The new generation of Honda’s popular compact SUV has just been introduced. Despite the super high overall quality, typically for Honda, many people were shocked by the new model’s starting price, which goes over 32.000 dollars. Although the price tag is justified by a long list of standard equipment, there is still that psychological moment when you compare this with other models in the class, which come with a notably lower starting price. Hopefully, this will change soon, as the Japanese manufacturer has announced that the 2023 Honda CR-V LX is on the way.
The company decided to reintroduce the base trim and from what we know so far, this model will be more basic than the EX trim in different ways. It’s not just about the standard equipment – we will also see some more basic approaches in terms of the exterior design, as well as the interior. On the other hand, the mechanical aspect of the vehicle will remain the same, as well as the list of standard safety and driver-assistance features.
The 2023 Honda CR-V LX is expected to arrive later this year.
2023 Honda CR-V LX Design
So, the 2023 Honda CR-V LX will be a new entry-level model and it will come with a few differences compared to the current base EX trim. In terms of the exterior design, most things will remain the same. The new base model will benefit from the recent redesign and bring the same overall design, though there will be a few details that clearly indicate the model’s entry-level nature. For example, we will see steel 17-inch wheels with hubcaps instead of more attractive 18-inch alloy wheels. Moreover, the new base model won’t feature dark-tinted windows, while the power sunroof won’t be standard either.
On the other hand, the mechanical aspect of the vehicle won’t change. You may count on the same suspension and chassis setup, while the smaller wheels could only make the ride even more comfortable, although the current EX already offers the ride quality that’s more about comfort than athleticism.
Interior
Interior changes will come as well. For example, the new base 2023 Honda CR-V LX will come with less impressive materials, even though the dashboard design will remain the same. The biggest differences will be in terms of standard equipment, whereas the LX won’t feature things like a power-adjustable driver’s seat or automatic windows on the back. Heated mirrors will also be deleted from the list of standard equipment, while the 6-speaker audio system will be replaced with a four-speaker system.
On the other hand, the 7-inch infotainment system will remain, but modern USB-C ports will be deleted. Dual-zone climate control will be replaced with a single-zone system but the list of standard safety features will remain very long. Some of the highlights are a rearview camera, forward collision camera, forward automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, traffic sign recognition, automatic high beams etc.
2023 Honda CR-V LX Engine
As we already mentioned, the base 2023 Honda CR-V LX will retain the same mechanics are more expensive siblings, so the engine will also remain the same. We are talking about a familiar 1.5-liter turbo-four, which puts out around 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque. The engine comes coupled with a CVT and the overall performance is quite good. Of course, there is no word about some crazy acceleration or things like that, but the engine feels competent enough for the most driving situation.
Moreover, the engine feels quite refined and, more importantly, it offers very good fuel economy. Models with front-wheel drive return around 28 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway, while AWD models drop to 27 and 32 mpg, respectively. Those are some of the best ratings in the class.
2023 Honda CR-V LX Release Date and Price
The 2023 Honda CR-V LX is expected to arrive later this year, with a starting price under 30.000 dollars. Key competitors will be more basic variants of RAV4, Rogue, Tucson etc.