Everyone loves a new car. There’s something special about being the first person to own one, and few things in life beat the new car smell. In addition, new car buyers also enjoy the full extent of the factory warranties, and will typically enjoy a couple of special incentives from the selling dealer, like a few free oil changes or a complimentary tank of gas. However, these perks do come with a price, one that’s much higher than a lot of folks are willing to pay.
That’s where the 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid comes into its own. Sure, if you end up buying one today, it will be used with one of two owners under its belt. However, when you buy used, you’re typically going to get a lot more “car” for the same amount of money you’d pay for a new car of equal value. A fully-loaded ’23 CR-V Hybrid costs roughly the same as something like a brand-new, base-spec Chevrolet Equinox. Bearing that in mind, who doesn’t like a healthy dose of bang-for-your-buck?
Related
10 Used Hybrids You Can Buy For Less Than A New Corolla
These are the best used hybrids that cost less than the base MSRP of a 2026 Toyota Corolla
What It Costs
2023-2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid rear 3/4 angleHonda
The 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid came with a choice between two trim levels, those being the base “Sport” grade, and the top-spec “Sport Touring”, the latter of which we’re focusing on in today’s write-up. When it was brand-new, a Sport Touring-spec’d CR-V Hybrid ran buyers roughly $38,600 before any destination or other fees were added in. Of course, with destination fees, dealer-specific upcharges, and any other ancillary items could have run that price well over $40,000 before you walked out the door.
However, things are quite different these days when it comes to the ’23 CR-V Hybrid’s price. According to our research, an example with average miles and in good condition prices out to roughly $32,651 in today’s used market. We came to that figure by combining average sale prices from third-party pricing guides, in addition to carrying out independent research on our own CarBuzz Marketplace.
What You Get
2023-2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid interior view of the front cabinHonda
Being the top-spec model, the 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid Sport Touring comes with about as much kit as Honda could shove into a CR-V at the time.
Interior
2023-2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid interior view of the front seatsHonda
On the inside, the Sport Touring variant comes standard with things like 10-way-powered leather seats. Front seat passengers are treated to heated seats, as well, with the steering wheel also having the capability to heat up. Front seat passengers receive a four-way powered seat. Dual-zone climate control and ambient lighting are standard kit, as well. You can also enjoy the “sport interior trimming” that’s offered as standard on the Sport Touring model, too.
Tech
2023-2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid interiorHonda
All Sport-Touring-trimmed CR-V Hybrids are granted the use of a premium Bose sound system that takes advantage of 12 total speakers. The banging stereo is hooked up to a nine-inch touchscreen infotainment screen that’s capable of both wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Unique to the Sport Touring Hybrid model is Honda’s Satellite-Linked Navigation System with Voice Recognition and Honda HD Digital Traffic as standard. Wireless device charging, HD Radio, and Bluetooth round off the factory-included tech.
Safety
2025 Honda CR-V Black/White Interior Front CabinHonda
The Sport Touring-trimmed 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid takes advantage of Honda Sensing, Honda’s suite of driver assistance features. Things like collision mitigation warning, road and lane departure warning, forward collision warning, and adaptive cruise control are all standard fare for the model. Other standard safety features include blind-spot monitoring, traffic jam assist, low-speed braking control, and front and rear parking sensors are included as standard, as well.
Exterior
2023-2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid ExteriorHonda
Being a car in the modern era, the ’23 CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid comes standard with a full complement of LED lights, along with heated side mirrors for those frosty Midwestern mornings. A powered tailgate with hands-free access — which comes in very handy when your hands are full — is offered as standard. Rain-sensing wipers, a pair of chrome exhaust tips, tinted rear windows, and a powered moonroof come with the Sport Touring package, as well.
Related
Here’s What A Fully Loaded Honda CR-V Will Cost You
The Honda CR-V can be decked out to compete with its luxurious Acura RDX sibling, but is it worth the cost?
Under The Hood
2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid underpinnings & enginesHonda
Living beneath the 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid’s hood is a well-mannered, Atkinson cycle 2.0-liter four-cylinder powerplant. The engine itself belongs to Honda’s L family, an offshoot of the brand’s R engine that traces its roots all the way back to 2006. The ’23 CR’V Hybrid’s version, in particular, takes advantage of Honda’s Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD), which allows for near-seemless transitions between fully-electric, hybrid, and engine power. The i-MMD hybrid system is made up of two hybrid-electric motors mounted side-by-side in the transmission. An e-CVT takes care of the ’23 CR-V Hybrid’s movement.
It’s built on Honda’s HA platform, a vehicle architecture shared with other models like the Honda Civic and the Acura Integra, giving the model a more car-like ride than some other SUVs on the market. Its suspension system is made up of a simple MacPherson strut setup on the front axle, and a multi-link configuration around the back. Stopping is taken care of by a set of disc brakes, which are also regenerative, sending power back to the hybrid battery when the brakes are applied via friction.
Engine Details
2.0L NA hybrid inline-four
Combined Horsepower Output
204 hp
Combined Torque Output
247 lb-ft
Fuel Economy (City / Hwy / Cmb)
40 / 34 / 37
Minimum Ground Clearance
8.2 inches
Related
Honda CR-V Generations: Everything You Need To Know In One Place
The Honda CR-V started small in the ’90s but is a class-leading compact crossover today with a hybrid-heavy powertrain lineup.
How It Compares
Deciding between a brand-new mid-size SUV and our fully-loaded used Honda can seem like a no-brainer to some, while others may be on the fence. Below, we’ll compare the 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid Sport Touring to a couple of brand-new SUVs of similar size and price to see just how much more car you’d get by going with the Honda.
2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid – $30,290 (Base)
2026 Kia Sportage HEV from the front three-quarter angleJoel Stocksdale / CarBuzz / Valnet
First up is the ’26 Kia Sportage Hybrid, one of the cheaper options for hybridized, mid-size SUV transportation on the new car market these days. In order to get anywhere near the 2023 CR-V Sport Touring’s litany of features, you’ll have to spring for the SX-Prestige trim package. With it, you’re granted many of the same features seen in our Honda, along with things like a larger, 12.3-inch infotainment screen and 28 more horsepower from a turbocharged 1.6-liter powerplant. However, you’ll have to shell out $40,390 before any destination fees are added in, nearly $9,000 more than the Honda.
2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid – $31,900 (Base)
2026 Toyota RAV4 front 3/4 angle in silver while parkedJared Rosenholtz/CarBuzz/Valnet
Surprisingly, you can get yourself into the CR-V Hybrid’s main rival, the RAV4 Hybrid, for roughly the same price. However, that $31,900 figure is for the base LE grade. With the Toyota, you’ll be missing out on a lot of amenities offered by our Honda, including leather seating surfaces, a Bose sound system, and a hands-free tailgate. While relatively well-equipped for its price range due to things like a 10.5-inch infotainment screen and an integrated dashcam, the ’26 RAV4 Hybrid LE still comes up short. To get into a grade similar to the CR-V Hybrid Sport Touring, you’ll have to pony up about $43,300 for the Limited Hybrid grade.
A Used CR-V Hybrid, Or Something New?
2023-2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid front 3/4 angleHonda
Car shopping isn’t for the faint of heart, and moving from dealership to dealership listening to endless sales pitches and “before you leave, let me get my manager” tactics can get extremely tiring. That’s why it’s important to set out on your car-buying journey with as much research done as possible. So, if you’re looking for some sort of brand-new, mid-size hybrid SUV, consider taking a look at this three-year-old Honda CR-V Hybrid alongside your other choices.
Sources: Honda, Toyota, Kia, Kelley Blue Book, Cars.com, J.D. Power
