2011 Honda CR-Z Review

Hi! I’m Joe Wiesenfelder with Cars.com. We’re taking our first look at the 2011 Honda
CR-Z Hybrid which comes out this summer. It is the third hybrid that they sell. It is
smaller than the inside five-seater. It’s a two-seater and it’s kind of sporty looking.

Now, how sporty it is in performance, we’re not sure yet. Honda is not giving any kind of
acceleration numbers. They are giving mileage estimates of 36 city, 38 highway which is
decent but it’s not even as good as the insight. That suggests, it’s going to be powerful,
it’s going to be quick but they seem to be managing expectations. Maybe, it’s going to be
a fun car, not a quick car.

One thing we do like performance-wise is a six-speed manual transmission which makes
it the only hybrid you can buy with a manual. Honda decided long ago not taking of a
manual because it caused fuel mileage. The CVT can actually do a much better job of
driving efficiently than you can and this is the case in the CR-Z, too. It will cost you three
miles per gallon if you go for rolling your own.

A typical of two-seaters, there’s lots of room in the front here because we’re not trying to
give any space to a backseat. It’s all cargo. Now, the cargo area reminds me of the
original insight which is also a two-seater because that is pretty high cargo floor, but it’s
actually a little bit better because the cargo section goes farther forward and you can flip
this down. It gives you a good amount of volume.

Now, the Honda insight sales have disappointed even disappointed Honda and, I think
it’s because the price and the mileage aren’t significantly better than the Toyota Prius,
which is a larger car. Now with this one, being even less efficient from the insight, it’s
going to have to be priced really well or it’s going to have to be exceptionally fun to drive
and we have yet to see if that’s the case.