Honda says that thanks to a comprehensive, ground-up design and engineering programme, the all-new Honda CR-V features the strongest and most sophisticated chassis ever together with a low-inertia and highly rigid platform which is enabled through new body construction that uses advanced lightweight and high-tensile materials.

New generation, hot-stamp ultra-high-strength steel is used for the first time in the new CR-V, making up 9% of the all-new model’s body frame, resulting in increased strength in the areas most affected in a crash, whilst also reducing overall weight of the chassis. The combined use of high-strength 780 MPa, 980 MPa and 1500 MPa steel is 36% in the new CR-V, compared to 10% on the previous car. This combination of superior materials with sophisticated engineering processes has also lead to a 35% increase in bending rigidity and a 25% increase in torsional rigidity.

The body assembly process involves an innovative high-efficiency joining technique, whereby the entire inner frame is assembled first, followed by the outer frame, and then the joints. This production technology defies the conventional method of body frame assembly and contributes greatly to the overall body stiffness.

All-new suspension complements the boost in body rigidity, contributing to what Honda say is the most driver-focused dynamics in the CR-V model’s history, with improved ride comfort over its predecessor.

As with all Honda vehicles, the all-new CR-V platform incorporates Honda’s exclusive ACE (Advanced Compatibility Engineering) body structure, which employs an interconnected network of front frames to absorb and deflect energy from a frontal collision. Honda’s system is not only designed with ‘self-protection’ in mind, but also to minimise damage to other vehicles in the event of a head-on collision though its ‘compatibility’ engineering which absorbs crash energy and deflects it through multiple load paths around the passenger cell in the Honda car.

The ACE passive safety system is complemented in the new CR-V by the Honda Sensing suite of active safety and driver assist technologies, which is installed on all grades and includes Lane Keeping Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward Collision Warning and Collision Mitigation Braking System.