Honda CR-Z: Sporty Hybrid

June 24, 2010 by Matt Keegan

Finally, Honda delivers to us a hybrid with nice visual appeal.

To date, we have yet to see an attractive Honda hybrid with generations one and two of the Insight failing to inspire. The Honda Civic Hybrid has decent looks, but as far as dedicated hybrid models go, Honda has yet to deliver.

Honda Hybrid

Come August 2010 all that will begin to change. That’s when Honda will introduce the Honda CR-Z, a two-seat hybrid underpinned by the same platform powering the homely Insight. This time, Honda allowed its design team to influence its sport model and in judging its good looks has succeeded.

The CR-Z will be sold in Europe as a 2+2 model, but for the United States its two seats and nothing more. The European consumer is much more likely to put up with a second row while the American driver is not, especially with a car of this size.

As you can see by the supplied photos, the absence of a second row gives the CR-Z lots of storage room. That characteristic should appeal to people who want to combine good fuel economy with carrying capacity.

Priced Right

With a base sticker price of $19,950, the CR-Z is competitive. But this Honda won’t deliver something found in the five-passenger Prius: class leading fuel economy. Indeed, even the thriftiest model achieves just 39 mpg on the highway (35 locally), far behind the Prius’s 51 mpg city and 48 mpg highway.

Moreover, even gas models such as the Ford Fiesta and Chevrolet Cruze will offer equivalent fuel economy which means that buyers should explore what this Honda offers to make it worth their while.

Well Equipped

Fortunately, you won’t have to look too far as the CR-Z will include a number of sought after amenities as standard equipment. That equipment includes an AM/FM/CD/USB audio system with six speakers, automatic climate control, power windows and door locks, remote entry and cruise control.

Choose the CR-Z EX model and you will get a 360-watt AM/FM/CD high-power audio system with seven speakers – including a subwoofer – Bluetooth HandsFreeLink and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

Honda Power

Honda says that the CR-Z will be powered by a 1.5-liter i‑VTEC 4-cylinder engine mated with its compact and lightweight Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system to supply both power and efficiency to the CR-Z. A sport-focused, six-speed manual transmission is standard and an automatic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) is available and includes steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters for manual-like gear-ratio control.

Will the CR-Z sell? It probably will despite not having quite the advantages you would expect in a hybrid. Still, compare what the Ford Fiesta has to offer because other than emitting fewer emissions, this hybrid comes up short in the fuel economy battle.