The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

HEELS ON WHEELS: 2015 HONDA CR-V REVIEW


PHOTO
2015 Honda CR-V


Katrina Tweets: The Honda CR-V is one of my most highly recommended vehicles...

HEELS ON WHEELS
By Katrina Ramser
San Francisco Bureau
The Auto Channel

INTRO TO THE CR-V VEHICLE
The Honda CR-V is one of my most highly recommended vehicles – and not due to a subjective preference (truth be told I’m parietal to Volkswagens) but rather the fact it offers crossover space and styling, excellent fuel economy, and a desirable base trim. Honda’s got a good thing going with their lineup, tweaking it carefully each year, with a big step for this model year being a claim of 28 miles-per-gallon combined with all-wheel drive.

I drove a 2015 Honda CR-V with the standard Earth Dreams Technology 185-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine featuring i-VTEC technology, a new continuously variable transmission and a G-Design, and available Real Time Four-Wheel-Drive. Available in three easy trim grades, my top-of-the-line EX-L trim with the Touring Package featured the following standard features: leather upholstery; ten-way power driver’s seat; heated front seats; dual-zone climate control; rearview camera; Multi-Information Display; an upgraded seven-speaker audio system; an SMS text messaging function; Bluetooth; Pandora Internet Radio; XM Radio; Honda’s Satellite-Linked Navigation System; a moonroof; and seventeen-inch wheels. Total price as described came to $32,770.

For 2015, the CR-V features exterior refreshments with all-new front and rear bodywork, mirrors and wheels; along with higher quality interior materials and multiple functionality upgrades like a new configurable center console. Also, the new Earth Dreams Technology accomplishes two important tasks: improves torque by eleven percent and delivers 28-city and 33-highway miles-per-gallon. Main competitors that can appropriately compete with style, price and fuel economy are the Nissan Rogue, Kia Sportage and Toyota RAV4.

IHEELS ON WHEELS REVIEW CRITERIA

Stylish But Comfortable Results: The CR-V is a successful crossover design and remains attractive year after year – never feeling dated, either, thanks to subtle changes. This is a vehicle that can please at the base LX level, as standard features for every five-passenger CR-V include a rearview camera, Multi-Information Display, four-speaker audio system, Bluetooth, Pandora Internet Radio and a text messaging function that reads smartphone texts aloud through the audio system. While my top-of-the-line EX-L with the Touring Package brought leather upholstery, navigation and a moonroof, the size and quality of these features are subpar – I’m suggesting you go without and back down on your trim. The overall interior has abundant space and storage with an easy fold-down split rear seatback.

Reliability & Safety Factor: The 2015 Honda CR-V is a Top Safety Pick with the IIHS and features standard vehicle stability control, anti-lock brakes with brake assist, side-curtain airbags, and Advanced Compatibility Engineering. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives it an overall rating of 5-Stars.

Cost Issues: The MSRP for the 2015 Honda CR-V starts at $23,445; the Kia Sportage at $21,750; the Nissan Rogue at $22,790; and the Toyota RAV4 at $23,680.

IActivity & Performance Ability: Essentially the new powertrain technology is the Accord’s, which step ups the acceleration’s responsiveness. And yet even with the available Real Time Four-Wheel-Drive system, this crossover claims an average fuel economy of 28 miles-per-gallon combined. Fuel economy for the Rogue’s 2.5-liter four-cylinder with all-wheel drive boats similar numbers at 25-city and 32-highway for a combined 28 miles-per-gallon. But both vehicles only netted me about 25 miles-per-gallon during my test drives, and other reviewers are reporting the same thing. .

IThe Green Concern: With vehicles the CR-V and Rogue coming out the fuel economy numbers that claim a combined 28 miles-per-gallon, these smaller crossovers get a slight edge in the most competitive segment in the market.

IFINAL PARTING WORDS
Whether or not you are actually getting the 28 mile-per-gallon combined due to your driving style, the 2015 Honda CR-V still remains an efficient and economical choice – enough to change your attraction to any compact hatchbacks or sedans as this crossover truly embodies the term value.

IŠ2015 Katrina Ramser