Hey Europe, Our 2023 Honda HR-V Looks Better Than Yours
We got all excited when Honda introduced the new Euro-market HR-V (known in some parts of the world as the Vezel), but Honda was quick to tell us to calm the hell down—this wasn't the subcompact HR-V we were looking for. The U.S., Honda told us, would be getting a new HR-V all its own. Not to cast aspersions on our friends at Honda, but any time an automaker tells us something like this—any of them, not just Honda—we have to wonder if we aren't just being put off.
Today, Honda released sketches of the North American-market 2023 HR-V (actually, they look like paintings, which is rather cool). And no, we weren't being put off—this definitely is a different vehicle. Look at the back doors, and what do you see? Door handles on the body. The new Euro-HR-V/Vezel has its rear door handles concealed in the door pillar, just like the current (and soon-to-be-outgoing) HR-V.
From what the paint-sketches show, North America won the HR-V lottery, because if the real thing looks similar, it's going to be a much cuter critter than the HR-V going to Europe. We like the big blacked-out grille—it's rather Kia-esque, from the days when ex-Audi designer Peter Schreyer was trying to make all of his Kias look like Audis. It's certainly a better look than the chromed confusion of the bigger CR-V. (Honda has a new CR-V coming for 2023, and we hope it looks this good.) Speaking of Audis (which we were, weren't we?), the new HR-V's bulbous back end bears quite a resemblance to that of the Audi Q3. We're hoping the swank exterior style is an indicator of what we'll see inside. We rather like the HR-V, and we've always thought a more upscale version would do well with buyers.
And what lurks under that handsome skin? Honda's two-sentence statement accompanying the sketches helps little. As a rule we don't copy and paste press releases, but we'll make an exception, given the dearth of other info here: "Honda kicks off its Year of the Crossover with a sneak peek at the all-new sporty and versatile 2023 HR-V. The all-new HRV will launch in North America this year." Okay, so that yields no information. If we had to guess—which, obviously, we do—we'd predict that one of the new HR-V's powertrains will be the 212-hp hybrid powertrain from the Euro-market HR-V, which is based around a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated engine.
We assume there will be a non-hybrid version, and as we've complained about the current HR-V's leisurely acceleration, it wouldn't surprise us if its 1.8 liter engine is replaced by something with a little more gumption, perhaps the 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated engine from the entry-level Civic and (if we're lucky) Honda's 1.5-liter turbo, also found in the spectacular new Civic.
The fact that the sketches show the HR-V dashing through the snow with snowboards strapped to the roof rack indicates an all-wheel-drive option. That may seem like a no-brainer for an SUV, but remember that some entry-level sport-utes (Toyota CH-R and Nissan Kicks, to name two) don't offer AWD; today's HR-V does offer AWD, however.
Whatever the final HR-V looks like and however it's configured, this teaser has done its job: We are genuinely excited to see what the real thing looks like. We don't need to tell you what a hot market segment the compact SUV field is, one chock full of new and credible contenders like the Toyota Corolla Cross, the Kia Seltos, and our pick of the bunch, the Subaru Crosstrek. We're looking forward to seeing how the new 2023 Honda HR-V stacks up.
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The Bronco name is redolent of history and nostalgia, but when this iconic brand was rebooted for the 2021 model year—first as the Ford Escape-based Bronco Sport compact crossover, then later as proper 4x4 SUV foil for the Jeep Wrangler, with two or four removable doors and open-top options—the styling of both variants served up a modern interpretation of the OG Bronco design cues. Two model years in, the 2023 Ford Bronco and Bronco Sport lineups seek to strengthen their already overt visual ties to the first-gen Bronco with new retro Heritage edition packages.Two Heritage Editions Per BroncoTo keep nostalgia affordable, Ford is offering both the Bronco Sport and the big Bronco (two- or four-door) as a mid-level-spec Bronco Heritage edition or a better-equipped Heritage Limited Edition. Each will feature a fun throwback pastel color palette, Oxford White accents, and vintage Bronco script badging, and all will be offered with few option packages to choose. And in paying homage to the original GOAT (Goes Over Any Terrain), every Heritage edition comes standard with the most aggressive rubber available on the base model.That means 17-inch Continental All-Terrains on the 1.5-liter Bronco Sport Heritage, Falken Wildpeak A/Ts on 2.0-liter Bronco Sport Heritage Limited variants, and the Sasquatch package's 35-inch-diameter Goodyear Territory tires on all big Broncos. A full-size spare also comes standard.2023 Big Bronco Heritage Model UpgradesTwo- and four-door Bronco Heritage editions start from a Big Bend equipment basis available with a four- or six-cylinder engine and manual or automatic transmission. Heritage Limited models build from a Badlands basis, and hence are 2.7-liter V-6, 10-speed-automatic-only. Both are upgraded with the Sasquatch off-road package and use the more retrolicious square-top fenders introduced on the Everglades model. 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You'll have to pop for the Heritage Limited to get the most fun colors: Robin's Egg blue (based on the 1966 color Arcadian Blue) will be available at launch, with Yellowstone (Ford Prairie Yellow) arriving later in 2023 and, and a more medium Peak Blue coming in 2034. All Heritage Broncos and Bronco Sports get an Oxford White roof, and standard assist steps.Inside, all models get a white dashboard with red accents on the assist handles, vent aiming knobs, bungee straps on the map and seatback pockets, and steering wheel stitching. They also all get a modern riff on plaid seats, and the auxiliary switches are standard. For the base Heritage edition it's a gray denim-type cloth joined with light-blue stitching on the bolsters and vinyl inserts printed with sort of a digital plaid in shades of white, light blue, and grays. Heritage Limited models get brown leather accented by white and red stitching on the bolsters, and a plaid pattern of perforations in varying sizes.2023 Ford Bronco Sport Heritage ModelBronco Sports share a steel-wheel-look design (in white, with bronco center caps), but the two variants get unique white grilles. The base 1.5-liter Heritage edition shares the Big Bend grille design, but here it's flanked by the fancier (Outer Banks and up) headlamps with LED daytime running lights. The Limited runs the Badlands grille. Both are rendered in white with red BRONCO lettering. Here again the base model makes do with a Bronco script decal, only this time it's reversed out of the white bodyside stripe. Heritage Limited models get a chrome Bronco script, here augmented with a red box that includes the word "Sport" and a bucking bronco. 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