We just picked up the '15 cr-v for my wife - 18,000 miles on it, and it looks showroom new. I haven't really spent much time with it - she's driving it while I'm prepping the mdx to sell. From the little time I've had with it, I'm impressed with it and I actually like the CVT.
The car advertises simplicity in controls and feel. Cockpit and engine bay are equally well laid out. Radio volume is push button, the only negative I saw. Ergonomics are typical honda, though the telescoping wheel is very nice. EPS boosts heavily for slow maneuvers but moves to stiff/heavy at cruising speed. It feels fun and nimble yet planted at cruise. The weighting difference is very stark - You can't limp-wrist the wheel with your elbow on the door.
The big surprise for me is the CVT. It is innocuous and you don't realize it's there. If you drive aggressively, it shifts like a geared transmission. but if you're just loafing around, it keeps the engine revs low and slow, and quiet. Whatever tuning they have between the pedal, the CVT, and the throttle plate, gives the sensation of a much bigger engine. It feels like there's some torque down there. And, with the engine revs held down, the vehicle feels very relaxed. There are some thoughtful touches too - if you are coasting downhill and the A/C compressor engages, it will gently bump engine rpm up to spin the pump, then let it settle back down when the pump disengages. you feel the drag, but it was only noticeable on steeper descents. I also like that it feels surprisingly direct. It feels like there's a hydraulic TC that allows idle and off-the line, which locks up as soon as you're rolling. beyond that, it feels oddly locked in, not like a slushbox. In other words, it obviously fiddles with the gear ratios as it wants, but it still feels direct, not slushy - not unlike riding a 21+ speed bike.
All of this has yielded a huge whopping mpg increase over the mdx, for what amounts to a very, very close comparison of interior space for two rows of seats. (The trunks may be similar in volume but are shaped differently). It averaged 24-25 mpg in town this weekend, where the mdx tends to average 14.5 in town on premium. Granted, they are not in the same league - MDX is older luxury, has AWD and a some sort of a tow rating, but for practical everyday use one doesn't tow with either of these and the CRV has electronic traction control which the X does not.
Only negative is road noise - honda has never favored heavily insulated cockpits, and this vehicle is typical honda in that regard. It's not invasive in-town.
Happy for my wife - she did good.
-Meep
The car advertises simplicity in controls and feel. Cockpit and engine bay are equally well laid out. Radio volume is push button, the only negative I saw. Ergonomics are typical honda, though the telescoping wheel is very nice. EPS boosts heavily for slow maneuvers but moves to stiff/heavy at cruising speed. It feels fun and nimble yet planted at cruise. The weighting difference is very stark - You can't limp-wrist the wheel with your elbow on the door.
The big surprise for me is the CVT. It is innocuous and you don't realize it's there. If you drive aggressively, it shifts like a geared transmission. but if you're just loafing around, it keeps the engine revs low and slow, and quiet. Whatever tuning they have between the pedal, the CVT, and the throttle plate, gives the sensation of a much bigger engine. It feels like there's some torque down there. And, with the engine revs held down, the vehicle feels very relaxed. There are some thoughtful touches too - if you are coasting downhill and the A/C compressor engages, it will gently bump engine rpm up to spin the pump, then let it settle back down when the pump disengages. you feel the drag, but it was only noticeable on steeper descents. I also like that it feels surprisingly direct. It feels like there's a hydraulic TC that allows idle and off-the line, which locks up as soon as you're rolling. beyond that, it feels oddly locked in, not like a slushbox. In other words, it obviously fiddles with the gear ratios as it wants, but it still feels direct, not slushy - not unlike riding a 21+ speed bike.
All of this has yielded a huge whopping mpg increase over the mdx, for what amounts to a very, very close comparison of interior space for two rows of seats. (The trunks may be similar in volume but are shaped differently). It averaged 24-25 mpg in town this weekend, where the mdx tends to average 14.5 in town on premium. Granted, they are not in the same league - MDX is older luxury, has AWD and a some sort of a tow rating, but for practical everyday use one doesn't tow with either of these and the CRV has electronic traction control which the X does not.
Only negative is road noise - honda has never favored heavily insulated cockpits, and this vehicle is typical honda in that regard. It's not invasive in-town.
Happy for my wife - she did good.
-Meep
