NEW YORK, NY— The Honda CR-V has won Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year for 2015.

The CR-V claims the title with a long list of vehicle enhancements for 2015, including its improved fuel economy and uncompromised driving dynamics, thanks to the inclusion of Honda’s Earth Dreams™ drivetrain, the debut of Honda Sensing™ safety and driver assistive technologies and the CR-V’s excellent value for money paradigm.

Motor Trend editor-in-chief Ed Loh said, “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.”

“It is an honour to receive such a prestigious award from the expert staff at Motor Trend," said Dave Gardner, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Honda Canada Inc. “Our engineers, planners and dealers work hard to deliver class leading products to our customers, and it's extremely rewarding to be recognized for that hard work. This award from Motor Trend reaffirms that we are on the right track.”

In addition to the Honda CR-V, the 2015 Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year competition included 18 other all-new or significantly updated SUVs.

Motor Trend’s Sport/Utility of the Year is not a comparison test, and is only open to all-new or substantially upgraded vehicles that have gone on sale in the 12 months from November 1 of the previous year.

To judge contenders for the award, Motor Trend’s editorial staff conducted an exhaustive three-phase testing process. Phase one includes a full tech check and weigh-in, then full track testing to establish baseline data for acceleration, braking and handling. Phase two involves three days of road loops offering a range of road surfaces and traffic conditions to evaluate ride and handling, engine and transmission smoothness and responsiveness, wind and road noise and ergonomics. An off-road section tests traction, stability and braking control systems. In the third phase, the judges debate and deliberate. The judging criteria include the following categories:

Design Advancement - well-executed exterior and interior styling; innovative vehicle packaging; good selection and use of materials.

Engineering Excellence - total vehicle concept and execution; clever solutions to packaging, manufacturing and dynamics issues; cost-effective tech that benefits the consumer.

Performance of Intended Function - how well the vehicle does the job its planners, designers and engineers intended it to do.

Efficiency - low fuel consumption and carbon footprint, relative to the vehicle's competitive set.

Safety - a vehicle's ability to help the driver avoid a crash, as well as the secondary safety measures that protects its occupants from harm during a crash.

Value - competitive price and equipment levels, measured against those of vehicles in the same market segment.

Priced from $25,990, the CR-V is offered with a new Honda Earth Dreams™ 185-horsepower, 2.4-litre direct-injected four-cylinder engine and CVT (continuously variable transmission). The CR-V can be had in either front- or all-wheel drive, and it earns best-in-class fuel economy, with an NRCAN-estimated1 8.6 L/100km city, 6.9 L/100km highway, 7.8 L 100km combined for front-wheel-drive models, and 9.1 L/100km city, 7.2 L/100km highway, 8.3 L/100km combined for all-wheel drive.

 The 2015 CR-V is expected to achieve a Top Safety Pick+ (TSP+) award from the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and its official safety ratings will be released later this year.

The recognition from Motor Trend validates the sales success of the Honda CR-V, which sold more than 34,000  units last year, and is on track to do the same through 2014.