2026 Honda CR-V LX: Which Features Do You Actually Get in the Base Trim?

What Car Shoppers Need to Know

• Even without any optional equipment, the least expensive 2026 Honda CR-V has desirable and notable features.

Vehicles of all types are growing more expensive, but what’s often overlooked in that conversation is just how nice base trims are becoming. Even calling them “base” variants diminishes how well equipped they are in many cases. As an example, let’s look at what you get with the entry-level 2026 Honda CR-V compact SUV: The cheapest trim, LX, starts at $32,370 (including $1,450 destination fee) and has many notable features that don’t cost extra.

Related: 2026 Honda CR-V Up Close: Subtle Changes for Sales Superstar

Tech and Entertainment

9-Inch Touchscreen

Honda fits the most affordable CR-V with the same large, 9-inch color display as the range-topping TrailSport and Sport Touring hybrid, each of which starts north of $40,000.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Standard wireless integration eases connectivity — once you set it up, just get in the car and go. It also keeps cables from cluttering up the console.

Wireless Phone Charger

Many of Honda’s competitors, including the Hyundai Tucson, Nissan Rogue and Toyota RAV4, reserve this feature for pricier trims, but it’s standard on the entry-level CR-V LX.

Front USB-A and USB-C Ports

Providing two types of ports allows for high-speed charging of both legacy and modern devices.

Interior

Automatic Climate Control

Many cheaper models still use manual knobs to control cabin temperature, requiring you to crank the airflow in extreme conditions and then tweak it to dial in a comfortable temperature. In the CR-V LX, you just set your desired temp and the car maintains it automatically.

Manual Driver-Seat Height Adjustment

While many drivers can appreciate a height-adjustable seat, this feature is particularly useful to both atypically tall or short drivers. A manual pump lever on the side of the bottom cushion allows drivers of all sizes to find a comfortable driving position and clear lines of sight.

Reclining 60/40-Split Rear Seatback

Even with the rear seats up, the CR-V LX can haul nearly 40 cubic feet of stuff. The standard split seatback allows you to fold one or both sides to balance passenger needs with up to 76.5 cubic feet of cargo volume. (Both figures are by the manufacturer’s measurements.)

Auto Up/Down Driver-Side Window

Power front and rear windows are standard on the CR-V, which also includes a one-touch “auto” function that completely raises or lowers the driver’s window with a single click of the switch.

Safety and Driver-Assist Systems

Honda Sensing Suite

Honda’s basic battery of driver-assistance technologies includes forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and lane departure steering assist. The only advanced safety features offered on the CR-V that aren’t standard on the LX are blind spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, and front and rear parking sensors. The former two are included on the CR-V EX, which stickers for just $2,230 more than the LX. Parking sensors are standard on the $36,850 EX-L.

LED Headlights and Taillights

LED exterior lighting typically offers better nighttime visibility than alternatives. The CR-V’s standard LED headlights earned top marks in Insurance Instittute for Highway Safety testing, providing superior visibility without an upcharge. LED taillights make the CR-V easier for other drivers to spot in inclement weather.

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Convenience

Push-Button Start

Just get in, put your foot on the brake, and poke the button. It only sounds frivolous until you’ve lived with it. The EX adds keyless entry that automatically unlocks the doors when you touch a handle and locks them when you walk away.

Smart Clear Wipers

Instead of mounting the washer nozzles at the base of the windshield, Honda fits them directly to the wiper arm. This better disperses washer fluid for a better clean while using less of it.

Performance

190-Horsepower Turbocharged Engine

In some vehicles, the base model gets a detuned engine with less power. The CR-V LX, however, uses the same turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder as the pricier EX and EX-L.

Fuel Economy

The race to downsize engines has proven that a powerful engine working less hard can be more efficient than a weaker engine that is more highly stressed. The CR-V’s 190-hp turbo returns a comfortable EPA-rated 28/33/30 mpg city/highway/combined with front-wheel drive and 27/31/29 mpg with all-wheel drive. Better still, it runs on regular gasoline — not pricey premium.

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