2011 Honda CR-Z
2011 Honda CR-Z
2011 Honda CR-Z
2011 Honda CR-Z
With the 2011 CR-Z, Honda was trying to accomplish some very daunting tasks: to marry oft-disparate concepts into a ‘sporty hybrid’. That is, a compact car with good fuel economy, but without the road sluggishness.
Of course, with an overwhelming design brief and challenging performance specs to carry out, Honda did not—nor would anyone want to—completely start from scratch. The fun-meets-fuel-economy approach was recently used on the Honda Accord Hybrid. Sales were not encouraging, so the CR-Z is the second go-round in what Honda hopes is an affordable, successful line of sporty hybrids.
2011 Honda CR-Z
2011 Honda CR-Z
The Honda CR-Z’s design and performance tie into Honda’s history as a quirky car company. Many will take a look at the CR-Z and conjure up images of the mid-80’s Honda CRX, what with the stubby rear design lines and the two-seat set-up. Indeed, the CRX was the CR-Z great granddad of sorts, only the CR-Z isn’t living up to tradition.
While the CRX was a stripped-down, trim number that could still run on the road, the CR-Z is a textbook jack-of-all-trades, master of none. While trying to mesh fuel economy and fun performance in a compact, affordable package, Honda actually made the CR-Z notoriously lagging in both departments. Carbon footprint-conscious consumers will be disappointed at the car’s less-than-stellar fuel economy, at least judging by current industry standards. And the CR-Z can barely be called ‘sporty’ when compared to most gasoline cars.
Engine & performance
The Honda CR-Z is powered by Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA), earlier used on the Insight. The CR-Z’s IMA system pairs a 112-hp gasoline engine, churning out 107 lb-ft of torque, with an electric motor that contributes another 13 hp and 58 lb-ft of torque. Transmission options available are the classic six-speed manual set-up and the continuously variant transmission (CVT), a staple in hybrids.
Exterior
Compact and svelte, the CR-Z’s design lines are similar to that of the CRX from the 1980’s. Stubby rear end and compact features evoke the carbon-footprint-conscious appeal. Its trim frame makes it the perfect vehicle for squeezing into odd parking spaces or weaving through slow traffic.
The 2011 CR-Z is available in three body trims: stock, EX, and EX with navigation. Stock features include 16-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, automatic climate control, and cruise control. EX features include xenon headlights and taillights, anti-fog side mirrors, and Bluetooth. EX with navigation function features voice-activated navigation system.