Your 2023 Honda CR-V Buyer’s Guide

Here in Rochester, we know how much residents need a reliable vehicle to get them around the area. The New York weather year-round demands a lot from our cars just to be able to keep up. Thankfully, there are some models out there that are durable and equipped to handle your driving needs in nice and adverse weather, and the 2023 Honda CR-V is one of them. Honda is a brand known for building reliable and dependable vehicles, and the CR-V is no exception, with all-wheel drive capability and a hybrid engine option.

As your Honda CR-V dealer, we know all the details on the 2023 CR-V. We know the specs, features, trim options, and all the design choices and features. If you’re looking for a full luxury high-end CR-V, we can help you find a fully decked out EX or Sport Touring Hybrid. If you’re looking for a baseline but capable CR-V, we have an LX or Sport Hybrid you can be happy with. We make it our mission to understand what you’re looking to get out of the CR-V, what your budget is, and how we can find the model that fits your current needs. To help with that, we have put together a guide to the 2023 model, so you can start figuring out what you want in your CR-V.

The Honda CR-V comes in five different trims: LX, EX, Sport Hybrid, EX-L, and Sport Touring Hybrid. Honda provides all of these trim options so that each buyer can find a reliable vehicle with all of the features and engine they want. The base LX has a wide array of standard features that won’t disappoint, while the Sport Touring Hybrid offers a higher level of functionality and luxury for those who like to have all the latest tech. With all the CR-V trim options, everyone should be able to find an option that is a good fit for them.

Let’s take a closer look at the LX trim package. It comes standard with a 190 hp turbocharged engine with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The CVT transmission provides maximum torque virtually all the time. It works differently than more traditional automatic transmissions and doesn’t have a number of gear ratios. Instead, it uses a special design that provides an essentially infinite number of gear ratios. This means a smoother drive for you. It also comes with the 3-Mode Drive System, which allows you to pick the mode that matches your current driving conditions to improve handling. Real Time AWD is also available to make driving off-road easier and more effective.

The interior of the LX includes a ton of amazing features in an attractive package. The seven-inch multimedia screen allows for easy connectivity to smart devices, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility included. Bluetooth and front USB ports also come standard. Honda also provides plenty of safety and driver-assist features at the base level. These features include the Collision Mitigation Braking System, Road Departure Mitigation System, Multi-Angle Rearview Camera, Adaptive Cruise Control w/ Low-Speed Follow, Lane Keeping Assist System, and Traffic Sign Recognition. All these features make driving in a Honda CR-V a safer experience.

Love the LX features but want some more luxury? The EX could be a good choice. It comes with the same engine and transmission combination as the LX and has available Real Time AWD. All the features included on the LX are present or upgraded for the EX. The interior sees some upgrades, with a one-touch power moonroof added, allowing occupants to get some fresh air into the car and see up into the sky. The front seats are heated, keeping you warm on those bone-chilling New York winter days. The driver’s seat is power controlled, and the climate control has been upgraded to dual-zone automatic, making both the front and the rear occupants comfortable.

The safety features have added an available Blind Spot Information System with Cross Traffic Monitor. The exterior has some upgrades, such as the 18-inch alloy wheels. Locking and unlocking the CR-V EX is easier than ever with Smart Entry with Walk Away Auto Lock. Now you can leave your keys in your pocket all the time, which makes your life just a little easier. The EX provides a balance of features and performance, leveling it up from the base model without becoming too bogged down with all of the fancy features you will find in the higher trims.

The Sport Hybrid trim option has some significant changes from the EX. It includes or upgrades all the EX features, and the powertrain is completely different. If you want a hybrid, this is the trim you will start with. The Sport Hybrid uses a hybrid powertrain capable of producing 204 hp with a 4-Mode Drive System. The available Real Time AWD will give this hybrid solid off-road performance, and you’ll see quite a difference in fuel efficiency. The standard gas engine will give you an EPA-estimated 28 MPG in the city and 34 MPG on the highway, while the hybrid engine boosts those numbers to an EPA-estimated 43 MPG in the city and 36 MPG on the highway. If you do a lot of city driving, this may be a model to seriously consider.

It has the same size 18-inch wheels as the EX, but these are painted gloss black, giving a sharp and sleek appearance to the exterior. Roof rails are also included with the Sport Hybrid, keeping you ready for any adventure. The interior sees some changes over the EX. The cloth seats have orange stitching to make the seats pop, the steering wheel is leather wrapped and uses the same orange stitching to provide a uniform appearance, and the heated seats and moonroof are still included. Most of the rest of the features for the interior are the same as on the EX.

The EX-L takes the functionality of the EX and gives it a high-end luxury feel. It has the same engine, transmission, and wheels as the EX but makes significant improvements in the interior and technology features. The interior has been improved with leather-trimmed seats, power front seats with driver memory, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The speaker system is made up of eight speakers and boasts 320 watts of audio power. The multimedia touch screen is now nine inches, and a wireless phone charger is included to make charging your smartphone an absolute breeze. Parking sensors have also been added to the list of driver-assist features.

When you want the ultimate in CR-V functionality and features, the Sport Touring Hybrid is for you. It comes with the same hybrid powertrain as the Sport Hybrid, but Real Time AWD comes standard. The luxury features of the EX-L are present and upgraded on the Sport Touring. The leather-trimmed seats now feature orange stitching, and the steering wheel is heated. The sound is now provided by a Bose Premium sound system. All the safety features available on the CR-V are standard on the Sport Touring Hybrid. You get all the functionality and flexibility you expect from a CR-V, all with a hybrid engine under the hood.

A Honda CR-V has plenty of features that make it work well for the New York environment. Our beautiful state has lots of hills, mountains, and outdoor activities to explore. The winters are cold, snowy, and long, and the summers are hot and humid. The variety of weather New York brings can push the limits of what a vehicle can handle. The CR-V is built for conditions like this. The stylish yet rugged design makes it suited to functioning at a high level in both winter and summer, on and off the road. The available Real Time AWD gives you the ability to travel to even remote campsites or trailheads. So whether you’re a hiker, fisherman, camper, or just want a reliable all-around SUV, you should consider the 2023 Honda CR-V.