Honda CR-Z

Honda CR-Z key specifications

From the CR-X tribute to the Detroit launch

After the first Insight of 1999, Honda wanted a hybrid that was fun to drive rather than only frugal. According to the old 1cars text, two concepts prepared the way: the Remix of 2006 and the Small Hybrid Sports of 2007. The CR-Z concept itself appeared at the Tokyo Motor Show on 23 October 2007.

Honda said the name stands for "Compact Renaissance Zero". It described the car as a spiritual successor to the second-generation CR-X, the light sporty hatchback of the late 1980s. The production model was revealed at the Detroit auto show in January 2010. It used the sixth generation of Honda's Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system, first seen in the Insight.

Demand in Japan was strong at first. Honda took more than 10,000 orders in less than a month, and about 19,000 cars had been delivered by the end of August 2010. The CR-Z was then sold in Europe and North America, and it was voted Japan Car of the Year 2010–2011. For the bigger picture, read the history of Honda.

IMA hybrid system and the six-speed manual

The CR-Z is a mild hybrid, not a full hybrid like the Toyota Prius. Its thin electric motor sits between the engine and the gearbox and assists the 1.5-litre i-VTEC engine when accelerating. It also recovers energy when braking. The system is designed to support the petrol engine, which does most of the work, rather than to drive the car on its own.

At launch the system delivered 90 kW (123 PS) and 174 Nm with the manual gearbox. The CVT version had slightly less engine power. For the 2013 model year, Honda fitted a 15 kW motor and a 144-volt lithium-ion battery of 0.6 kWh. System output rose to 97 kW (132 PS) and 190 Nm with the manual.

The 2013 car also gained an "S+" button on the steering wheel. When the battery is more than 30 % charged and the car moves faster than about 29 km/h, it gives up to five seconds of extra electric boost. Three driving modes, Sport, Normal and Econ, change throttle response, steering weight and air-conditioning use.

Most buyers chose the six-speed manual. It made the CR-Z the third Honda hybrid offered with a manual, after the Insight and the Civic Hybrid. The CVT was optional.

Platform, suspension and handling

According to the old 1cars text, the CR-Z uses the platform of the second-generation Insight with a much shorter wheelbase and wider tracks. At 2,435 mm, its wheelbase is very short for a 4.08-metre car. The front wheels hang on MacPherson struts, while a simple torsion beam carries the rear.

Steering has electric power assistance, and there are disc brakes on all four wheels, ventilated at the front. The car sits low, with 150 mm of ground clearance and 16-inch wheels with 195/55 tyres; 17-inch wheels came with later versions. Testers praised the quick steering, but many found the ride firm and the extra weight of the hybrid system noticeable.

Cabin, seats and boot space

The dashboard is the most futuristic part of the car. A 3D-style speedometer sits in the middle, flanked by displays that show hybrid assist and charge. In Sport mode the instrument lighting turns red; in Econ mode it glows green when driving efficiently.

North American cars have two seats. European and Japanese cars have two small rear seats, which the old 1cars text fairly called suitable only for children. The boot holds 225 litres, rising to 401 litres with the rear seat backs folded, and there is a 19-litre compartment under the floor. The tall tail with its split rear window limits rear visibility.

Fuel consumption and running costs

The CR-Z was never as frugal as a full hybrid, but it used little fuel for a sporty coupé.

By our calculation, the US EPA figures equal about 6.4–7.6 l/100 km for the manual and 6.0–6.7 l/100 km for the CVT. Real-world averages reported by owners were close to 39 mpg, or about 6 l/100 km. Compare the CR-Z with other cars on fuel cost in the 1cars fuel cost comparison tool.

Safety equipment and crash tests

Six airbags, vehicle stability assist, ABS and brake force distribution were standard. The body uses Honda's ACE (Advanced Compatibility Engineering) front structure, which spreads crash forces across the front of the car. In the 2011 ANCAP test, the CR-Z scored 14.56 of 16 points in the frontal offset test and the maximum 16 in the side impact. In the United States, NHTSA gave models from 2012 four stars for frontal impact and five stars for rollover.

The 2013 update and later changes

Honda showed the updated CR-Z at the 2012 Paris Motor Show. Besides the stronger hybrid system and the S+ button, it received a new front bumper and grille, new wheels and a revised interior.

A further refresh for 2016 brought new bumpers, LED lights and an updated touchscreen, and the US range added an EX-L trim. The base CR-Z LX then started at 20,295 US dollars (about €18,300 at the time). The old 1cars text also lists an Active Sound Control system that plays engine sound through the speakers.

The Japanese tuner Mugen built 300 CR-Z Mugen RZ cars with a supercharger and 116 kW (156 hp). Honda sold about 35,000 CR-Zs in the United States from 2010 to 2018, with 11,330 in the best year, 2011. European sales ended in 2014, and North American production stopped at the end of 2016.

CR-Z against its rivals

The Toyota Prius used less fuel but felt slower and less engaging. A Mini Cooper or a Volkswagen Scirocco was quicker in most versions and more practical. The CR-Z sat between the two worlds and never fully satisfied either camp. You can put any two of these cars side by side with the 1cars comparison tool.