2023 Honda CR-V EX-L review // Does this top trim offer value?

#HondaCR-V
#CR-V
#CoupleCarReview
This is a Motormouth couple car review of the all-new 2023 Honda CR-V EX-L trim.Rarely do we get the opportunity to drive two trims of a vehicle, our first review was of the Sport trim and now Honda has dropped off the CR-V top trim for us to drive. In Canada, the EX-L gas trim is priced at $43,390 CAD, standard AWD and in the US FWD $33,760 USD and AWD $35,260 USD. The top trim of the Honda CR-v comes with plenty of features including, a 9” touchscreen, wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto, a 7” driver display, a wireless charger, 8-speaker audio system, power driver and passenger seats, driver seat memory, heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, leather trimmed upholstery, a moonroof and a power tailgate. In the US, the heated steering wheel is not standard on the EX-L model, but you can add it for $460 USD. The Honda CR-V gas model is missing some key features its competitors have like ventilated front seats, navigation, a panoramic sunroof and a 360 camera. This new 2023 Honda CR-V is 2.7” longer and 0.4” wider than the outgoing model. It has a bold and boxy new design with a broader stance and longer hood. The EX-L model has a gloss black honeycomb grille, body coloured door handles, LED headlights, LED taillights, acoustic glass, 18” wheels, an auto dimming rearview mirror and front and rear parking sensors. The interior of the Honda CR-V is modern, open, more comfortable and quieter than the outgoing model plus it has the most cabin and cargo space in CR-V history. There’s plenty of soft materials especially on touch points and the cabin has a simple and uncluttered design with a striking honeycomb mesh accent that stretches across the dash from door to door hiding the air vents. The new seats are designed to reduce fatigue over long drives and this top trim has perforated leather seats. The Honda CR-V has a 1.5L turbocharged 4-cylinder matched to a CVT, 190 horsepower and 179 lb-ft of torque. The CVT has been improved to reduce noise and vibration which is a nice update. Fuel economy is rated at 9.1L/100 km, 27 MPG city and 7.6L/100 km, 32 MPG highway.

At Canada Drives you can buy your car 100% online and have it delivered straight to your doorstep. Once delivered, you have a full 7 days to love it or return it.

[randyprice]

Maybe I'm old school but Honda and Toyota hold their value MUCH better than any of the other competitors so I am willing to spend a little more in the beginning knowing I can recover more of it in the end.

[adamesd]

I had the previous gen CRV and now have a Passport. I think Honda seems to have done a really good job with this CRV. They fixed what needed to be fixed and stopped there.

[hoshgel]

Honda’s history for reliability is what it offers that most other car brands don’t have.

[Freeber]

I fit in with Zach’s preferences! They ‘actually’ have demo 2023 crv hybrids at some local Seattle dealers and I drove one recently. So much love 😍 for this car. The 2022 RAV4 is noisy and cheap feeling. I don’t care for ventilated seats or a panoramic roof. This was gorgeous, comfortable, quiet, with fabulous ride quality and love the heavy feel of the steering. In the US it’s under 40K for Sport Touring so I’m off to find a dealer that isn’t asking above MSRP…. Your mileage may vary but it’s worth the price premium for me!

[rapisor]

It never fails to amuse me how Zack always grabs onto something when Andrea floors it 😂

[kellingtonlink]

This was perhaps the fairest review on the CRV that I’ve seen so far. You gave the well deserved respect where the respect was due. Well done guys! Thanks for the video.

[UltimateTuner]

Before we got the new CRV this week the only stuff my wife liked the style of were the CX5, GV70, Macan, and hated hated hated the last CRV as it reminded her of some kind of shrunken van. She got the EX-L black exterior gray leather interior which looks pretty classy. The car drives great and power feels more than adequate around town and merging/passing on the highway. Love this new car

[zackdenardis]

My mom finally traded in her 300k mile 08 Pilot and got one of these delivered this past week. So far it’s been very nice, price is steep but a lot of driving is for her job so they helped out with an early Christmas bonus. She got the Canyon River Blue metallic and the paint is gorgeous!! No orange peel I was surprised! Like you both mentioned the CVT is much improved and isn’t very noticeable during regular driving. She got the EX-L (in the US) and Honda brand loyalty played a BIG part in this. We had the Pilot since new and it never broke down once, never saw a single flatbed. She was happier throwing another dice with Honda than trying something else. Keeping my fingers crossed that this CRV treats us just as well

[tiggerlou]

I was one of the 1st owners of the 2019 rav4 hybrid limited. For my wife and I, having the 360 camera for awhile now I would say it’s a game changer . To know exactly where your car is….you’ll never go without it. With our changing climate, even in Canada, try driving through BC in the summer and you’ll wish you had cool air coming through the leather seats. I was a loyal Honda/Acura person until the pricing and quality didn’t equate…I had to change.

[brichpmr]

Speaking of used Hondas, my 2012 Acura TSX Wagon (an Accord in Europe) is an amazing daily driver with 75k on the clock. Runs like new without the complexity of the new generation driver distractions. It's a unicorn these days, but a testament to the excellence of Honda engineering, and confirms my brand loyalty.

[sak]

Magic words: "seats are so comfortable you're gonna find on a long trip they're great. " And it is quiet inside. Might meet my road trip vehicle needs.

[keponen]

so nice to see how Americans appreciate Honda and Toyota. Europeans mostly buy German cars then get burned because they're not well made. But we keep buying em 🤣

[joeisawesome]

I live in Vancouver and during the summer we love our ventilated front seats. We also love the 360 camera!

[ChopperChad]

Such an elevated and classy channel without being gaudy and arrogant. Well done. I bet you two are a lot fun at parties. Id love to see Zack with a couple of drinks in him.

[randyhutton]

I like a BRIGHT wheel as well! So glad someone has brought this to light!

[ofcbob]

I hope Honda has truly resolved the "oil dilution" problem that has plagued this same engine for 2, maybe 3 years. Hopefully some owners of 22-23 models with this same 1.5L turbo can comment after putting miles on it whether they can say it isn't a problem 👌...or is it still an issue? ☹

[Tinrs]

Ive owned 3 vehicles with vented/cooled seats and i do not like that cold feeling on my man parts. So agree with Zack. I also am ok with no sunroof.

[stephengneri]

Today Zach spoke truth to power on the seats...belly laugh...love you guys.

[elsaandnoah]

Really attractive CR-V 😊 it actually reminds me of a Volvo sort of. In recent years, the CR-V fell off my radar because I just didn’t care for exterior styling but I like this one!

[slf]

Im looking for a CRV now after having 2 Honda Accords (my current Honda Accord is 2008 at 340 000 km!!!! ) and for some reason still feel like I have that loyalty to stick with the Honda brand !!