Well, IMHO, Honda has certainly "shot themselves in the foot" by changing the transmission in the 2015 CR-V's to one that prevents 4 wheel down towing. My 2005 CR-V is a great car, and an excellent tow vehicle, and I was all set to buy a new 2015 CR-V to replace it. But, NO, Honda in its great wisdom, decided to ignore the RV towing market (yes I know its just a speck in their sales needs), and replace an otherwise great 5 speed automatic with this "variable ratio", or whatever they call it non-towable tramsmision.Well, all I can say is "I hope they choke on this unwise move"!!!I am no longer a Honda advocate. Comments?????

I gave my Honda 2015 purchase money to Jeep. Bought a 2015 Wrangler Unlimited with all the options for about 44K out the door. Sorry Honda................

Yep, Subaru Outback also dropped off the 2015 4-down list. I won't ever buy another Subaru, but this isn't the only reason.

Much discussed and beaten to death on here.The Fit also bit the dust.Get a Jeep and you will be a happy camper - I do not miss my Fit at all

That was a major reason we Bought the CRV in 2014. So far it's a great car.;)

mountainviewer wrote:Well, IMHO, Honda has certainly "shot themselves in the foot" by changing the transmission in the 2015 CR-V's to one that prevents 4 wheel down towing. My 2005 CR-V is a great car, and an excellent tow vehicle, and I was all set to buy a new 2015 CR-V to replace it. But, NO, Honda in its great wisdom, decided to ignore the RV towing market (yes I know its just a speck in their sales needs), and replace an otherwise great 5 speed automatic with this "variable ratio", or whatever they call it non-towable tramsmision.Well, all I can say is "I hope they choke on this unwise move"!!!I am no longer a Honda advocate. Comments?????The 2015 Honda Crv direct injection is also subject to bad vibration at idle.

Towing a 2015 Honda CR-V "four down" | Good Sam Community

holstein13
Explorer
Mar 21, 2015
KO wrote:
Constant Velocity Transmissions (CVT) are being installed. CVT cannot be towed or lub pump installed to get around it.
Nope, there is no reason a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) can't be designed for four down towing. Other manufacturers do it such as Ford.

I've never heard of a Constant Velocity Transmission. I think you meant Continuously Variable Transmission which changes the leverage ratio using chains or belts instead of gears.
soren
Explorer
Mar 19, 2015
DrewE wrote:
soren wrote:
DownTheAvenue wrote:

My comment:
Probably no more than several hundred sales were made solely on the 4 down tow capability. Honda has much bigger things to worry about than keeping those old goats happy!

"several hundred sales" Sorry, but no.
On a trip down the east coast during snowbird season I see at least a hundred hanging off the back of motorhomes. I had mine serviced at a Tampa area dealer recently. The service advisor told me that they have a steady stream of angry customers who simply cannot believe that Honda would do something so dumb. Honda probably had little choice when it came to increasing economy, but it comes at a cost of thousands of lost sales to RVers.

The CR-V is the seventh best selling vehicle in America, with 45,509 sales in January and February of this year (source). The motorhome toad market is negligible for it in the overall scheme of things.

Obviously we agree. As I pointed out however, the market is far larger that "several hundred sales". I have been to campgrounds lately where they were more CRV toads than any other brand, followed by Wranglers, other Jeep products, and a few oddball units. My favorites is the odd category recently have been a Town Car and an old Land Rover Defender.
Blaster_Man
Explorer
Mar 19, 2015
tinkerer wrote:
That was a major reason we Bought the CRV in 2014. So far it's a great car.;)

Same here. Wanted a '15, bought a '14.
DrewE
Explorer II
Mar 19, 2015
soren wrote:
DownTheAvenue wrote:

My comment:
Probably no more than several hundred sales were made solely on the 4 down tow capability. Honda has much bigger things to worry about than keeping those old goats happy!

