There are three versions of the 2024 CR-V – LX, EX, and EX-L – all of which have a 190-horsepower turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Front-wheel drive (FWD) is the default, while all-wheel drive (AWD) is optional.
The CR-V’s fuel economy as officially rated by the EPA is 28 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway; the AWD CR-V gets 27 mpg around town and 32 mpg on the open road. When it’s properly equipped, the CR-V can tow a small trailer with a total weight of up to 1,500 pounds. Cargo space reaches 76.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded flat, or 39.3 cubic feet with the back seat in the upright position.
While the LX has basic features such as fabric-clad seats and 17-inch steel wheels with covers, Honda packs it with some features not seen in every base trim. That list includes remote keyless entry, automatic climate control, power-adjustable side mirrors with built-in turn signals, LED exterior lighting with automatic headlights, push-button ignition, a 7-inch driver information display, a tilt-and-telescopic steering column, and variable intermittent windshield wipers. Honda Sensing, a suite of the latest driver-assist technologies, is installed as well. Its safety-enhancing features include adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, lane departure warning, road departure mitigation, traffic jam assist, traffic sign recognition, driver attention warning, and automatic high beams. For infotainment, there’s a 7-inch touchscreen system that manages a four-speaker audio system plus Bluetooth, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, hands-free text messaging, and access to the HondaLink app for roadside assistance and other services.
As the mid-grade trim, the CR-V EX receives various upgrades to its comfort and convenience amenities. For instance, it has proximity keyless entry, heated front seats, two zones of automatic climate control, a power moonroof, a ten-way power driver’s seat with lumbar support, heated power exterior mirrors, illuminated front-row vanity mirrors, rear privacy glass, and 18-inch alloy wheels. Its safety suite is expanded with blind-spot monitoring with a cross-traffic monitor, and its multimedia system adds another pair of speakers for a total of six.
The most upscale trim, the EX-L, gets leather upholstery for the seats and steering wheel, and shift knob. It also receives a power tailgate, wireless device charging, a driver’s position memory system, a four-way power front passenger seat, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. In addition to blind-spot monitoring with a cross-traffic monitor, it adds front and rear parking sensors and low-speed braking control to the driver-assist technology array. The infotainment upgrades at this level include the addition of SiriusXM satellite radio and wireless smartphone integration (Apple CarPlay/Android Auto) as well as an upgraded sound system with eight speakers.