Honda CR-V LX vs. EX: 2022 Side-by-Side Trim Level Comparison

The Honda CR-V is one of the most compelling small SUVs on the market today. It delivers a comfortable ride, offers enough cargo and cabin space, and handles like a sedan. The Honda SUV is available in four great trims; base LX, EX, EX-L trim, and Touring.

There is also a Special Edition model placed between the LX and the EX. In this article, we compare the base LX and the EX models.

The two models also share several features. From the outside, it can be challenging to distinguish between the two models. Below are more differences and similarities between the two models.

Honda CR-V LX vs. EX: Performance

Unlike earlier models where the LX and EX had different engines, the new models have the same engine. Honda offers a turbocharged 1.5L four-cylinder engine for all its models. This engine makes 190 horsepower and 179 lb-ft of torque.

In both the LX and EX, front-wheel drive is standard, but you can pick the optional all-wheel drive train. The engine pairs with a continuously variable automatic transmission, which offers smooth shifts regardless of the daily drive conditions.

The standard front-wheel-drive engine is rated 28 mpg for city driving and 34 mpg for highway driving. The all-wheel-drive model is rated 27 mpg city and 32 mpg highway driving. These are the same numbers for the LX and the EX.

If you need better fuel economy numbers than the two models offer, go for Honda CRV Hybrid, which delivers up to 40 mpg.

Honda CR-V LX vs. EX: Standard Features

Even the base model LX offers a host of features for drivers to enjoy their drives. For starters, the LX features 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic climate control, 60/40-split folding rear seat, a five-inch touchscreen four-speaker audio system, and a manually adjustable front seat.

Motorists who use the LX also enjoy a host of driver aids, including:

• Forward collision mitigation, which warns of an impending collision and can even autonomously apply brakes

• Lane-keeping assist, which steers the vehicle back to its lane if it drifts off the lane marker

• Automatic high beams

• Adaptive cruise control, which enables the driver to maintain a set distance between them and the driver ahead of them

The EX offers several features on top of what the LX offers. It offers all the standard features in the Special Edition model, which include:

• Heated front seats

• Apple CarPlay

• Android Auto

• Six-speaker audio system

• 7-inch touchscreen display

• Dual-zone automatic climate control

• Proximity keyless entry

• Push-button start

• Remote engine start

Besides the security system offered by the LX, motorists who pick the EX will enjoy a blind spot information system coupled with a rear cross-traffic alert. This feature warns you of cars in your blind spot when you need to reverse or when you are changing lanes.

The vehicle also offers different features, including 18-inch wheels, which make it better for light off-road driving, sunroof, cargo cover, tinted rear windows, rear-seat USB ports, rear privacy glass, exterior temperature indicator, and power-adjustable driver’s seat.

If you need more advanced features with an EX, you can go for the EX-L, which makes the EX more advanced. It adds features, such as a power liftgate, a one-touch power moonroof, leather upholstery, an eight-speaker audio system, a power-adjustable passenger seat, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.

Honda CR-V LX vs. EX: Dimensions and Cargo Space

The L seats five passengers just like the EX. These two models offer sufficient cargo and cabin space for the passengers. The LX has a height of 182.1 inches and a width of 66.5 inches, which is not different from the length and height of the EX.

Its overall width without the mirrors is 73.0 inches. The EX is a little heavier than the LX – the latter is 3,455 pounds in curb weight while the EX is 3,514 pounds in curb weight. Both models offer 39.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats.

Honda CR-V LX vs. EX: Price

Depending on the configurations you go for, you will pay about $2,500 for an EX. Like all other Honda CRV models, you can personalize your vehicle to make it more comfortable and make it drive better. For instance, you can go for the optional AWD for a smoother drive and drive farther off the road.

If you want to go for the more luxurious EX-L, you will have to part with about $5,000 more than you would for the LX. However, this model delivers features, such as leather upholstery and several others that make it a great drive.

Honda CR-V LX vs. EX: Interior

Both the LX and the EX offer wide door openings for the front and rear doors. There is ample clearance, so you can get in and out of the vehicle with much ease. Inside, the vehicle offers a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel with an adjustable driver’s seat; both of which offer enough adjustability to keep the driver comfortable regardless of their height.

These two models have the same interior dimensions, which are generally bigger than what most of the rivals have to offer. The physical controls offered in the Honda CRV LX and EX are intuitive, although some of them might be small.

On the tech front, the Honda CRV LX lacks Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, which are standard features on all the other models. Features, such as Bluetooth connectivity and streaming features come standard in all CR-V models. You will have USB ports in all models, but higher trims come with more USB ports, including two in the rear seats.

There is a navigation screen in the EX, which is clear and easy to follow. You can use voice control on the EX, thanks to a connection to Google-based Android. The interior space looks the same for most of the parts. While the LX has cloth upholstery, the EX has an advanced leather interior, which makes it more luxurious.

What Do Other Trim Options Offer?

The LX and EX are two of the five models that Honda CRV has to offer. Other models are Special Edition, EX-L, and the top-of-the-range Touring model.

Special Edition is a better version of LX and comes with a host of advanced and comfort features, such as a seven-inch touchscreen display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a six-speaker audio system, dual-zone automatic climate control, proximity keyless entry, push-button start, and heated front seats. Besides these comfort features, the Special Edition is the same as the LX in all other features.

The EX-L is an updated version of the EX. It brings a couple of extra features, including an auto-dimming rearview mirror, leather upholstery, an eight-speaker audio system, a power liftgate, and a power-adjustable passenger seat. All other features, including performance, cabin space, and cargo space are all the same.

The Touring trim is the top trim. It offers everything that the EX-L offers and further adds several other features for comfort and better handling.

Touring trims come with a standard AWD system, which allows you to drive them off the road with ease. Some of the features you get with this model include LED headlights, a nine-speaker stereo system, an integrated navigation system, wireless smartphone charging, and roof rails. The roof rails, the moonroof, and the LED headlights make the Touring stand out from all the other models.

Is the Honda CRV a Good Vehicle?

The 2022 Honda CR-V is part of the generation that debuted in 2017. Although there has not been a major upgrade, this compact SUV is still compelling and stands against the competition well. The main competitor is the Toyota RAV-4, but the CR-V delivers exemplary across the board.

With a CR-V, regardless of whether you pick LX or EX, you will enjoy sufficient space, comfort, driver comfort, thanks to seat and steering wheel adjustability, and several other features. When it comes to build quality, the CR-V does not disappoint. Its flowing interior panels and the trim insert create a perfect-looking interior.

The new models come with a base turbocharged engine, which makes it a capable vehicle for different driving conditions. There is no optional engine to choose from even for the top trims. Once you get your CR-V, Honda offers you a three-year or 36,000-mile warranty with a five-year warranty for the engine and you also get Roadside Assistance for all the models. Safety features, such as anti-lock brakes and comfort features, such as a heated steering wheel make each CR-V standout.