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The 2023 Honda CR-V e:HEV’s bound for Thailand

Two powertrains are slated for the ASEAN country with Honda’s e:HEV and VTEC engines being part of the lineup.

Earl Lee
Honda CR-V e:HEV Thailand

We’re eagerly anticipating the launch of the new Honda CR-V in the country. With the rest of the lineup already updated, sans the Brio, the CR-V remains the next big thing for Honda to launch this year. 

Exciting news came around this time, as Honda Thailand announced that the CR-V will be making its ASEAN debut at the 44th Bangkok Motor Show this year. The 2023 edition of the show will introduce the sixth-generation compact crossover, and it will bring hybrid and VTEC turbo technology to the nameplate, in addition to an exterior redesign and additional Honda SENSING driver aids. 

The 2023 Honda CR-V’s going to take the nameplate to new heights. The exterior will now be in line with the rest of the lineup, adopting a similar look to its little brother, the Honda HR-V. With LED lights flanking a mesh grille and an RS variant to be expected, this generation is shaping up to be the best one yet. For buyers who aren’t too keen on joining the hybrid-electric revolution, a VTEC Turbo variant will be made available. We feel that the turbocharged model will come with the same 1.5-liter VTEC Turbo engine that the Honda Civic and the HR-V models have. Power figures for the VTEC Turbo models will be pinned at 187 hp and 243 Nm of torque, uprated from the smaller models in the Honda lineup. However, the e:HEV variants of the CR-V will have more exciting specs, with the e:HEV powertrain developing 201 hp and 335 Nm of torque. 

Honda CR-V VTEC Turbo

The beloved 1.6-liter i-DTEC turbo-diesel mill, however, doesn’t look like it’ll be making a return to the lineup. While its return is still a slim possibility in the Philippines, we won’t hold our breath. 

It also appears that the 2.0-liter naturally aspirated gasoline variant won’t be making a return, at least in Thailand. It’s likely that the 1.5-liter VTEC turbo engine will be the new entry-level powertrain for the CR-V from now on. While we cannot confirm that definitively, it seems like Honda’s swapping out the aging R-series of engines, in 2.0-liter and 1.8-liter forms, for the 1.5-liter turbo as evidenced by what’s been happening with the Civic. Same pattern in the HR-V as well, with the R18 (1.8-liter) getting the boot from the lineup, with the base model HR-V receiving the same engine as the Honda City, City Hatchback, and BR-V. 

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