Use the steering-wheel display controls to cycle through the instrument-cluster screens and adjust brightness, and use the center touchscreen to tune display-related settings. Exact steps vary by model year and trim, but the general approach is consistent across most CR-V generations.
In this article, we walk you through methods to customize the instrument cluster and the central infotainment display on typical Honda CR-V models, with notes on how steps can differ between years and trims. The goal is to help you tailor what you see on the dashboard for easier viewing and a more personalized driving experience.
Customizing the instrument cluster (the gauges and trip information)
Most CR-Vs let you adjust what information appears on the instrument cluster and how it’s displayed using the steering-wheel controls. Below is a common workflow, with variations depending on year and trim.
- Cycle through the instrument-cluster screens by pressing the DISP button on the left side of the steering wheel (or, on some models, the TRIP/RESET controls). This lets you view different gauges and information pages such as Trip A, Trip B, fuel economy, range, and more.
- Navigate within the cluster screens using the up/down arrows or the OK/Menu button to select the information you want to display (e.g., average fuel economy, instantaneous mpg, distance to empty).
- Reset trip meters by pressing and holding the TRIP or RESET button (or selecting a reset option on the screen when shown).
- Adjust instrument-panel brightness with the dedicated brightness control (often a small wheel near the steering column). Some models offer an Auto or Night mode you can enable for automatic dimming in low light.
- Enable or disable the digital speedometer or other digital gauges if your model supports toggling these items in the same display menus.
These steps help you tailor the instrument cluster to show the information you care about most while driving and can make it easier to monitor key data at a glance.
Customizing the central touchscreen and dashboard displays
In addition to the instrument cluster, you can adjust the center touchscreen’s display-related settings. The exact paths can vary by year, trim, and the infotainment version (Display Audio, HondaLink, etc.).
- Tap the Home button on the touchscreen, then select Settings or Display (the wording may vary). Look for options labeled Display, Instrument Panel, or Driving Display depending on your model year.
- Within Display settings, choose related options to adjust brightness for the touchscreen, enable Night/Day mode, and set any available display preferences for the dashboard view.
- If your CR-V supports a digital speedometer or additional gauges in the infotainment display, enable or configure these from the same Display/Instrument Panel settings or a dedicated Driving Display option.
- Set units and climate-related readings (miles vs kilometers, Fahrenheit vs Celsius) where available in Settings > General/Units. Some trims may not offer unit changes.
- For models with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, note that while you can customize some home-screen widgets via the phone interface, the instrument-cluster layout itself is controlled by the car’s system.
In most cases, these options allow you to harmonize the center display with the instrument cluster, giving you a cohesive dashboard view that suits your preferences and driving conditions.
Safety and usability tips
Make dashboard changes while parked or during a safe stop to avoid distractions. If you’re unsure about where a particular setting lives in your year’s manual, consult the owner’s manual for your exact trim and model year, as paths and terminology can differ between updates.
Summary
To change the Honda CR-V dashboard display, use the steering-wheel controls to cycle through instrument-cluster screens and adjust brightness, then use the central touchscreen to tweak Display/Instrument Panel settings on the infotainment system. The precise steps depend on the model year and trim, but the general approach—customizing instrument data first, then fine-tuning the touchscreen display—applies to most CR-V configurations. Always refer to your specific owner's manual for exact button labels and menu names, and perform changes while parked for safety.