2023 Honda CR-V outed! Family SUV rival to Toyota RAV4, Kia Sportage, Mitsubishi Outlander revealed in patent drawings ahead of official debut

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

Revealed via a leaked patent filing image, the next-generation CR-V looks set to follow the more classic, almost conservative design direction led by the Civic small car and the HR-V small SUV.

Some design themes look like they will carry across from the outgoing model to the new-generation medium SUV, including vertical tail-lights running from the top of the tailgate down, as week as creases on the bonnet.

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However, the headlights appear to follow the look of the new Civic and they integrate with the top of the grille which looks larger than the current model.

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

Timing is still unclear, but the new CR-V is expected to be revealed sometime this year before going on sale either late this year or early 2023.

We know that the new-gen SUV will adopt a hybrid powertrain, although details are scarce.

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

The current CR-V was facelifted in late 2020.

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

Dimensionally it should grow in size to compete with its rivals that have all gotten bigger with each new generation. This would also help liberate more space for the expected third row that will again be offered.

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

The current shape CR-V landed in Australia in mid-2017 and came in for a mid-life update at the end of 2020.

Like all Honda models, the CR-V shifted to national drive-away pricing last year following Honda Australia’s move to an agency dealer model. That means buyers can’t try and haggle for a cheaper price for a new Honda.

The CR-V now ranges in price from $35,300 for the base Vi – the only variant to use the ageing 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine – to $53,200 for the VTi-LX.

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