Honda HR-V: Why 2023 may be the year of the crossover

Honda teased us with nothing more than a sketch of the upcoming 2023 Honda HR-V crossover. Oh, we’ve also got a hashtag (#HondaHRV) and a catchy slogan: Year of the Crossover. But other than that, there’s almost not a story here. 

However, looking beyond this minimal information and at current trends in the industry, we can make some educated guesses about what the 2023 HR-V will be.

2023 Honda HR-V: What we know

Really, we know nothing. Honestly.

However, with the sketch showing a snowy background, we can assume this means the new HR-V will be capable. Look no further than the what Mazda did with the new CX-50, and you can see this trend playing out within the segment. There’s a huge movement for off-road adventuring, and the smaller crossovers are the benefactors.

If the 2023 HR-V was simply meant to be functional and utilitarian (like the current iteration), then why sketch it up with a snowy backdrop with skis mounted to the roof rack? This is intentional, and you can expect this to be the most capable and adventure-ready HR-V yet.

Another key to consider is that Honda has upped its adventurous side by adding a TrailSport trim to both the Passport and Ridgeline. Since Honda said this trim would roll out across its light-truck line, you can expect HR-V to get this trim as well. This sketch might even be the TrailSport.

Little else is known about this crossover, but as a 2023 model, expect a full unveiling later this year. It’s an important segment for Honda, and the automaker even increased overall production capacity for this vehicle in anticipation of increased sales. As such, the 2021 HR-V saw 63% sales increase to 137,090 units sold, far surpassing the 2020 Honda Fit, which the HR-V helped phase out.

The bottom line on 2023 Honda HR-V

We gotta hand it to Honda for providing the least amount of information possible while still generating buzz. So, we’ll bite. Sure, 2023 is kind of shaping up to be the Year of the Crossover — and not just for Honda. There’s a lot of new small crossovers launching or being redesigned in the next year, and Honda’s now fully engaged in this segment. We just hope to see more details on the 2023 Honda HR-V soon.

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