Honda CR-Z

Honda CR-Z is a hybrid sports coupe of the Japanese company Honda. The novelty was introduced by the head of Honda concern Takanobu Ito in 2009. The vehicles were launched in 2010. At the time of sale, approximately 7,000 customers had ordered the new vehicles. Since the start of sales, a total of more than 10,000 vehicles have been purchased, which exceeded the expectations of the management. Honda CZK was sold on the Japanese and American markets, as well as in a number of European countries.

After 2012, during the Paris Motor Show, the Japanese demonstrated the Honda CR-Z restyling model. The new vehicle was taken to the 2013 model year. The exterior, interior and so on have changed. In 2015, the car underwent another modernization, which brought cosmetic improvements and a list of new equipment. The whole model range is Honda.

Car history

After the beginning of the era of hybrid vehicles with a three-wheeler vehicle in the back of a hatchback Insight, the Japanese company Honda has worked hard to modernize the technology of producing highly efficient and environmentally friendly powertrains.

Closer to the 2000s, a variety of engine types were tested in the field to become the engine of the new hybrid machine. It was developed on the platform of 2 prototypes – Remix and Small Hybrid Sports. These models were demonstrated in 2006 and 2007 respectively.

The name of the new vehicle describes the acronym “Compact Renaissance Zero”, which translates as “a compact car with a renewable energy source and zero emission”.

The conceptual version of the CZC-Honda, which the Japanese themselves called the “spiritual” successor of the CR-X 1 family car, was officially introduced in 2007 during the Tokyo Motor Show. The novelty was the 6th car of the company, which used the latest hybrid technology IMA.

The development department was given the clear task of designing a small, environmentally friendly coupe that would fit into the innovative world. In general, CRZ was built on the platform of the 4-door Honda Insight. However, a group of engineers was able to work well on this base.

They significantly shortened the wheelbase, expanding it in front and behind, making the entire structure more rigid. The fully finished version of the hybrid car was demonstrated only after three years, during the Detroit Motor Show in 2010.

Exterior

Taking into account modern realities, the appearance of this vehicle is not particularly striking, but at that time, the car had a slightly unusual appearance. The front area of Japanese Honda CR-Z was equipped with a small hood with smooth outlines. Experts have found use for narrow LED-type lanterns, between which a modest grille of trapezoidal shape was placed.

The front bumper is slightly focused on improving aerodynamics. It has a “lip”, as it is now fashionable to say, soft cuts, as well as round mounted fog lights. The exterior of the car has a line of hood located at the bottom, as well as a wide landing, giving more sporting qualities.

This gives the driver good confidence in the stability of the vehicle on the road. According to the manufacturer, Honda CR-Z front optics received crystal filling. With the help of the open shape of the grille, the power unit can be cooled much better, regardless of the power supply, which is currently in use. The updated version of the Honda CR-Z 2015 sports coupe has a stylish lighting system with full LED filling, a new bumper with other sections of fog lights, as well as a modified radiator grille and a stylish spoiler.

Interestingly, the shape of the body of Honda CR-Z is made in the concept of “wedge, inscribed with one movement of the hand”.

The side of this three-door hatchback not only attracts the eye with just one door, but also with its non-standard body shape. The upper and lower area of the door is equipped with significant punching lines. In addition, the door handle is a bit unusual and also attracts attention. The exterior mirrors of the sports model received the general form.

They have repeatable corners, which is perfectly noticeable for oncoming traffic and not only. Also, the mirrors are equipped with electrical adjustment and electric folding. This not only facilitates the process of movement, but also increases the overall level of safety of Honda CZK. The ground clearance is 150 millimetres.

The new coupe from the Japanese company has 16-inch “rollers” made of light alloy, as well as tires 195/55. The updated car Honda CR-Z 2015 received original rims, size 16 or 17 inches. When viewing the back of the Japanese car Honda CZZ, a fairly smooth shape is noticeable, gradually flowing into the luggage compartment lid.

Thus, a small spoiler is formed. Thanks to this solution, the luggage compartment lid looks neat. However, if you open the back door, it becomes large and a little uncomfortable. As for the loading height of the three-door hatchback, it is quite high, as for a car of this class, so some people may feel a little discomfort.

The rear window of the sports coupe is equipped with an unusual shape for many cars. The Honda designers were able to divide it into 2 parts. The upper part is made for smoothing of body lines. There is a glass wiper on the glass. Interestingly, when the rear gear is engaged in rainy weather, the windscreen wiper is automatically activated, cleaning the glass from dirt or moisture.

