Designed to be a fuel efficient commuter, the 2023 Honda CRV Touring Hybrid will take you to work, play or on an adventure in a cost-efficient manner.

As the world aims to be more eco-friendly, there is an ongoing evolution in the automotive industry and the award-winning 2023 Honda CRV Touring Hybrid is a versatile option for environmentally conscience consumers looking for the optimal work and play vehicle. Honda has a solid reputation for building reliable, fuel-efficient vehicles and the 2023 Honda CRV Touring Hybrid is a prime example of Honda’s ability to adapt without sacrificing what has made them one of the top automotive brands in the world.

A classic crossover SUV design, the 2023 Honda CRV Touring Hybrid is available in eight colours – model shown is Canyon River Blue Metallic. Honeycomb grills both inside and out, LED headlights provide a spectacular amount of lighting in the dark, LED displays inside and a one-touch power moon roof that either tilts or opens to the sky. The Touring Hybrid trim includes 19” aluminum alloy wheels in black. All season tires are standard equipment for the 2023 Honda CRV Hybrid.

Inside, you will find contrast stitched, perforated leather seats for five passengers, leather wrapped shifter and steering wheel with paddle shifters. Front seats are heated. Back seat heat is optional. The front seat aesthetics are classic honeycomb grills with contrasting silver dials and LED indicators.

Dual zone climate control and power adjustable seats for optimal comfort, including driver programmable driver memory. Like most leather seats, it is not recommended that you drive while wearing shorts and your skin will stick to the seats. Also, I experienced incredible back heat while driving so, I recommend considering nice seat covers in the summer months as cooling fans are not available.

The overall space in the 2023 Honda CRV Hybrid is admirable. Plenty of head room, leg room (for all seats) and cargo space. A 60/40 split back seat extends cargo space for extra luggage or you could even sleep in the back of the vehicle if tenting isn’t your thing. The tailgate is not only powered but is also adjustable to driver height. Add-in the additional adjustable floor height in the cargo area, and capacity increases even further.

Remote engine start is standard in the 2023 Honda CRV Touring Hybrid. Also, as you approach the door, with the keyless ignition fob in your pocket, the vehicle will unlock. Get behind the wheel and everything you need is available either at your fingertips on the steering wheel or accessible by the 9” touchscreen LED display. Apple and Android play are available wirelessly and premium sound throughout the cabin from 12 Bose® speakers. In addition to multiple front and back usb inputs, there is also a wireless charging shelf. I found wireless charging to be hit and miss and my phone would get extremely hot.

The 2023 Honda CRV Touring Hybrid is the first hybrid vehicle I have tested and it took a bit of getting used to. For instance, in reverse, there is a high-pitched symphonic sound to alert those near that the car is moving. Having not experienced that before, I had to double-check if that was normal. It is intentional as if not for the sound, the car is silent in reverse. Each time I reversed, I pictured an opera singer, “Laaaaaaaaaaaaa!” Take a listen.

The 2023 Honda CRV Touring Hybrid offers a 2 litre, 16 valve, direct injection, DOHC 4-cylinder Atkinson cycle engine and two electric motors producing a combined 204 HP and 247 lb.-ft of torque.

The 2023 Honda CRV Touring Hybrid offers four drive modes. Sport for simple pure power, handling and fun. Normal for noticeably less power, average operation and fuel economy. Eco mode dials down the power even further for optimal efficiency that will allow between 700 and 800 km per tank of fuel or an average combined 6.4 l/100 km.

In my experience, Eco is a great mode for the in and out of the city commute, and stop and go traffic lessening emissions. However, should you attempt the mountain passes, the 2023 Honda CRV Hybrid is a slug on the ascent. Normal and Sport mode will provide a little relief but even then, the RPMs run high and the transmission shifts lag.

Driving over the Okanagan Connector and the Coquihalla, I found I was changing driving modes as though I was shifting gears. The descent is a whole other story. In Eco mode downhill, you are picking up the pace quicker than normal. As the vehicle has hill-descent control to prevent overheating the brakes, it is safe to assume faster than usual descent is expected. Snow mode was not tested.

Standard safety features with the 2023 CRV Hybrid are plentiful. Welcome safety features include blind spot indicators in the mirrors, the forward collision warning system that appears on your dash in orange stating BRAKE, the collision mitigation system plus lane and road departure systems. The usefulness of the remaining safety features is dependent upon geography, demographics and the patience of the driver.

Take the Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow, for example. It is designed to keep a constant speed and follow interval behind the vehicle directly ahead. Perfect for that long weekend traffic gridlock, right? Wrong. With the aggressive nature of Lower Mainland drivers, the vehicle in front of you will change with the blink of an eye. There is no such thing as a consistent interval as the moment there is space, someone will be in it.

The other safety feature that I have never seen before, is standard in all trims of the 2023 Honda CRV Hybrid, and resulted in a giggle, is the coffee cup warning formally called the Driver Attention Monitor! That’s right. An LED coffee cup appeared on my dash when I was descending the Coquihalla and using every square of inch of road, including both lanes as I navigated through construction zones. The statement with the coffee cup I couldn’t read immediately but lucky for me, it appeared again after a brief stop in Abbotsford and read “Driver attention is at a low level. Time for a break.” A break? I just had a break! The car is telling me it’s time for a break?

I did not recall having my retina scanned when I started the vehicle so I will assume this warning came up because I drove onto the shoulder to get a better look at what was happening ahead. I later learned that this feature will appear when the system detects too much steering wheel correction. A whole new outlook on the ‘backseat driver’.

Overall, the 2023 Honda CRV Touring Hybrid is an great choice for a fuel efficient, eco-friendly crossover SUV. No matter if it is work, play or a combination of both, the vehicle is designed to provide optimal operation without cutting safety features. In fact, this vehicle is enormously popular, so much so, that inventory is low so choosing your options may be challenging. MSRP starts at approximately $51,015.