The Editors at MotorTrend magazine have declared the 2015 Honda CR-V to be their SUV of the year.
That is high praise, especially considering the competition.
The CR-V won against SUV’s from BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, Jeep, Cadillac and many more.
To be compared with these uber-luxury and off-road greats is honour enough, but to beat them is astonishing.
According to Motor Trend editor-in-chief Ed Loh, “The 2015 Honda CR-V impressed our judges with its extensive list of delightful design and thoughtful engineering improvements. Our editors were especially impressed by Honda’s responsive and efficient continuously-variable transmission and sophisticated safety systems – particularly the smart and seamlessly integrated Lane Keeping Assist system. Efficient, practical, and a joy to drive; the 2015 Honda CR-V does virtually everything well.”
To be nominated as a contender, a vehicle must be new or significantly modified over the previous model.
The candidates were then scrutinized in six areas:
Design Advancement- exterior and interior designs, innovative packaging, and use of good and varied materials.
Engineering Excellence- vehicle concept and execution, cost effective tech that benefits the buyer, clever packaging solutions.
Performance of intended function- how well the vehicle performs the daily chores the consumer expects it to and for which it was designed.
Efficiency- low fuel consumption and carbon footprint in comparison to the vehicles immediate competition.
Safety- how well a vehicle performs to avoid a crash and how well it protects the occupants during a crash.
Value- competitive price and equipment within it competitive group.
The 2015 Honda CR-V is powered by a 2.4L 4 cylinder that makes 185 h.p.
Power is directed to either the front or all 4 wheels via a Continuously Variable transmission.
The CR-V scores a combined city/highway fuel economy rating of 29 mpg( 8.4 l/100km) for the front wheel drive models and 28 mpg( 8.1 l/100km) for all wheel drive versions.
These scores earn the 2015 Honda CR-V the best in class title.
Pricing starts at $23,320($27,863 Canadian).