Sufficiently standardised headlamps have been designed in such a way that they correspond to the shape of the body and do not draw too much attention to themselves. Rear lights are also LED, which improves the visibility of the vehicle in both bright weather and fog. The rear mounted bumper has received unusual dimensions.

It is in reality massive, but there are no interesting elements on it. For its lower part, a small plastic insert, which has a narrow type of reflectors on itself, is provided for installation. The updated Japanese hatchback Honda CR-Z 2016 has an improved bumper and lanterns.

Interior

What that, but the Japanese specialists of Honda have always managed to decorate the salon beautifully and a little out of the ordinary. As before us a hybrid vehicle, it is already a priori unique, although the interior space itself is made in the same way. The seats are unusual, there are 4 of them in total. The front and back seats have been installed with leather, but all this is due to the equipment.

The front seats “CZ-C” have an impressive side support, which will please fans of fast driving. The seats have a driver’s and passenger electronic adjustment. Between the seats, in front of the gearshift handle, there are holders for glasses and a socket for charging from USB or power cigarette lighter 12 V.

The Honda CR-Z saloon is equipped with 6 loudspeakers that improve the acoustic sound. The updated version of the Honda CR-Z 2016 hatchback has an upgraded touchscreen display of the music system, as well as an armrest between the front seats. It replaced the traditional handbrake with a simple button. In addition, the new car received an active noise reduction system.

Now, with the help of the new “music” it is possible to increase the sound of the engine through the speakers, which creates a feeling of driving in a more powerful vehicle than it is actually. In general, there is not much free space inside the car. It is not so much ahead, but on the second row it is almost absent. In fact, the second row is made for formality. Ideally, 2 passengers will be able to fit there, but they will experience extreme inconvenience.

The dashboard, which is located right in front of the owner of the car, engineers decided to split into 3 sections. The middle part is occupied by a well, which displays an analogue sensor of power unit rotation, as well as an electronic speedometer. Speedometer divides the panel into 2 parts – the left part is responsible for the electric motor, and the right part for the gasoline power plant.

In the left and right parts there are displays with blue backlighting. They display almost all the information, but in the standard mode it displays the most necessary data on the position of the power plant and other components. The steering wheel of the Honda CR-Z hybrid version has three spokes. Leather can be seen as a cladding, but not in every version.

The steering wheel has modest chrome inlays and a large number of different buttons designed more to control the entertainment system. In reality, however, there are buttons that are responsible for fundamentally different functions. On the left side of the owner’s side there are 3 keys to control driving modes: Spoer, Normal and Ecological mode. The keys showing the current speed mode in km or miles are too visible. A special button is provided to disable the stabilisation system.

Salon at the Japanese experts always turned out unusual and interesting, therefore interior Honda CR-Z also is not an exception.

The centre console looks original and a little unusual. Such a decision of designers can be called successful, because not so few cars are equipped with a classic location of devices. In the upper part, located on the panel of the torpedo, you can see a small box for a variety of trifles. Below it there is an alarm button. Further in the eye catches 7-inch display of multimedia and navigation system, which supports touch input.

On the right and left sides of the display there are various buttons for easier operation. Even to the right are located 2 deflectors of the ventilation system. A passenger airbag is installed above them. On the left side of this screen you can see a small monitor, several different keys and a really convenient washer for setting the temperature mode. The traditional “climate” block is located under the screen of the multimedia system, but in this model the engineers decided to take a different path.

I’d like to point out that it looks great. Next you can see a thick chrome insert, under which there is another compartment for trifling. The lowermost part of the centre console is equipped with an AUX, USB port and two cupholders. The tunnel does not stand out from the crowd. It has a gearbox selector and a manual parking brake in the form of a handbrake.

Luggage compartment, for obvious reasons, is not a record – only 225 liters. However, if necessary, it is possible to remove the rear seats, as they are almost still no one will be able to sit comfortably, which provides 401 liters of useful space. The luggage compartment is also equipped with a lower 19-liter compartment, which is mainly designed for a spare wheel, repair kit and other additional cargo.

Specifications

Mower unit

Makes the vehicle move with a hybrid powertrain. It has an atmospheric, 1.5-liter, 16-valve, gasoline, four-cylinder engine SOHC i-VTEC, which received a multipoint gasoline injection. This variant develops 114 horsepower and 145 Nm of rotational force. The same variant of the engine is also provided, but it produces 120 “horses” and 146 Nm.

Together with it there is a 20 hp electric power plant, which develops 78.4 Nm of torque. Taken together, these units produce about 130 horsepower. Under the rear sofa, specialists from the Japanese company Honda installed a 15 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Both gasoline and electric power units SR-H can be used separately.

