2026 Honda CR-V EX: Elyria Buyers Guide
Quick Answer: 2026 Honda CR-V EX
The EX starts at $33,150 MSRP (plus $1,395 destination) and is where the 2026 CR-V starts feeling genuinely comfortable rather than merely equipped. On top of the LX's now-standard 9-inch screen, wireless CarPlay/Android Auto, and Honda Sensing, the EX adds a one-touch power moonroof, heated front seats, a 10-way power driver's seat with two-way lumbar, dual-zone automatic climate control, rear USB-C ports, and the Blind Spot Information System with cross-traffic monitoring. It runs the same 190-hp turbo four as the LX, 28 city / 33 highway with front-wheel drive; AWD adds $1,500. Great Lakes Honda West in Elyria stocks EX models regularly.
The trim most CR-V buyers actually land on
Ask a Great Lakes Honda West salesperson which trim moves fastest and the EX is usually the answer, and it's easy to see why once you line the features up. Blind spot monitoring alone changes the daily experience of merging on I-90 or navigating a crowded Great Northern Mall lot. Heated seats stop being a luxury and start being a January necessity somewhere around late November in northeast Ohio. Dual-zone climate ends the front-seat thermostat argument. None of it is flashy, all of it gets used every single day, which is a fair definition of where a compact SUV's money should go.
The step up from LX also brings the power driver's seat with two-way lumbar support, genuinely useful on longer drives, whether that's a Cleveland commute or a run down to Columbus. Rear passengers get their own USB-C ports, ending the backseat phone-charging squabble on road trips.
What you're still not getting
The EX holds the line at cloth seats (no leather until EX-L), no power tailgate, no parking sensors, and the smaller analog gauge cluster rather than the 10.2-inch digital display reserved for EX-L and above. For most buyers that's an easy trade: the features the EX adds are the ones used constantly, the ones it skips are the ones used occasionally. One recent buyer described the sales experience behind an EX-tier purchase this way: "Fair pricing, expertise, and respectful, no-pressure approach," language that shows up across multiple CR-V reviews here, not a one-off.
Frequently asked questions
What does the EX add over the LX?
A power moonroof, heated front seats, a 10-way power driver's seat, dual-zone automatic climate control, rear USB-C ports, and Blind Spot Information System with cross-traffic monitoring, for roughly $2,230 more before destination.
Is the EX worth the upgrade from LX?
For most Ohio drivers, yes. Heated seats and blind spot monitoring in particular earn their keep during a full winter, and the moonroof and dual-zone climate are the kind of features you stop noticing you have and immediately notice you don't.
Does the EX have leather seats?
No, the EX keeps cloth upholstery. Leather starts at EX-L, roughly $2,250 further up the lineup.
What's the EX's fuel economy?
28 city / 33 highway with front-wheel drive, 27 city / 31 highway with AWD, identical to the LX and EX-L since all three share the 1.5-liter turbo engine.
Can I get AWD on the EX?
Yes, for $1,500, bringing the EX to $34,650 before destination. AWD models also get sharper low-speed traction management, useful the first icy morning of the season.
See the EX at Great Lakes Honda West
EX trims are typically the deepest-stocked CR-V at Great Lakes Honda West, 823 Leona Street, Elyria. A quick call to (440) 366-5501 confirms current colors and AWD availability before you drive over.
MSRP figures exclude the $1,395 destination charge plus tax, title, registration, options, and dealer-installed accessories; the dealer sets the actual selling price. Fuel-economy figures are 2026 EPA ratings; your mileage will vary. Equipment and availability can change with configuration and production timing; confirm current specs with Great Lakes Honda West. Customer quotes are excerpts from public Google reviews of Great Lakes Honda West.