Teknikens Varld placed the refreshed crossover up a modest incline with a strip of low-friction rollers under each front wheel. Rather than maintaining power to the rear wheels, the all-wheel-drive system splits all torque between the front wheels.
A video shows several attempts to climb the hill, but the CR-V remains still for at least 15 second as the front wheels spin — increasing rpm until they slide off the side of the rollers.
Notably, the magazine ran into the same problem with the 2014 CR-V. Honda then released a software update, reprogramming the AWD control system to fix the problem, however the functionality appears to have reverted for the latest model year.
The company quickly responded to the latest test, arguing that the particular test scenario is an unfair way to test the AWD system. The behavior is blamed on torque limits for the rear differential, which is said to be “lightweight and fuel efficient” but prone to overheating if it is run continuously in such an extreme torque-split scenario.
“In real conditions, regardless of the surface, there is a certain amount of friction always available for both front and rear wheels,” Honda Sweden head of communications Maria Johansson said in a statement. “The AWD system benefits therefore torque between front and rear wheels in order to achieve optimal driving force.”
“Our test method with low friction rolls was approved by Honda last year,” the magazine added. “The method, which is very realistic, has also been adopted by some automakers, such as Subaru.”
Honda suggests customers will be able to request the revised management software for the new CR-V, but it will not be pre-installed on all production vehicles.
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