"several hundred sales" Sorry, but no.
On a trip down the east coast during snowbird season I see at least a hundred hanging off the back of motorhomes. I had mine serviced at a Tampa area dealer recently. The service advisor told me that they have a steady stream of angry customers who simply cannot believe that Honda would do something so dumb. Honda probably had little choice when it came to increasing economy, but it comes at a cost of thousands of lost sales to RVers.

The CR-V is the seventh best selling vehicle in America, with 45,509 sales in January and February of this year (source). The motorhome toad market is negligible for it in the overall scheme of things.
soren
Explorer
Mar 19, 2015
DownTheAvenue wrote:
mountainviewer wrote:
Well, IMHO, Honda has certainly "shot themselves in the foot" by changing the transmission in the 2015 CR-V's to one that prevents 4 wheel down towing. My 2005 CR-V is a great car, and an excellent tow vehicle, and I was all set to buy a new 2015 CR-V to replace it. But, NO, Honda in its great wisdom, decided to ignore the RV towing market (yes I know its just a speck in their sales needs), and replace an otherwise great 5 speed automatic with this "variable ratio", or whatever they call it non-towable tramsmision.
Well, all I can say is "I hope they choke on this unwise move"!!!

I am no longer a Honda advocate.

Comments?????

My comment:
Probably no more than several hundred sales were made solely on the 4 down tow capability. Honda has much bigger things to worry about than keeping those old goats happy!

"several hundred sales" Sorry, but no.
On a trip down the east coast during snowbird season I see at least a hundred hanging off the back of motorhomes. I had mine serviced at a Tampa area dealer recently. The service advisor told me that they have a steady stream of angry customers who simply cannot believe that Honda would do something so dumb. Honda probably had little choice when it came to increasing economy, but it comes at a cost of thousands of lost sales to RVers.
Heisenberg
Explorer
Mar 19, 2015
I have read here that Ford builds a CVT vehicle, the Flex I think, which is towable 4down. Perhaps if enough people let them know Honda will adjust their CVT build on the CRV and Fit to permit 4down towing. The squeaky wheel gets oiled.
Dutch_12078
Explorer II
Mar 19, 2015
vermilye wrote:
The RAV4 cannot be towed 4 down (or, for 4 wheel drive versions, on a dolly). On top of that, they got rid of the V6 & tow package in 2013; my 2010 is a great tow vehicle for my 17' fiberglass trailer, but I'll have to look elsewhere for the next one...

We're currently towing a Remco pump equipped 2011 RAV4 4WD automatic quite nicely. Previously, we towed a 2002 RAV4 4WD automatic. Towing miles for the two cars is in excess of 40,000. The 2002 is still in service as our spare vehicle that we leave at our Adirondack cottage in NY.
J-Rooster
Explorer
Mar 19, 2015
Pangaea Ron wrote:
tinkerer wrote:
That was a major reason we Bought the CRV in 2014. So far it's a great car.;)

x2
X-3, I'm planning on running my 14 into the ground! I'm also a Honda Owner/ RV Owner that is very disappointed in Honda. I'm sure it is in the Honda round files but, I did write them a letter to let them know that I wasn't happy with there choice and that I will not buy another Honda product!
et2
Explorer
Mar 18, 2015
KO wrote:
I also discovered the problem about towing a 2015 Honda CRV - yesterday. I was getting ready to put a tow kit on my car when the Lady told me you can't tow 4 down. She said it is the Feds who mandated all new cars sold after 2017 must have at least 32MPG. In order to make this happpen - Constant Velocity Transmissions (CVT) are being installed. CVT cannot be towed or lub pump installed to get around it.

I guess I am buying a tow dolly...

And you believed her? The true 4x4 market will never succumb to a CVT. And it will probably never hit 32MPG. That's why they came up with the gas guzzler tax.
vermilye
Explorer
Mar 18, 2015
The RAV4 cannot be towed 4 down (or, for 4 wheel drive versions, on a dolly). On top of that, they got rid of the V6 & tow package in 2013; my 2010 is a great tow vehicle for my 17' fiberglass trailer, but I'll have to look elsewhere for the next one...