2023 Honda CR-V! Family SUV rivaling Toyota RAV4, Kia Sportage and Mitsubishi Outlander unveiled in patent drawings ahead of official debut

The patent drawings show a more understated design than the current CR-V.

This is the best look at what the upcoming 2022 Honda CR-V will look like.

Based on a leaked image from the patent application, the next generation of the CR-V appears to follow a more classic, almost conservative design direction, spearheaded by the Civic subcompact car and the HR-V small SUV.

Several design themes look like they'll be carried over from the outgoing model to the next-generation midsize SUV, including vertical taillights that run down from the top of the tailgate and hood creases.

However, the headlights appear to echo the look of the new Civic and integrate with the top of the grille, which appears to be larger than the current model.

This cleaner design is not unexpected given the direction Honda has been heading in the past year.

Timelines are still unclear, but the new CR-V is expected to be unveiled sometime this year and then go on sale either later this year or early 2023.

We know the new generation SUV will feature a hybrid powertrain, though details are scarce.

In the US, the CR-V is now available with a hybrid that uses a 2.0-liter petrol engine and an electric motor with a total output of 158kW/315Nm.

The current CR-V was upgraded at the end of 2020.

An updated version of the 1.5-liter turbocharged petrol engine found in the current CR-V and the new Civic is also expected to be offered.

In the dimension, he must increase in size in order to compete with his rivals, who have become larger with each new generation. It will also help free up more space for the expected third row, which will be offered again.

The CR-V's direct competitors are the Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5, Nissan X-Trail, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Subaru Forester, Mitsubishi Outlander, Ford Escape and Volkswagen Tiguan.

The current CR-V uniform landed in Australia in mid-2017 and was updated in late 2020.

Like all Honda models, the CR-V switched to national pricing last year after Honda Australia switched to agency dealer models. This means buyers can't try to bargain for a cheaper price on a new Honda.

The CR-V now ranges from $35,300 for the base model Vi—the only option using the aging 2.0-liter naturally aspirated petrol engine—to $53,200 for the VTi-LX.

Honda sold 6875 CR-Vs in Australia last year, about a fifth of the segment-leading Toyota RAV4.