Honda quietly adds three lower-priced versions of the 2023 CR-V
The Honda CR-V got a facelift for 2023 with the arrival of an all-new generation in North America. This new cuvée brings some changes as well as a retail price higher than the competition. However, while we were validating certain data on the Honda Canada website concerning the CR-V, one detail caught our attention. After verification, we found that 3 additional versions with the letter “B” were listed in the catalog at a lower price than the standard version of the same name.
A measure that has an impact on 3 versions
Currently, if you go to the Japanese manufacturer’s Canadian website, you will notice the addition of the LX-B 2WD, LX-B AWD and Sport-B versions. When we take a closer look at the differences between these versions and their counterparts, we notice the absence of the Blind Spot Information (BSI) function and Cross Traffic Monitoring (CTM). This reduction of equipment on the versions concerned amounts to a reduction in the price of the vehicle by an amount of $550.
According to information obtained by RPM, only the LX 2WD, LX AWD and Sport versions are affected by this measure taken by the manufacturer, which will apply for the rest of 2023. However, the Canadian versions of the Honda CR-V EX -L and Touring, more equipped, will continue to offer Blind Spot Information (BSI) and Cross Traffic Monitoring (CTM) as standard equipment. We can therefore deduce that it will be difficult, if not impossible, to order an LX or Sport version with these two equipment until the end of the model year, despite their presence in the manufacturer’s online configurator at the time of writing. these lines.
The great responsible
Like the entire automotive industry since the pandemic, Honda has not escaped the supply difficulties in terms of parts, and more particularly microchips. When we contacted Honda Canada’s communications manager, he confirmed that this was the reason behind these new versions. He also informed us that this decision concerning the CR-V had been made in order to maintain the availability of the model on the market and to meet demand, otherwise the availability and the delays to obtain the SUV would have been affected.
Honda also informs us that it continues to monitor the situation closely, and that it reserves the right to adjust the plans, according to the evolution of the situation on the side of the supply of parts and microchips.
Let us also remember that, during the pandemic, the manufacturer GM had to opt for a similar measure by delivering vehicles without certain functions, such as heated seats and steering wheel, to cite just this example.
