June 19, 2013
2011 Honda CR-Z EX: Ultimately, a disappointment
Written by Steven Macoy
Thursday, 12 May 2011 11:05
Most of what Honda does is quite conventional. Honda offers the usual array of sedans, minivans and sport-utility vehicles. But every now and then, Honda comes out with something strange and unique, like the boxy Element and the Ridgeline pickup truck. It is in this spirit that Honda offers the CR-Z, a small, lithe two-seater with mild-hybrid power.
It is in this area that the CR-Z disappoints. It’s rated at 31 mpg city, 37 highway, well short of the non-hybrid Hyundai Elantra, Chevrolet Cruze and a few others. During several days of almost exclusively highway driving, we nudged our CR-Z above 39 mpg, but frankly, a 2,650-pound hybrid two-seater ought to do better than the Cruze and other popular four- and five-passenger sedans.
The CR-Z has a few other liabilities as well. It’s expensive, given its limited functionality (sticker price for our test car, $23,455; for the base model, $19,345). Visibility out the rear quarters is poor. And crash-test results are disappointing, with just a three-star rating out of a possible five for protecting the driver in frontal crashes and two stars for the front passenger; and three stars for protection in side impacts.
One unusual feature in the CR-Z is a choice of three power levels: economy, normal and sport. In economy mode, it brings to mind the old Renault Dauphine, infamous for leisurely acceleration. The normal and sport modes are more befitting the CR-Z’s essentially fun personality.
While the car’s handling is nimble, the 16-inch tires surprised us by screeching in protest during mildly aggressive cornering maneuvers.
What is particularly puzzling about the very existence of the CR-Z is the fact Honda discontinued a much better executed two-seater, the S-2000 roadster, after the 2009 model year.
Being a Honda, the CR-Z is meticulously put together and intelligently designed, and it undoubtedly will be reliable. The controls, especially the climate control, are conveniently placed and easy to operate. The six-speed standard transmission is quick-shifting and forgiving.
There’s plenty of room behind the front seat and in the luggage compartment, totaling 25.1 cubic feet. And taller drivers will find the CR-Z unexpectedly roomy. We drove our test car from western Connecticut to southern New Hampshire and back in one day and felt no worse for the wear after the trip.
Nor could we help but notice that the CR-Z’s radical styling made heads turn.
Still, the CR-Z is destined to remain a niche model, not sporty enough to dent Mazda MX-5 Miata sales or fuel-efficient enough to dissuade people from gravitating to the more functional, higher-mpg hybrid models like the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight.
Steven Macoy ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) is a longtime car enthusiast and full-time editor who lives in Bethel, Conn.
Price: $23,455
Engine: 1.5-liter inline Four with mild hybrid system, 122 horsepower, 128 lb.-ft. torque
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Drive: Front-wheel
Weight: 2,650 lb.
Suspension: Four-wheel independent, MacPherson strut front, torsion beam rear
Wheels: 16x6-inch alloy
Tires: P195/55R16 all-season
Seating capacity: 2
Luggage capacity: 25.1 cu. ft.
Fuel capacity: 10.6 gallons
Fuel economy: 31 mpg city, 37 mpg highway
Fuel type: Regular
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|