After a coy tease and a single photo by its maker last week, details on the 2015 Honda CR-V compact SUV are finally out.
The refreshed 2015 CR-V boasts improved gas mileage, as well as some styling and content changes.
In addition to the revised exterior styling previewed last week, the 2015 CR-V gets powertrain upgrades to boost its fuel efficiency.
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Under the hood, the 2015 CR-V again has a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, but the new "Earth Dreams" powerplant now uses direct injection rather than the more traditional type.
The engine produces the same 185 horsepower as before, but it's rated at 181 pound-feet of torque--an increase of 11 percent over the 2014 model's 163 lb-ft.
With a new continuously variable transmission (CVT) replacing the old five-speed automatic, the 2015 CR-V gets better gas-mileage ratings.
It can achieve EPA-estimated fuel economy of 29 mpg combined (27 mpg city, 34 mpg highway) with front-wheel drive, or 28 mpg combined (26 mpg city, 33 mpg highway) with all-wheel drive.
2015 Honda CR-V
Those figures represent increases of 3 mpg in the combined and highway categories, and 4 mpg in the city category.
The base 2015 Honda CR-V LX starts at $24,150 with front-wheel drive, and $25,400 with all-wheel drive. Both prices include destination.
Upgrading to the $26,250 ($27,500 with all-wheel drive) EX model nets a handful of newly-available features, including LED daytime running lights and a 7-inch central touchscreen display.
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As in the 2014 model year, the EX-L--previously the top of the line--adds leather seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, and other items for $28,850 ($30,100 with all-wheel drive).
But for 2015, a new top-end model called the Touring starts at $32,350 with front-wheel drive, or $33,600 with AWD.
2015 Honda CR-V
The Touring model includes several new available safety features--including forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist. and a forward-collision mitigation system with automatic braking--as well as a power tailgate.
The 2015 Honda CR-V goes on sale nationwide tomorrow.
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