The 2015 Honda CR-V / Test Drive
The 1997 Honda CR-V and the 2015 Honda CR-V
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The front and side view of the new 2015 Honda CR-V. | Image: Dro4Cars.com |
It’s
interesting to follow the development of a model through the years. Can you
remember how the first Honda CR-V looks from 1997 and pass through the years to
the brand new 2015 Honda CR-V?
The
structure of the new 2015 CR-V is kept. The 2015 Honda CR-V is bigger, looks
massive and the fans of the 1997 CR-V model probably won’t trust the new one
for off-road driving, at least at the first sight. The 2015 Honda CR-V
looks very stylish and gives some luxurious sense. If we compare the 1997
Honda CR-V and the 2015 Honda CR-V, you will see the differences.
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1997 Honda CR-V - the very first model is in production from 1996 to 2001.
This CR-V is model year MY 1997 | Image: IFCAR |
The 2015 Honda CR-V Engines and Gearbox
Of
course, the engine is the most interesting part of the 2015 Honda CR-V. When I
drove off from the parking lot I passed a few kilometers thinking that I
drive a 2.0L diesel engine. The engine is 4-cylinder 1.6 i-DTEC using diesel
fuel and produces 160 hp @ 4000 rpm with 350 Nm (258 lb-ft) @ 2000 rpm of torque. The transmission is
a 9-speed automatic and the alloy wheels on the tested CR-V are 18”.
2015 Honda CR-V Fuel Consumption of 1.6l Engine
This
1.6L diesel engine was introduced in 2013 with 120 hp. Nowadays, the 1.6 i-DTEC
engine replaces the old 2.2L i-DTEC diesel unit. The all-new diesel engine
covers the Euro 6b requirements and emits 139 g/km of CO2 with 9-speed
automatic transmission and 18” alloy wheels. The fuel consumption depends on
the wheels. For 18” wheels, the urban consumption is exactly 6l/100 km (39 US
mpg); extra-urban 4.9l/100 km (48 US mpg); combined consumption 5.3l/100 km (44 US mpg).
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2015 Honda CR-V - side view and the 18” alloy wheels. | Image: Dro4Cars.com |
The
1.6L i-DTEC engine for the 2015 Honda CR-V has two variable geometry turbines.
They are called high and low-pressure turbines. The high-pressure turbine is
responsible for airflow to the engine at low engine speed while the
low-pressure turbo works at high engine speeds. Between the low and the high
engine speed, both turbines work together.
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The rear and side view of the 2015 Honda CR-V. | Image: Dro4Cars.com |
The 2015 Honda CR-V Other Engines For the European and the US Markets
The
new 2015 Honda CR-V also offers a petrol engine. For the European market, there
is a 2.0L petrol engine that produces 155 hp @ 6500 rpm and 192 Nm (142 lb-ft)
@ 4300 of torque. The gearboxes for this engine are 5-speed manual or 6-speed
automatic transmissions.
The 2015 Honda CR-V has only a 2.4L petrol engine with 184 hp @ 6400 and 245 Nm (181 lb-ft) @ 3900 of torque for the USA market. This engine is matted to the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) for both drivetrains – 2WD and AWD. The fuel tank capacity is 15.3 gal. The fuel consumptions are (in MPG):
2WD: city: 26 (app. 9l/100km); highway: 33 (7l/100km); combined: 29 (8l/100km);
AWD: city: 25; highway: 31; combined: 27. All data are based on manufacturing tests.
2015 Honda CR-V With the New 9-Speed Automatic Transmission
The 2015 Honda CR-V has a new 9-speed automatic transmission which replaces the previous 5-speed automatic transmission for the diesel engines. The new gearbox has a very low gear ratio for the first gear. Thus the 2015 CR-V makes a very good start. The top-gear ratio is higher and thus the engine speed is reduced and lowers the noise and fuel consumption at a constant speed.
This 9-speed automatic transmission available on the 2015 Honda CR-V could directly downshift from 9th to 5th and from 7th to 4th. It depends on the engine speed and throttle application. The shifting pads behind the steering wheel are standard equipment for all automatic transmissions available for the 2015 CR-V. With these settings, you can take at any time control over the shifting. This doesn’t depend on the gearbox mode – normal or sport. Very suitable when you need to accelerate fast, during over take for instance.
2015 Honda CR-V Test Drive Experience
The 2015 Honda CR-V proves that is an agile SUV during the test drive. The greater number of gears and small gear steps make smooth shifting and agile acceleration. This 1.6l i-DTEC diesel engine is a very suitable engine if you don't expect to be fast. The 2015 CR-V goes from 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 10 seconds.
