What You Get in Each 2025 CR-V Trim
The 2025 Honda CR-V comes in five main trim levels: LX, EX, EX-L, Sport Touring, and Sport Utility. Each step up adds features, technology, and comfort options rather than changing the vehicle's core size or engine. The LX is the base model with standard all-wheel drive, a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine, and essential safety features. Moving up adds things like a larger touchscreen, leather seats, a sunroof, and upgraded audio systems.
Honda also offers the CR-V Hybrid in EX, EX-L, and Sport Touring trims, which uses a hybrid powertrain instead of the standard gas engine. The hybrid versions deliver better fuel economy but cost more upfront. All trims seat five passengers and share the same cargo space and overall dimensions.
Key Takeaways
- The 2025 CR-V offers five gas-powered trims (LX, EX, EX-L, Sport Touring, Sport Utility) plus three hybrid options in EX, EX-L, and Sport Touring.
- Each higher trim adds comfort and technology features like larger screens, leather upholstery, and advanced driver information systems, not additional engine power.
- The LX trim includes all-wheel drive and Honda Sensing safety features as standard, so you are not paying extra for basic safety technology.
- Hybrid trims cost roughly $2,000 to $3,000 more than their gas equivalents but offer noticeably better fuel economy over the vehicle's lifetime.
- The Sport Utility trim is the highest gas-powered option and includes features found in lower trims plus all-wheel drive, a power liftgate, and premium audio.
LX and EX Trims: Where Most Buyers Start
The LX is the entry point and includes all-wheel drive, a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a backup camera, and Honda Sensing (Honda's suite of driver information features like adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping information). You also get a power driver's seat, dual-zone climate control, and a six-speaker audio system. The LX does not have a sunroof, leather seats, or a power liftgate.
The EX adds a larger 10.2-inch touchscreen, a sunroof, heated front seats, a power liftgate, and an upgraded eight-speaker audio system. The EX also includes wireless phone charging and a hands-free power tailgate. If you spend time in cold weather or want easier trunk access, the EX's heated seats and power liftgate justify the step up for many buyers.
EX-L and Sport Touring: Premium Comfort and Technology
The EX-L brings leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and memory settings for the driver's seat. It includes a power moonroof (larger than the EX's sunroof), a Bose premium audio system with ten speakers, and a rear-seat USB charging port. The EX-L also adds a power-adjustable passenger seat and ambient interior lighting. These features appeal to buyers who spend long hours driving or want a more upscale interior feel.
The Sport Touring is the top gas-powered trim and includes everything from the EX-L plus all-wheel drive (standard on all trims), a panoramic moonroof, and an upgraded infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also features a premium Bose audio system and additional driver information features like blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The Sport Touring is positioned as a near-luxury option within the CR-V lineup.
Sport Utility Trim: The Newest High-End Option
Honda introduced the Sport Utility trim for 2025 as an alternative to the Sport Touring. It shares many features with the Sport Touring but emphasizes rugged styling and outdoor capability. The Sport Utility includes all-wheel drive, a power liftgate, roof rails, and skid plates. It has the same 10.2-inch touchscreen as the EX but with a different interior design that leans toward a more adventurous aesthetic.
The Sport Utility does not include leather seats or the panoramic moonroof found on the Sport Touring, making it roughly $1,000 to $2,000 less expensive. If you want premium features and all-wheel drive but prefer a more rugged appearance over luxury touches, the Sport Utility splits the difference between the EX-L and Sport Touring.
Hybrid Trims: Better Fuel Economy at a Higher Price
The 2025 CR-V Hybrid is available in EX, EX-L, and Sport Touring trims only—there is no hybrid LX or Sport Utility. The hybrid system pairs a 2.0-liter gas engine with electric motors and a battery pack. Honda estimates the hybrid achieves roughly 40 miles per gallon combined (the exact figure depends on driving conditions), compared to around 28 to 32 mpg for the gas-powered models. Over five to seven years of ownership, the fuel savings can offset the higher purchase price, especially if you drive frequently on highways.
Hybrid trims include the same features as their gas-powered counterparts in the same trim level. A hybrid EX has the same 10.2-inch touchscreen and sunroof as a gas EX. The main difference is the powertrain and fuel economy. Hybrid models also may have access to for certain tax incentives in some states, though federal tax credits for hybrid SUVs have changed in recent years—check your state's current incentives before deciding.
Standard Safety and Technology Across All Trims
Every 2025 CR-V includes Honda Sensing as standard, regardless of trim. This package includes adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation braking, lane-keeping information, and road departure mitigation. All models also have a backup camera, automatic headlights, and a tire-pressure monitoring system. These features do not change between trims, so you are not paying extra for basic safety technology by choosing the LX.
Higher trims add additional driver information features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking sensors. The EX-L and Sport Touring also include a surround-view camera system that shows a bird's-eye view of the vehicle when parking. If advanced parking and blind-spot features matter to you, the EX-L or Sport Touring justify their cost; if you are comfortable with standard safety features, the LX provides solid protection at a lower price.
Engine Power and Towing Capacity
All gas-powered CR-V trims use the same 1.5-liter turbocharged engine, which produces 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque. This engine is paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that sends power to all four wheels. Towing capacity is 1,500 pounds across all gas trims, which is enough for a small utility trailer or jet ski but not for larger boats or trailers.
The hybrid powertrain produces 204 horsepower combined (gas engine plus electric motors) and has the same 1,500-pound towing capacity. The hybrid's extra power comes from the electric motors, which provide when ready torque and make acceleration feel slightly more responsive than the gas engine alone. If towing is important to you, both gas and hybrid CR-Vs handle light to moderate loads equally well.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between the EX-L and Sport Touring?
The Sport Touring adds a panoramic moonroof, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and an upgraded infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The EX-L has a power moonroof and wired connectivity. The Sport Touring costs roughly $2,000 to $3,000 more and is positioned as the luxury option.
Should I buy the hybrid or the gas CR-V?
The hybrid costs more upfront but saves money on fuel over time, especially if you drive 15,000 miles or more per year. If you drive less or plan to keep the vehicle for only a few years, the gas model may be more cost-effective. Both have the same towing capacity and safety features, so the choice depends on your driving habits and budget.
Does the LX have all the safety features I need?
Yes. The LX includes Honda Sensing (adaptive cruise, collision mitigation, lane-keeping information) and a backup camera as standard. Higher trims add blind-spot monitoring and surround-view cameras, which are helpful but not essential. The LX provides solid protection for most drivers.
Can I get a sunroof on the LX?
No. The sunroof is standard on the EX and higher trims. If a sunroof is important to you, the EX is the lowest trim that includes one. The hybrid EX also has a sunroof and better fuel economy than the gas EX.
What does the Sport Utility trim offer that the Sport Touring does not?
The Sport Utility emphasizes rugged styling with roof rails and skid plates, while the Sport Touring emphasizes luxury with leather seats and a panoramic moonroof. The Sport Utility is less expensive and appeals to buyers who want all-wheel drive and premium features without the luxury touches.