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Honda CR-Z Review

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Honda CR-Z Review
Honda CR-Z
Summary:
This is Honda's attempt at a sporty hybrid, with only two seats instead of five. The smaller size and lighter weight don't translate to better fuel economy: This model rates lowest on our list (by a hair), at 35 mpg city/39 mpg highway. It also earns only a four-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, compared with five for the others.

With the CR-Z Sport Hybrid, Honda attempts to bring some sporty style and performance to the decidedly non-sporty hybrid genre. According to Honda CR-Z reviews, however, this model falls short both as a sports car and as a hybrid. A Honda CR-Z review from Motor Trend gives the car 2 out of 5 stars, saying it offers only "modest" performance and just isn't that fast overall. However, the reviewer does say that choosing the manual transmission option gives the car a little extra pep. In a Honda CR-Z review at Hybrid Cars, an expert compliments the car's sporty design and ample headroom but says it's pretty slow from a dead stop. At Kelley Blue Book, a Honda CR-Z review points out that the CR-Z's fuel efficiency is mediocre for a hybrid, and even some non-hybrid cars can match it.

The Honda CR-Z is a two-passenger car with a four-cylinder engine that combines with the electric motor for a total of 135 horsepower. This front-wheel drive car claims 35 mpg in the city and 39 mpg highway. For a two-seater, it offers a comfortable 49.1 cubic feet of passenger room.

Experts seem to appreciate that Honda has tried to make the hybrid segment a little more fun, but it's clear they feel the effort has fallen short. Buyers interested in a sports car will not be satisfied with the Insight's speed and handling, and those who place a premium on fuel efficiency won't be impressed with the gas mileage. In trying to please both sports-car-inclined buyers and hybrid fans, Honda ends up pleasing neither.

by Michael Sweet (Google+ Profile) – August 10, 2012