new Honda design philosophy with a low horizontal beltline and a long, strong front end. It is ideal for everyday use or weekend getaways.

Supporting Honda’s popular SUV model is its bold new aesthetics with a more enjoyable driving attitude, assured and refined handling, and greater torque and performance.

For the CR-V, all three Honda facilities have collaborated closely to integrate new technologies and procedures in order to provide Honda's North American customers with a product that is both innovative and consistently of the highest quality.

The new CR-V’s hood — which is believed to be the largest in the model's history and is a crucial component of the strong appearance that satisfies Honda's rough vision for the brand's light truck portfolio — is one of the things the facilities still need to work on.

Honda production engineers collaborated with the development team to increase rigidity by increasing the thickness of the steel sheet and modifying the hood frame design so that it could be processed through the stamping and welding departments in order to deliver on this hood design in a mass production environment.

Externally, the 2023 CR-V has a prominent horizontal beltline that draws attention to its longer overall length (+2.7 inches), while its wider, more aggressive appearance is complemented by a wheelbase that is 1.6 inches larger and a width increase of 0.4 inches.

The CR-V's sportier proportions and enhanced visibility are directly related to the drastic relocation of its windscreen pillars. These A-pillars' bases have shifted 4.7 inches in the rearward direction, 2.8 inches outward, and 1.4 inches lower. These modifications significantly increase visibility when coupled with the new side mirrors that are positioned on the doors.

Standard LED headlights are incorporated onto that lengthy hood. The CR-V EX and EX-L models come standard with 18-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels, body-color side mirrors with integrated turn signals, and a gloss black grille mesh with chrome trim.

The sixth-generation CR-V is immediately recognized from the rear thanks to a sleek body-color roof spoiler and a new, all-LED rendition of the iconic vertical taillights.

The brand-new sporty and modern interior draws on the new Honda design approach with clean surfaces, high-quality materials, and upmarket details.

The 2023 CR-V is also more roomy and comfortable than ever, with rear seat legroom increasing by 0.6 inches and a noticeably bigger front-to-back pair distance. For greater comfort, the back seats now recline in eight different directions.

With a substantially improved 2.0-liter Atkinson cycle 4-cylinder engine that includes direct fuel injection and is coupled to a pair of electric motors that are now installed side-by-side, the 2023 Honda CR-V Sport and Sport Touring have an all-new fourth-generation two-motor hybrid-electric powertrain.

In slick environments like snow and mud, a revised Real Time AWD with Intelligent Control System enhances traction control. The system can now direct up to 50% of engine torque to the rear wheels, and it is standard on Sport Touring and available on all trim levels.

Hill Descent Control is a new function on the CR-V. The system, which is standard across the lineup, improves off-road prowess while giving the driver more control on slick, steep drops.

Photos from Honda

Also read: Honda Cars PH unveils all-new BR-V, HR-V RS variant at PIMS 2022