By Derek Price
Automotive Writer
Honda’s CR-V won the sales crown for crossover vehicles last year, turning out to be the hottest car in the hottest category of them all.
Honda easily could have taken a break for a victory lap after that, but no. It’s giving its popular CR-V a thorough makeover for 2015, which is a risky — and potentially rewarding — move for the Japanese brand.
After a week-long drive in the new version, it’s clear to me that Honda followed the cardinal rule when modifying a fast-selling car: “Don’t screw it up.” The new CR-V builds on the strengths of the old one without seeming too drastic a change.
Updated body styling is among the many changes to the Honda CR-V for 2015. It also gets a different engine, transmission, suspension tuning, brakes and interior materials.
Its new body looks slightly trendier with more creases and a revised face; its cabin has more soft-touch materials and better sound insulation; its braking and handling have been improved, if only marginally.
The biggest difference, though, comes under the hood. Honda has fitted the Accord’s 2.4-liter direct-injected engine into the CR-V and coupled it with a continuously variable transmission, and it seems like a great fit in this car. After all, the CR-V has always been more about practicality and fuel efficiency than gobs of horsepower.
It hits the efficiency mark for sure, earning a rating of 27 mpg in the city and 34 on the highway. For a vehicle that offers a lot of utility — including a generous cargo area and reasonable second-row knee room — that’s some impressive gas mileage.
Still, I wish there was an option for folks who want a bit more power. The 185 horses it generates are enough for most drivers, but a V6 would be better for us power-hungry crazy people.
The only other thing on my wish list is bigger buttons on the sound system. Honda’s user interface designers rarely make mistakes, but they’ve gotten this one thing very wrong in recent years. The buttons next to the touchscreen sound system seem like they’re designed for kid-size fingers and can be hard to read and operate when driving.
Fortunately, many of the stereo features can be controlled via easier-to-use buttons on the steering wheel.
The rest of the cabin gets the stereotypically brilliant Honda design, with a tightness to the trim and a lack of squeaks and rattles that gives you peace of mind.
The CR-V’s cabin has a smart, logical layout with a roomy cargo area and self-folding rear seats.
My test vehicle was the new Touring trim level that shows off several of the high-end options you can get on the new CR-V. Adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist were two features that made it feel more expensive than its $33,600 price.
I also love the LaneWatch feature in available in most new Hondas. It uses a video camera near the passenger-side mirror to give you a clear view of your blind spot, something I wish every car offered for changing lanes in fast-moving city traffic.
Pricing starts at $23,320 for the LX and ranges up to $31,520 for the plush Touring model. You can add all-wheel drive to every version for an extra $1,250.
At a Glance
What was tested?
2015 Honda CR-V AWD Touring ($32,770). Options: None. Price as tested (including $830 destination charge): $33,600
Wheelbase: 103.1 in.
Length: 179.4 in.
Width: 71.6 in.
Height: 64.7 in.
Engine: 2.4-liter inline 4-cylinder (185 hp, 181 lbs.-ft. torque)
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Estimated Mileage: 27 city, 34 highway
RATINGS
Style: 7
Performance: 6
Price: 8
Handling: 8
Ride: 8
Comfort: 8
Quality: 9
Overall: 8
Video Review:
2015 Honda CR-V
bit.ly/15CRV
Why buy it?
It’s the most popular compact crossover vehicle for a good reason. It gets lots of things right and very little wrong, and its new engine and transmission make it impressively fuel efficient.