Next-Gen Honda CR-V Spied, Shows Clean Design while Testing

• The next generation of Honda’s CR-V has been spied testing in Germany, and it appears to have a clean design, with fewer trim pieces adorning the grille and front bumper.
• The CR-V prototype might be longer than the current generation, which suggests Honda might include a tight third-row to better compete with the VW Tiguan and Mitsubishi Outlander.
• The sizable hood suggests the CR-V will still feature a gasoline engine, but a hybrid version is also likely to be offered; an EV may also be in the cards.

The current, fifth-generation Honda CR-V is not only Honda’s bestselling vehicle, but it’s also one of the top-ranking compact crossovers on the market, earning a Car and Driver Editors’ Choice award every year since going on sale in 2017. While the CR-V is still one of our favorite crossovers, the current version is starting to show its age, and the next-generation CR-V has now been spotted testing in Germany.

Although the CR-V prototype wears a swirling camouflage wrap, we can still make out a simpler front end, with the grille ditching the layers of trim elements on the current generation for a clean mesh design. The headlights look slimmer and less angled, and the overall front fascia appears to follow in the footsteps of the upcoming 2023 HR-V. The front bumper appears a lot less blocky, but its hard to tell what other styling features the camouflage might be hiding.

The CR-V prototype looks like it might be longer than the outgoing version, which might allow Honda to squeeze in a third row. This would allow the CR-V to better compete with the Volkswagen Tiguan and Mitsubishi Outlander, which previously had the compact-three-row market to themselves. The rear of the vehicle is heavily disguised, and it’s not obvious whether the tall, vertical taillights will return or if horizontally oriented units will take their place.

Judging by the CR-V’s proportions, Honda’s bestseller will likely continue to offer an internal-combustion engine, probably with both pure gasoline and hybrid setups. This next generation of CR-V could also spawn a full EV variant, but don’t expect that to arrive for a few years. Honda is set to launch a new electric crossover called the Prologue in 2024, the first Honda using General Motors’ Ultium battery packs as part of a new partnership, and the electric CR-V could debut after the Prologue and use similar technology. The gasoline-powered CR-V is expected to debut at some point in 2022 and could go on sale for either the 2022 or 2023 model years.

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