The 2023 Honda CR-V is completely remade, offering more interior room, better in-cabin technology, and a choice of gas or gas/electric hybrid engines. Honda has kept the number of trims at five, deciding after a short hiatus to revive the entry-level LX. All-wheel-drive (AWD) is still an option across the board and comes standard on the Sport Touring trim.
The LX, EX and EX-L trims feature a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine good for 190 horsepower, while the Sport and Touring trims use a 2.0-liter gas engine paired with an electric motor for a combined output of 204 horsepower. The hybrid also produces significantly more torque than the gas-only engine and offers superior fuel economy.
Although the CR-V remains a favorite, its limited trim and engine choices might open the door to SUVs like the Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Santa Fe, and Ford Escape. These competitors also offer hybrid or plug-in hybrid options and more upscale features, such as a panoramic moonroof, ventilated front seats, and a premium audio system on more than just the top-of-the-line trim.
Note to readers: At the time this review and video were published, Honda had removed the LX trim from the lineup. It has since been put back in the lineup, which is reflected in this updated review, but not in the video.
CR-V LX
Starts at $28,410 | See 2023 Honda CR-V LX for sale
- Turbocharged 1.5-liter engine
- Front- or all-wheel drive
- Push-button start
- Adaptive cruise control
- Automatic climate control
- LED headlights
- 4-speaker audio system
- Front USB ports
- 60/40 split-folding rear seat
- Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
- 7-inch touchscreen
- 17-inch steel wheels
- See more
CR-V EX
Starts at $31,610 | See 2023 Honda CR-V EX for sale
- Turbocharged 1.5-liter engine
- Power driver’s seat
- Heated front seats
- Moonroof
- Dual-zone automatic climate control
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- See more
CR-V Sport Hybrid
Starts at $32,950 | See 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Hybrid for sale
- 2.0-liter hybrid engine
- Sport styling
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Roof rails
- Front and rear USB ports
- Cloth seats with orange stitching
- See more
CR-V EX-L
Starts at $34,260 | See 2023 Honda CR-V EX-L for sale
- Turbocharged 1.5-liter engine
- Leather upholstery
- Heated power front seats
- 9-inch touchscreen
- Wireless phone charger
- Power tailgate
- Parking sensors (front and rear)
- Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
- 8-speaker audio system
- See more
CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid
Starts at $39,100 | See 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring for sale
- 2.0-liter hybrid engine
- AWD-only
- Navigation
- 12-speaker Bose sound system
- Leather upholstery with orange stitching
- Hands-free power tailgate
- Heated steering wheel
- Wi-Fi hotspot
- See more
2023 Honda CR-V LX: $28,410 (FWD), $29,910 (AWD)
The entry-level LX trim comes standard with the 1.5-liter turbocharged gas engine, a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), and front-wheel drive.
The LX includes a 3-mode drive system with settings for Econ/Normal/Snow. These settings vary the throttle, transmission, and traction control systems for maximum performance over various driving conditions.
Putting safety front and center, Honda equips the LX trim with the Honda Sensing suite of driver-assist systems. Included in the group are forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning and mitigation, a blind-spot monitor, and rear cross-traffic detection.
Also included is adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, lane-keeping assist, and traffic sign recognition. By monitoring the lane markers, standard Traffic Jam Assist keeps the CR-V its lane and at a safe distance from the vehicle ahead.
Addition safety systems include automatic high-beam headlights, a multi-view rearview monitor, low-speed brake control, and automatic brake hold, which holds the car when it’s stopped so you don’t have to keep your foot on the brake.
Hill descent control and hill start assist come standard, as does a rear seat reminder that alerts the driver to check the rear seat for kids or pets before exiting the vehicle.
The LX is rather basic when it comes to amenities. It features 17-inch steel wheels with covers, auto on/off LED headlights, LED side mirror turn indicators, and remote keyless entry.
Smart Clear mounts the washer nozzles on either side of the wiper blades as instead of the windshield’s base. When activated, the washers spray in the direction of the moving blade – a more efficient use of the fluid.
The LX’s interior features cloth seating with height-adjustable manual front seats and a 60/40 split-folding rear seat. A tilt/telescoping steering wheel features buttons for the cruise, audio, and Bluetooth, as well as one-touch turn signal indicators.
The LX comes with single-zone manual air conditioning, a push-button starter, and one-touch up/down power front windows.
On the audio front, the LX gets a 160-watt 4-speaker stereo connected to a 7-inch touchscreen display.
The infotainment setup includes Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth streaming, and HondaLink apps. A 2.5-amp USB-A data port can be found in the front console.
In typical Honda fashion, what you see is what you get with the LX. There are no factory options, but Honda does provide a nice selection of dealer installed accessories.
With the $1,295 destination charge, the 2023 Honda CR-V LX costs $29,705. On a 60-month loan at 5% financing and $0 down, the monthly payment comes to about $561. See 2023 Honda CR-V LX models for sale near you
2023 Honda CR-V LX includes:
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – Allows seamless integration of a smartphone with the car’s infotainment system, granting full access to music, apps, navigation, and messages.
- Adaptive cruise control – This advanced cruise control system automatically maintains a set distance to the vehicle ahead, slowing or speeding up as traffic patterns change.
