Overview
To further improve the 2015 CR-V’s ride and handling characteristics, several upgrades were made to the chassis. These changes include suspension component design changes and tuning refinements, a modified steering ratio, a new front subframe and engine mounts, larger wheel options and improved brakes. Newly-designed aluminum alloy wheels are 0.5 inches wider on both the 17-inch and new 18-inch diameter wheels.
Key New Chassis Features
- Suspension design and tuning improvements
- New front subframe and engine mounts
- Quicker steering ratio
- Increased tread width
- New 18-inch aluminum alloy wheel (Touring trim)
- Increased wheel width for 17/18-inch wheels
Front MacPherson Strut Suspension
The front suspension is specially designed and tuned for compact packaging, supple ride comfort and the long wheel travel and ruggedness necessary to navigate harsh roads, with many improvements made for the 2015 CR-V. Primary components of the front MacPherson strut suspension are a subframe-attached lower control arm that was redesigned for the 2015 and a heavy-duty wheel hub connected to the shock absorber and coil spring assembly. Both the spring and damper receive new settings for better ride and handling characteristics. The damper and coil spring assembly acts as one unit and is attached to the wheel hub at its base and a reinforced portion of the vehicle body at its top. The geometry of the wheel hub, or knuckle, was changed to increase tread width by 15 mm and decrease camber by 0.5 degrees. The stabilizer bar and bushings were also changed for 2015 with new settings.
The front suspension geometry incorporates a high caster angle along with inversely wound springs for confident straight-line tracking and excellent toe-control dynamics for precise and responsive steering. When cornering, the inner wheel is designed to remain close to perpendicular (relative to the ground plane) throughout a wide range of travel, which improves tire adhesion. To improve ride comfort, the compliance angle on the lower control arm is tuned to transmit minimal harshness. Specially tuned bushings and precisely calibrated suspension geometry ensure optimal ride, handling and steering feel in a wide variety of road conditions.
Rear Multi-Link Suspension
The CR-V is equipped with a rear multi-link torsion-beam suspension that helps provide a smoother ride, improved handling and additional cargo space. The spring, damper, stabilizer bar and bushing settings of the 2015 CR-V are revised to improve ride and handling. The dynamics offered by the three-link suspension ensure a high level of stability under cornering and braking.
The rear independent multi-link suspension system with aluminum knuckle fits compactly underneath the rear seating and storage areas while providing excellent ride and handling characteristics, with low NVH. For 2015, the knuckle’s geometry was changed to increase tread width by 15 mm and decrease camber by 0.5 degrees.
The rear suspension trailing arm stiffness was increased for 2015; the arms continue to use large-diameter bushings to reduce harshness and improve ride comfort. Front and rear stays increase the subframe mounting point rigidity, to the benefit of stability and steering feel.
Front Subframe
The 2015 CR-V has a new front subframe, engine mounts and exhaust pipe to accommodate the new engine and transmission.
Steering
To provide a high-quality steering feel, the 2015 CR-V incorporates an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system. EPS is a sophisticated electric power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering system with an electric motor installed concentrically around the steering rack. The system responds instantly to steering input and automatically changes the amount of power assist appropriate to the vehicle’s speed. To control the level of assist the Powertrain Control Module receives signals from a speed sensor and, coupled with a steering sensor for torque and rotation, then calculates the optimal amount of assist and sends a signal to the electric motor.
When compared to the operation of a conventional hydraulic pump power steering system, the CR-V’s simpler and lightweight EPS increases efficiency because it does not draw continuous power directly from the engine. Other advantages of electric power-assisted steering include its simplicity and compactness (no hydraulic system is needed to power it) and its lower power consumption, which helps improve fuel efficiency.
The steering ratio on all CR-V models was modified from 16.7:1 to 15.59:1 resulting in 2.94 turns lock-to-lock (previously 3.2) and a curb-to-curb turning diameter of 37.5 ft. for front-wheel drive versions and 36.9 ft. for all-wheel drive versions. All 2015 CR-V models have a tilt-and-telescope steering wheel.
