2015 Honda CR-V to offer greater fuel economy and personal connectivity

2014 has been a great year for light truck and SUV sales in North America and Honda leads the charge in several categories. While Honda’s premium line Acura claims the bestselling 3 row full size SUV with MDX, its Honda’s bread and butter CR-V that takes the title of the bestselling small SUV in North America for 7 out of the last 10 years.

3rd only in sales volume to Accord and Civic, CR-V continues to lead the segment through initial affordability, low maintenance costs and high residual resale value.

If you or your neighbor aren't driving one, you know someone that is. CR-V is the vehicle of choice for active progressives, regardless of age, that demand reasonable fuel economy and transformer-like utility from an all-wheel drive 5 door hatchback, with the city park-ability of a midsize car. We reviewed the 2014 CR-V in August, you may read about it here.

Rumors of new transmission and engine for 2015

We've written of 70 mpg diesel powered “Earth Dreams” CR-V SUVs in Asia, Europe and South America. We won’t see that technology in North America for 2015. But, what we will most likely see is a new “Earth Dreams” 4 cylinder 1-VTEC direct injected gasoline engine producing a bit more torque and horsepower, while burning less fuel and emitting fewer hydrocarbon emissions.

For 2014 the 2.4 Liter 4 cylinder CR-V with standard 5 speed automatic transmission sports a stated EPA MPG of 23 city/31 hwy, for a combined average mpg of 31. While this is great economy for a small SUV, we anticipate that the “Earth Dreams” version will pick up no less than 3 mpg city and 5 mpg highway. That’s what it will take to keep CR-V out in front of the competition.

It’s all in the CVT

Honda’s master of the CVT and rumor has it that the 2015 CR-V will sport one, standard. The lower emissions come via “Earth Dreams” engine technology. The Eco button in the current CR-V, now standard on most Honda and Acura offerings, give us a clue as to the future when it comes to Honda tech-enabled safety and fuel efficiency.

Looking to Honda’s CVT, we find a computer controlled constant variable transmission that searches for the optimum sweet spot of fuel efficiency and torque transference. Try as you will, you won’t beat CVT for fuel efficiency with a manual transmission. Will the 2015 CR-V come equipped with drive mode and steering wheel mounted paddle shifter? Perhaps, we don’t know, we asked, Honda’s not saying.

But we do know this

The mid-cycle refresh of CR-V will come with a handful of much welcomed exterior design changes, headlight options and the possibility of a softer ride through a smaller rim and tire option. We also look to Honda to improve the already class leading personal communication connectivity. We like the current interior layout and utility of the 40/60 split rear bench.

We experienced Honda’s latest electronic and safety upgrades in the all-new 2015 Honda Fit and were more than a bit impressed. We expect to find inclusion of Honda's latest accident avoidance features incorporated into the refreshed 2015 CR-V. Spy photos suggest a change in the CR-V dash layout. Perhaps a split screen is in store for navigation and personal connectivity as featured in the Acura TLX.

We’ll experience 2015 CR-V very soon

Torque News will be driving and reviewing the 2015 Honda CR-V Sept. 25. We look forward to sharing our experience with you the last week in Sept. look for the refreshed and slightly massaged 2015 Honda CR-V at your favorite Honda Dealer the first week in October.