Honda CR-Z hybrid misses the mark

[Right Lane Cruiser]

Two-seater isn't as sporty or fuel efficient as bigger competitors

Mark Phelan - FREEP - September 2, 2010

Well deserved criticism or just another lash out from Detroit? --Ed.

The second law of thermodynamics is a bummer. In the broadest sense, it says that everything is getting worse all the time. Things break, your coffee gets cold. Chaos eventually triumphs over order.

Before you stick your head in the oven, there's a silver lining. The second law only applies to closed systems. An outside force can make things better. The intervening factor can be as simple as a waitress pouring fresh coffee to warm your cup or as profound as the human ingenuity that builds bridges and cures diseases.

Honda was once an extremely ingenious automaker, but each of its recent hybrid cars is less impressive than the one that came before.

Granted, Honda set a high standard for itself. It introduced the first hybrid gasoline-electric car to America with the two-seat Insight hatchback in 1999.

The revolutionary Insight would score 49 m.p.g. in the city, 61 m.p.g. on the highway and 53 m.p.g. in combined driving on the current EPA fuel economy test. The light and lively Insight was... [Read More]

[xcel]

Hi Sean:

Did Mark even drive the car? He added all the spec stuff on page one and the impressions on page 2 were short and he did not even mention the blind spots?

I like the car better than he did of course. If it does not match the HI-I/II yet offers the same FE as that of a Jetta, handles very neutral in accident avoidance and handles every day potholes and such with aplomb, what is his definition of a sports car and what is his definition of a hybrid. I believe there are a lot of gray areas between and he glossed them over while attacking its FE and its inability to take on a Nissan Z...

Still a good overall assessment as the interior is top notch but I think he missed its fuel efficient capability along with its passionate expression. Both of which I think the CR-Z provides in spades.

Nice find too.

Wayne

[msirach]

I like the car. I think it could get some people in a sporty car that gets decent mileage. I haven't seen a final production interior yet. It sounds like they must have improved it.

[Nevyn]

I saw 'em the other day. They're puuuurrrrrty. That's all I can say for now; just looked at 'em in a close-range drive by.

[Butterfly Mage]

I think I'll stick with my Insight-II. I'm averaging 51 MPG combined city/highway. Why lose 11 MPG *and* a back seat?

[Mendel Leisk]

Sporty hybrid, at the expense of fuel economy? Two seater? Those are two deal breakers, at least for me. That the Civic Hybrid continues to flounder, none delivered to Canada for 2010 model year, while they play around with this sport model: what the heck are they thinking?

[killer6795]

I like this car. Is it practical? Nope? Does it get the best mileage? Strike two.

What I like is that it stands out, is (I'm assuming) quite entertaining to drive, and the number one reason for me; it comes with a 6 speed manual. I don't haul much, and I can certainly live w/out a back seat. Therefore I could totally see myself picking up a used example a few years down the road.

[xcel]

Hi Killer6795:

You are one of the few that has properly communicated what the CR-Z is all about.

It is far more fuel efficient than the 2010 Prius, HI or HCH-II when taken to its limits, is a whole lot more fun to drive then any of the three and for a single guy with no encumbrances, is a whole lot nicer to look at. When just tooling around w/out a care in the world, still offers excellent FE that few could possibly dismiss in the day and age!

Honda Is Entrusting CleanMPG With the 6-speed CR-Z For A Week

Good Luck

Wayne

[GreenBlues]

Got to drive an auto CR-Z for about an hour while the HCHI was getting its oil changed. It is quite a car despite all the negativity. Took it on the hills and curves along the river. Very fun on the curves. Quite frankly I had to really force my self to cool it and try and get some good mileage during that short time. I pretty much got close to the steady state mileages that Wayne did on his extended trip. While in ECO mode, pushing the SPORT button was like the afterburner came on.

One thing we have to remember is that the Insight I was not a success in Hondas mind. I do not see them marketing a two seater that is not for the sporty market segment.

[WriConsult]

I could see this car getting a modest following here, especially if word gets out that it IS FUN to drive despite a 0-60 time that's far from sports-car territory on paper