Compared: 2023 Honda HR-V vs. 2023 Honda CR-V

These subcompact and compact SUVs, new for 2023, share a common interior design.

Jill Ciminillo | 

Dec 4, 2023 | 3 min read

Honda HR-V | Honda CR-V

Both the Honda HR-V and Honda CR-V are new for 2023. Though one is a subcompact SUV and the other is a compact SUV, they share some design elements and features.

The 2023 Honda HR-V Is a Great Deal

Other than size, the biggest difference between the HR-V and CR-V is price, as there is a $7,500 difference between the two. Both vehicles are standard with front-wheel drive, while all-wheel drive is available for $1,500.

The HR-V has a starting price of about $25,000, including standard features such as a 158-hp engine, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, 17-inch wheels, LED brake lights, heated side mirrors, automatic climate control, push-button start, a 7.0-inch infotainment screen, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control.

The CR-V starts at about $33,000, including all the standard features you see on the HR-V and adding a 190-hp turbocharged engine, drive modes, 18-inch wheels, LED headlights, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, power driver's seat, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.

Honda | CR-V

The 2023 Honda CR-V Confirms Big Size Equals Big Gains

Though the Honda CR-V is just 4 inches longer than the HR-V, this extra size translates into big gains in cargo and passenger volume. The CR-V offers a total of 143 cubic-feet of interior volume and 39 cu-ft of cargo space behind the second row, whereas the HR-V offers 123 cu-ft of interior volume and 24 cu-ft of cargo space.

Outside of the space issue, the CR-V offers more standard and available features than the HR-V. While leather seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel are available on both vehicles, some features you can't get on an HR-V include power front seats with a driver's memory seat, Bose premium audio, and rear USB ports.

Plus, the CR-V comes standard with heated front seats, moonroof, power driver's seat, blind-spot monitoring, and rear parking sensors — the HR-V only offers those features on upper trims.

In the looks department, both the HR-V and CR-V get a similar design treatment, with the honeycomb air-vent pattern, nearly identical steering wheels, glowing red start button, and an infotainment system that pops up over the dash.

Honda | HR-V

2023 Honda HR-V Falls Behind the 2023 Honda CR-V in Fuel Economy

The HR-V is smaller and delivers less horsepower, so you might assume it gets the better fuel economy. You'd be wrong. The FWD HR-V gets an EPA-estimated 26/32/28 mpg city/highway/combined, whereas the larger FWD CR-V gets 28/34/30 mpg. In both the FWD and AWD versions, the CR-V gets an average of 2 mpg more than the HR-V.

Furthermore, the CR-V also offers a hybrid model with more power and even better fuel economy. The 204-hp hybrid CR-V sees around 40 mpg in combined driving for the FWD model and 37 mpg for the AWD model, according to Honda. The extra fuel economy costs extra cash, however the base price of the CR-V Hybrid is around $34,000.

All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication), and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.

Jill Ciminillo

Jill Ciminillo is a Chicago-based automotive writer, YouTube personality, and podcast host, with her articles and videos appearing in outlets throughout the U.S. Additionally, she co-hosts a weekly radio show on cars for a local Chicago station. Previously, Jill has been the automotive editor for both newspaper and broadcast media conglomerates. She is also a past president for the Midwest Automotive Media Association and has the distinction of being the first female president for that organization.