A driver assistive technology that works with the CR-V’s EPS is Motion-Adaptive EPS. The system uses vehicle speed and steering angle data and works with Honda’s Vehicle Stability Assist® (VSA®)1 to detect instability in slippery road conditions during cornering and under braking and automatically initiates steering force that prompts the driver to steer in the correct direction. For more information see the Safety and Driver Assistance section.
4-Wheel Disc Brakes with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
All CR-V models are equipped with 4-wheel disc brakes (front ventilated disc and rear solid disc) for confident braking. The system incorporates 4-channel ABS, Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist as standard equipment. An upgraded power brake booster with increased servo ratio (from 8.0 to 9.5) offers a solid feel with optimized pedal rigidity and pedal effort decreased by 6 percent. The ventilated front disc brakes are 11.7 inches in diameter on FWD models and 11.8 inches on AWD models, and the solid rear disc brakes are 12.0 inches in diameter.
The 4-channel ABS independently modulates braking power at each wheel to help the driver retain steering control during heavy braking. EBD automatically optimizes braking force between the front and rear wheels, helping the CR-V stop in the shortest distance possible, regardless of the number of passengers or amount of cargo that it is carrying. Brake Assist can recognize emergency braking situations and almost instantly applies added braking force when appropriate. The CR-V’s braking system also incorporates Hill Start Assist that helps prevent the vehicle from rolling backward when starting out on a hill. For more information about Hill Start Assist see the Safety and Driver Assistance section.
Wheels and Tires
The new CR-V Touring trim receives larger 18×7-inch aluminum alloy wheels shod with 225/60 R18 all-season tires. EX and EX-L models are equipped with 225/65 R17 all-season tires mounted on larger 17×7-inch aluminum alloy wheels, 0.5 inches wider than the wheels on the 2014 model. The CR-V LX is equipped with 215/70 R16 all-season tires on 16×6.5-inch steel wheels. All CR-Vs include a space- and weight-saving 165/80 D17 spare tire mounted on a steel wheel. The spare is located in the trunk under the carpeted floor.
Towing
When equipped with a Honda dealer-installed accessory towing package, the new 2015 CR-V can tow up to 1,500 pounds. The available towing package includes a Class II hitch, towing kit, ATF cooler and wiring harness.
Chassis Features
Suspension and Chassis
LX
EX
EX-L
Touring
MacPherson Strut Front Suspension
•
•
•
•
Torsion-Beam Rear Suspension
•
•
•
•
Stabilizer Bar (mm, front/rear)
20/18
20/18
20/18
20/18
Electric Power-Assisted Rack-and-Pinion Steering (EPS)
•
•
•
•
Steering Wheel Turns, Lock-to-Lock
2.94
2.94
2.94
2.94
Steering Ratio
15.59
15.59
15.59
15.59
Turning Diameter, Curb-to-Curb FWD/AWD (ft.)
37.5/36.9
37.5/36.9
37.5/36.9
37.5/36.9
Power-Assisted Ventilated Front Disc/Rear Solid Disc Brakes
[in, front/rear; FWD (AWD)]
11.7/12.0
(11.8/12.0)
11.7/12.0
(11.8/12.0)
11.7/12.0
(11.8/12.0)
11.7/12.0
(11.8/12.0)
Wheels
16” steel
17” alloy
17” alloy
18” alloy
All-Season Tires
215 / 70
R16 100S
225 / 65
R17 102T
225 / 65
R17 102T
225 / 60
R18 99H
Compact Spare Tire
T165 / 80
D17 104M
T165 / 80
D17 104M
T165 / 80
D17 104M
T165 / 80
D17 104M
1 VSA is not a substitute for safe driving. It cannot correct the vehicle’s course in every situation or compensate for reckless driving. Control of the vehicle always remains with the driver.