Trims and Powertrain

The ’22 CR-V is sold in five trim levels, which are the LX, Special Edition, EX, EX-L, and Touring. Under the hood of each is a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 190 hp and 179 lb.-ft. of torque; it’s coupled to a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Front-wheel drive (FWD) is standard in the LX, Special Edition, EX, and EX-L, and AWD – which is available for the other trims – is standard on the Touring. CR-Vs with FWD get an EPA-estimated 28 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway, while those with AWD return 27 city/32 highway.

LX

The base trim has black exterior door handles and other accents, on/off headlights (with automatic high beams), remote entry, single-zone automatic climate control, a tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, a front console 1.0-amp USB audio interface, a center console 12-volt power outlet, and an easy fold-down 60/40-split rear seatback. While backup cameras are required equipment in all vehicles, the one in the LX goes above and beyond with multiple angle views and helpful on-screen guidelines.

The infotainment system at this level has a 5-inch color LCD screen, Bluetooth (for hands-free phone calls and audio streaming), and a sound system with four speakers. It also gets the entry-level version of the Honda Sensing suite of advanced active safety technologies, containing adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, forward collision warning, lane keeping assist, collision mitigation braking, road departure mitigation, and lane departure warning.

Special Edition

The Special Edition moves to body-colored exterior accents and raises the cabin’s comfort factor with heated front seats and dual-zone automatic climate control. It also adds Smart Entry with Walk Away Auto Lock (which lets you unlock and lock the vehicle without the key fob in hand), push-button start, a more advanced multi-angle rearview camera with dynamic guidelines, HondaLink remote services, and a front console USB port. The Special Edition moves up to a This trim also upgrades its infotainment array with a 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and SMS text messaging. It also gets the basic version of Honda Sensing.

EX

Some of the noteworthy features in this trim are a moonroof, LED fog lights, heated outside mirrors with built-in turn-signal indicators. It also gets a power driver’s seat, rear privacy glass, a security system, illuminated vanity mirrors, two second-row USB charge ports, and a retractable cargo area cover. SiriusXM satellite radio, HD radio, and a six-speaker sound system are added to the infotainment system. In the driver-assist department, the EX is the lowest trim level to get a blind-spot monitor with cross-traffic monitoring.

EX-L

Some more refinement slips into the EX-L, which has leather seats, a power tailgate, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, driver’s seat position memory, a power front passenger’s seat, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a universal garage door opener. Its sound system is upgraded to an eight-speaker unit.

Touring

The Touring gets the most features, starting with a heated steering wheel, a hands-free liftgate, LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, rooftop rails, dual exhaust finishers in chrome, ambient interior lighting, and wireless smartphone charging. This is where you’ll find the best infotainment system, which adds navigation, voice recognition, and a premium audio system with nine speakers, including a subwoofer.