Honda CR-Z

Have you ever woken up in the morning and thought, ‘I want an innovative, hybrid, sports-coupe’? Well if so, the Honda CR-Z could be for you.

It gets some great reviews from critics who praise the concept car styling and the innovative technology that goes into making this car work. However, questions are raised over the price and the fact that, for a green car, it really isn't all that green.

Interior

With the CR-Z, the interior is a great place to start. Many manufacturers have attempted to show how futuristic their cars are by making the insides of them as ‘modern’ as possible. The CR-Z is no exception; with blue, backlit dials and smart styling.

The cockpit also receives praise for its ease of use, with everything you need within reach and easy to use. However, the interior’s biggest failing is the tiny space allotted to the back seats. It’s best to think of this car as a two-seater only.

Driving

Overall, there is little to complain about the CR-Z’s prowess on the road. It may not be in the same league as some hatchbacks that cost a fair bit less but the car feel’s extremely agile due to it’s nimble steering, low suspension and fantastically taut chassis. The car’s levels of grip are also very well received; one reviewer even claims that a drive in the CR-Z is ‘guaranteed to leave you with a smile on your face’.

The six-speed manual gearbox works excellently with the engine and adds even more fun to the driving experience. Plus, the 1.5 litre hybrid engine delivers 128lb ft torque which hits you as low as 1000rpm meaning the power is there whenever you want it.

Engine

With the CR-Z there is only one engine option, the 1.5 Hybrid. Critics’ feelings are mixed when it comes to this unit and, when you study its figures, it is easy to see why.

For a sporty coupe, the 122bhp (113 horses come from the petrol, the extra 10 comes from the electric motor) on tap is not really anything to shout about. In the basic trim it will get the CR-Z from 0-60 in 9.9secs but if you opt for the fully-laden top-of-the-range model it will take over 10 seconds to get there, bringing the ‘sporty’ hybrid claims into question (Honda claimed that one of the main inspirations for this car was the Lotus Elise…..errrrmmmm).

Throttle response is reasonably quick though, especially when you activate ‘Sport’ mode which opens the valves in the exhaust to release a slightly more animalistic, not very hybridy noise.

In terms of economy and emissions which, after all is what hybrids are all about, the CR-Z does as well as expected. An average of 56.5mpg is standard across the board for this class (if there really is one) but by only releasing 117g/km CO2, company car tax bills are low. Annoyingly, it just misses out on being free from road tax and the congestion charge though.

All in all then this is a good engine that does exactly what it is supposed to do. Just ignore the sportscar promises and you should be fine.

Value for money

A main area of concern amongst critics with the CR-Z is the price. Starting at around £17.5k, the CR-Z will dent your bank balance quite considerably. More so in fact than some diesels that offer more power and practicality along with even better environmental standards.

All trims come with plenty of kit though which is a good thing, something which many diesel rivals cannot claim. It will also still hold its residual appeal in a few years so when the time comes to get rid of it, you should be able to recoup a fair amount of the price you paid back.

Worth noting

If you are looking at this car in a purely environmentally friendly way, then it is worth pointing out that there are faster and more economical ways of getting around out there. However, none of the other options really compete with the CR-Z in terms of looks and, lets be honest, that’s is usually what comes first in your mind.

Indeed, Honda are one of the few manufacturers left in the world who would release a beautiful concept car at a motor show, and leave the typically wonderful exterior just as it is (for instance, the Civic) when it comes to mass production. Also, Honda’s high reliability levels are well known so you shouldn’t have too many problems post taking delivery.

Conclusion

In summary, the general consensus from the critics is that it's well worth considering. Just do be aware of the many rivals that are faster and more economical, though we can see the attraction with the CR-Z, thanks to its concept car looks and clever hybrid technology.