An electric motor is only used when the speed limit is less than 60 km/h. At speeds of more than 60 kilometres per hour, the car will automatically activate the gasoline “engine”. Both units are allowed to be used together, which has had an excellent effect on the “fuel appetite”.

The technical part of Honda CR-Z perfectly allows you to use the car in the city limits and not only. Partly because of the quieter engine operation, reduced gasoline consumption and reduced exhaust emissions due to the electric motor.

As for the fuel efficiency of the sports coupe, it makes you look closer at the compact model. With a mechanical gearbox, the engine consumes about 4.4 litres of fuel for every 100 kilometres of travel in combined mode. If an automatic transmission is installed, the consumption is reduced to 4.0 litres of gasoline for every 100 km.

However, as for the dynamic characteristics of Honda CR-Z, they are quite mediocre, as for a modern machine. Auto does not accelerate more than 200 kilometers per hour, despite the chosen transmission, and to reach the speed mark of 100 kilometers per hour, it will take about 10 seconds (with manual gearbox).

Transmission

The Honda CR-Z engine works in conjunction with a 6-speed manual transmission, which transmits all the torsional forces to the front. In addition, the Japanese offer to replace the manual transmission with a variator transmission. Dynamic component of the hybrid “Japanese” is unlikely to surprise, but for a simple, measured ride it should be enough.

Carriage

For the basis of the Japanese model, the designers decided to put the front-drive platform 5-door Honda Insight, where there is an independent suspension type McPherson in front and semi-independent architecture with a torsion beam at the back. It will not be possible to say that the car is rigid, but it cannot be said that it is not comfortable. Speaking in general, the “walking” perfectly fulfills all its tasks and does not irritate the owner and passengers.

The “Japanese” is controlled by means of the steering mechanism possessing the electric control amplifier (EPS) with varied characteristics. Brake system on Honda SR-H has disc brakes on all wheels, and the front ones have a ventilation function. Additional electronic systems ABS and EBD are available.

Safety

Nowadays, automotive manufacturers are simply obliged to create their own vehicles with a good level of safety. This has to be done not only because of the law, but also because of the preferences of the customers themselves. Honda CR-Z is equipped with a list of security systems that make it one of the safest vehicles.

The system of course stability of the car, which helps the owner to control the maison during the turn, increase the speed and unexpected maneuvers, is not without it. The automatic system is able to assess the situation and most favorably distribute the braking forces between the wheels. In addition, this technology can modulate the torsional forces of the engine depending on the conditions of maneuver.

The brake system handles all the necessary properties. The car has 14-inch ventilated front brakes and solid rear brakes. There is also an anti-lock braking system, an electronic system that distributes the braking forces, a system of sensory recognition of the required braking force. All this ensures stability and safety on the road.

The machine has also received Advanced Compatibility Engineering. During the collision between the machines, the engineering department of the Honda Research Center in Tochigi was able to develop an original bodywork design for Honda vehicles. The concept was called AdvacdeCompatibilityEngineering. This technology is now a major addition to Honda’s list of individual safety achievements.

Thanks to the original ACE body design, the driver and passengers’ prospects for survival during frontal impact are increased. This is achieved by using the technology of interlocking structural elements, which allow the force of the impact to be assigned equally to the entire frontal area of the car. It turns out that not only the impact energy, which threatens the passengers of one car, is reduced, but also the force of the impact itself is distributed productively. It also has a good effect on the outcome of the accident for another affected car.

The Japanese hybrid car Honda CR-Z has a large number of devices for pedestrian safety. Based on test results, the data suggests that these devices significantly reduce the likelihood of collision in the event of a collision with a moving vehicle.

These improvements include the windscreen wiper joints, which are designed to break off easily in the event of a certain impact. It also includes front spoiler fasteners and hood loops designed to dampen the impact force. Under the hood there was a free space, which the developers left to deform the body.

Airbags and seat belts make you feel more confident inside the compact Honda CR-Z. In addition to the main and side driver’s and passenger Airbags, all Honda vehicles are equipped with an airbag to protect the driver and passengers along the entire length of the cabin.

In addition, the vehicle is equipped with seat belts with 3-stage pretensioners and an emergency return device that works in all seating positions. As far as the driver’s and passenger’s seatbelts are concerned, they have a double-acting pretensioner. ISOFIX child seat technology ensures that children are properly positioned in the second row of seats.

The front seats of the C.I.C.Z. Honda are equipped with active head restraints, which are designed to reduce the possibility of neck and head injuries during a rear-end impact. In the event that the machine operator or the passenger sitting next to him is pressed against the backrest during a rear-end collision, the solid plastic in the seat structure presses on the transfer link that pushes the headrest up and forwards. This provides additional support for the head.