- Available AWD – Honda’s Real-Time AWD system comes online when needed (such as when driving in snow or mud) then reverts to front-drive to help save on fuel.
2023 Honda CR-V EX: $31,610 (FWD), $33,110 (AWD)
Building off the LX, the EX adds heated side mirrors, a power sunroof, rear privacy glass, 18-inch alloy wheels, and a reverse activated rear wiper.
The EX also uses a proximity key fob that allows unlocking the doors by touching the door handle and starting the vehicle by pressing a button on the dash.
Remote start with climate control settings is another perk standard on the EX.
The EX’s spacious cabin features heated front seats, an 8-way power driver’s seat with power lumbar support, and a reclining 60/40 split folding rear seat with a center armrest.
Dual-zone automatic climate control allows driver and passenger to select individual temperature settings.
Additional interior features include Active Noise Cancellation, LED map lights, sliding sun visors, LED cargo lights, and a configurable 7-inch digital gauge cluster.
The EX upgrades to a 240-watt 6-speaker audio system and adds a 3.0-amp USB-C port to the front console.
With the $1,295 destination charge, the 2023 Honda CR-V EX costs $32,905. On a 60-month loan at 5% financing and $0 down, the monthly payment comes to about $621. See 2023 Honda CR-V EX models for sale near you
2023 Honda CR-V Sport Hybrid: $32,950 (FWD), $34,450 (AWD)
The Sport trim drops the turbocharged gas engine in favor of a more robust and fuel-efficient hybrid setup. A continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) remains standard, as does front-wheel drive, with AWD optional.
Building off the EX, the Sport adds a Sport driving mode, 18-inch black alloy wheels, Sport interior cloth seating, gloss black exterior accents, and a leather-wrapped shift knob and steering wheel. The rear seat gains two USB-C charging ports.
The hybrid replaces the gas-powered model’s spare tire with a tire repair kit.
With the $1,295 destination charge, the 2023 Honda CR-V Sport costs $34,245. On a 60-month loan at 5% financing and $0 down, the monthly payment comes to about $646. See 2023 Honda CR-V Sport models for sale near you
2023 Honda CR-V Sport Hybrid includes:
- Hybrid powertrain – With more horsepower and torque than the standard gas engine, the Sport delivers better performance and superior fuel economy.
- 18-inch black alloy wheels – These wheels look fantastic, matching the gloss-black exterior accents that give the Sport extra visual appeal.
- Honda Sensing – This suite of standard driver aids helps the CR-V avoid collisions by warning the driver of dangerous situations, such as having a car in your blind spot when attempting to change lanes.
2023 Honda CR-V EX-L: $34,260 (FWD), $35,760 (AWD)
The EX-L retains the EX’s 1.5-liter turbocharged engine and CVT but adds more safety and convenience equipment.
The “L” in EX-L stands for leather, which covers the seats, steering wheel, and shift knob.
The EX-L also gains front and rear parking sensors, a power tailgate, 1-touch up/down power rear windows, a 4-way power passenger seat, and 2-position memory for the driver’s seat and side mirrors.
The EX-L’s infotainment system gets upgraded to a 9-inch display with wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, HD Radio, a wireless charging pad, and a 320-watt audio system featuring eight speakers.
With the $1,295 destination charge, the 2023 Honda CR-V EX-L costs $35,555. On a 60-month loan at 5% financing and $0 down, the monthly payment comes to about $671. See 2023 Honda CR-V EX-L models for sale near you
2023 Honda CR-V EX-L includes:
- Leather upholstery – Makes for a more luxurious cabin and cleans more easily than cloth.
- 9-inch touchscreen – This larger infotainment screen provides more real estate for apps and navigation maps, plus it includes wireless connectivity and customizable shortcuts.
- Front and rear parking sensors – Parking sensors warn the driver of objects near the vehicle. They include a low-speed automatic braking system that can stop the CR-V before a collision can occur.
2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid: $39,100
The 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring includes the hybrid engine, standard all-wheel drive, and an additional Sport setting for the 4-Mode Drive settings. It upgrades to 19-inch alloy wheels.
The Sport Touring builds off the EX-L’s equipment, adding Honda satellite navigation with voice recognition and Honda HD Digital Traffic that provides updated traffic information allowing the driver to find the fastest route.
On the entertainment front, the Sport Touring includes a 12-speaker premium Bose Surround Sound audio system and a Wi-Fi hotspot.
Additional Sport Touring equipment includes ambient interior lighting, a hands-free power liftgate, rain-sensing wipers, and a heated steering wheel.
With the $1,295 destination charge, the 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring costs $40,395. On a 60-month loan at 5% financing and $0 down, the monthly payment comes to about $762. See 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring models for sale near you
2023 Honda CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid includes:
- Satellite navigation – Unlike smartphone navigation, GPS navigation uses satellites, not cell towers, to receive a signal. You won’t have to worry about downloading a map or finding a location when traveling through remote areas.
- Bose audio – The 12-speaker Bose audio system includes a powered subwoofer and Centerpoint technology, creating brilliant multichannel surround sound reproduction at deafening volumes.
- Hands-free power liftgate – To open the rear liftgate, approach the CR-V with the key fob in your pocket and swing your foot under the rear bumper. Voila, the tailgate automatically opens.