2015 Honda CR-V - Clearance
About the clearance of this SUV, I can say only that to achieve the location of the photo session, there was an embankment about 40 mm (1.57 in) higher than the road level, and the length was about 20 mm (0.08 in). I wondered, does the new 2015 Honda CR-V will touch the ground but it passed without a problem.
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The 2015 Honda CR-V interior and the steering wheel, the instrumental cluster, gear stick, and right-side exterior mirror. | Image: Dro4Cars.com |
The 2015 Honda CR-V Interior
The 2015 Honda CR-V interior is spacious which makes me a very good impression. The tested 2015 CR-V is with the ‘Lifestyle’ equipment level. I know that equipment levels are different in different markets and this one is some kind of middle-range equipment. However, this 2015 Honda CR-V has manual adjustment seats for the driver and the front passenger. In the upper equipment level, the seats have power adjustments and memory seats for the driver. The armrest between the front seats gives comfort feel.
The dashboard of the 2015 Honda CR-V is very clear and this is why I like it. In the middle console of the 2015 CR-V is placed Honda CONNECT. It has a 7” touch screen using an android operating system. The Honda CONNECT gives you a navigation system from Garmin. Also, you can connect your phone via Bluetooth for easy dials and answer incoming calls while you are driving. The AHA is an application in Honda CONNECT which allows you to use internet music services, world radio broadcasts including news, sports, audiobooks, and social connectivity. The Honda CONNECT is optionally available in the ‘Lifestyle’ equipment range. There could be differences depending on the markets.
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| The 2015 Honda CR-V with the Honda CONNECT 7” touch screen and a rearview camera. An on-board display is above the Honda CONNECT. | Image: Dro4Cars.com |
Above the Honda CONNECT is placed the board display which shows the FM stations, fuel consumption, and fuel range. Below the Honda CONNECT is dual climate control.
The gearstick as tradition is placed at the lower position in the middle console and very close to the steering wheel of the 2015 Honda CR-V. Well, in the 2015 CR-V I have to stay reached for the gear stick something that it's not changed since 1997. Using an automatic gearbox will be fine but it will be an effort with manual transmission in urban driving all that time reached to the gearshift. It's nice that the gearstick is very close to the steering is good but also it has to be easy for the shift and not get tired.
I do like the instrument cluster of the 2015 Honda CR-V. The speedometer is wide and the font of the numbers is very large and easy to read. This means the following speed will be effortless. All informational and warning lamps are placed around the speedometer. On both sides of the speedometer are placed the rpm-meter on the left as the fuel and the temperature gauges are on the right. The RPM-meter is small but it doesn't matter at all, especially with the 9-speed automatic gearbox.
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The 2015 Honda CR-V steering wheel and navigation
from Garmin. | Image: Dro4Cars.com
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As I said the interior of the 2015 Honda CR-V is spacious and this is relevant for the rear seats too. At the back, three passengers can sit comfortably with enough legroom. The backrest
of the back seats could fall down in ratio 60:40 even from the trunk. Thus
increased the truck space of the 2015 CR-V. Although the trunk has enough volume, in
the new 2015 Honda CR-V, the backseat function for upturn the seats is not available
like in the Honda Civic and the new Honda HR-V.
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The back seats of the 2015 Honda CR-V. | Image: Dro4Cars.com |
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The 2015 Honda CR-V back seats could fall down in a ratio of 60:40. | Image: Dro4Cars.com
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2015 Honda CR-V - Extras
As
additional equipment, you can equip the 2015 Honda CR-V with snow/surfboard,
ski even with a tent. In general, the 2015 CR-V could be ordered for any purpose
as a family or business SUV and can respond to every adventurous spirit.
2015 Honda CR-V - Driving Assitance Systems
The
technical support system in the new 2015 Honda CR-V is nothing special. It has all
assistance systems which are available on the automotive market, from airbags
through a system that prevents line departure to the system which warns in
case of impact or even to apply brake effort in order to avoid an incident.
2015 Honda CR-V - Safety
The 2015 Honda CR-V has 5 stars of EURO NCAP crash tests which means that it is an absolutely safe SUV. The people inside the new 2015 CR-V wouldn't have serious
injuries. Anyway, drive carefully.
2015 Honda CR-V - Dimenssions
Size*
Length: 4605
mm / 179.4 in
Height2WD (AWD): 1685 mm (1653.54 mm) / 64.7 in (65.1 in)
Width
(with mirrors): 1820 (2095) / 71.6
in (82.48 in)
Wheelbase: 2618.74 mm / 103.1 in
Clearance
2WD (AWD): 160.02 mm (170.18 mm) / 6.3
in (6.7 in)
*There are differences
between models for Europe and USA. Some of the dimensions are shown after a
calculation from mm to inches or vice-versa.
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The 2015 Honda CR-V has a lever to fall
down the backrest of the back seats inside the trunk.
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