Complections and prices

Honda CR-Z hybrid car will not be sold in Russia, which is a bit upsetting for the fans of the Japanese company. In addition, the production of such cars has already come to an end and will not be able to buy it from the salon. However, despite the fact that such a vehicle has not been officially sold in our country, a sports coupe can be found in the used car market.

At the time the car was manufactured, it could have been purchased in the United States at a price of $20000 or less, which is not such a high cost for this type of car. Because of this, the car was selling pretty well. The basic equipment of Honda CR-Z has:

• Media 7-inch display;
• Not a bad 6-speaker audio system;
• Cast 16-inch rollers
• Climate control;
• Cruise control;
• LED headlights;
• Diverse security systems;
• Multifunctional steering wheel;
• Forward and side airbags;
• Sport seats;
• Electric package.

Tuning

To date, the car is more than just a simple vehicle. A personal vehicle reflects a certain style, taste and character traits of its owner. In this regard, any car owner wants his car to be unique, recognizable, attractive, and also stand out from the general flow of cars. For such tasks there is a car tuning.

Owners of such cars as Honda SR-Z in 2010 and the following years of production are mostly positive about their cars. Despite the fact that the car is stylish and has an impressive list of aesthetic parameters and performance capabilities, Honda still needs modernization.

For example, thanks to Honda CR-Z tuning, the exterior of the vehicle offers special, unique individual possibilities, significantly improves the level of comfort of the interior, increases safety on the road, and also facilitates care. Within the available tuning elements, you can highlight the presence:

• Spoilers;
• Coffer;
• Protective visors;
• Body overlay;
• Powertrain protection;
• Light overlays;
• Decorative elements for exterior and interior design;
• Xenon;
• Alternative optics;
• Kanguryatnikov;
• Plassback deflectors;
• Mirror;
• Forward and rear cameras;
• Automagnetols;
• Navigator;
• Video recorder;
• Parktronic systems;
• Saloon mats;
• Diverse seat covers;
• The blinds on the windows;
• Shelf to luggage compartment and so on.

Owner’s Reviews

The Japanese hybrid coupe is generally well received by everyone. Owners of Honda CR-Z note its economy, sharpness and quality. The powertrain and chassis also stand out. Because of its modest size, the car can be easily parked and travels quickly through the narrow city streets. Ahead of the car there is a pretty good lighting, well illuminating the roadway. Unusual appearance, beautiful and futuristic interior, as well as hybrid power plant attract the eye.

There is enough for city riding. To fully “drive”, it is necessary to pay attention to cars of other class. About the suspension – yes, it is rigid, as well as many other vehicles of Honda company. However, the car is hard to measure. The car swallows small irregularities confidently, but at high speed it is not necessary to pass potholes.

It is driven by Honda CR-Z perfectly, despite the rear beam. The suspension structure is the simplest, so for those who want to do something on their own, there will be a place to walk. Inside the sports coupe it is pleasant to be, but the light salon is quite branded, up to the fact that there are spots of rain during the opening of the door.

Speaking for the capacity of Honda, the car is not designed for a large family, which is understandable and so. The second row will comfortably accommodate only children, but even tall people can sit comfortably in front. Sometimes the owners of Honda CR-Z complain about non-standard, as well as low landing in the cabin, a large front overhang. Over time, it begins to bloom at the junctions. After 120-130 kilometers per hour there is a lack of power.

Pluses and minuses

Tooths

As a result, the Japanese company was able to produce a pretty beautiful car for its time, which will delight its owner with low fuel consumption, almost silent work and non-standard interior design. The landing is quite low, as in sports cars. A comfortable and functional steering wheel and an original dashboard are presented to the driver.

The updated car received a comfortable armrest between the front seats, which was very lacking in previous versions. Japanese hybrid car Honda CR-Z has a pleasant appearance, small size and a good level of safety. There is enough space on the front row, but the second row is more suitable for children.

There’s no need to wait for a huge trunk for a hybrid car, but you can take the essentials with you. The technical part makes it possible to use the Honda CR-Z perfectly in urban areas, as it stands out due to its low noise level, low fuel consumption and hybrid power system. Although the Japanese car is still far from “electric giants” like Tesla, it is clear that Honda is also striving to keep pace with innovation, equipping its machines with cleaner power units.

Honda has been equipped with electronic assistants and a good level of safety, so the car can be safely recommended for use. After 120-130 kilometers per hour, there is a lack of engine power. But it should not be forgotten that in front of us is not a racing car, and a small city car, which is worth paying attention to.

We advise you to read the article: Honda’s history

Honda CR-Z photo

Video review