The Honda’s motobike CRX from the 80s and early 90s was undeniably rad. It’s a compact, sporty two-seat hatchback that deserves the love of enthusiasts drawn to its cute looks and fun personality. Nostalgia for the CRX (also CR-X) is still high as examples that were still in good shape were still alive at the end of the years, just when people feared that cars like Toyota Prius will take away the joy of driving for good. Then Honda goes back to its history and draws its design notes from the CRX, throwing in its learnings from the first generation. Insightand stir them together to get Honda CR-Z 2011 – one or two seats mixture hatchback is offered with a manual transmission.
Why CR-Z?
It’s efficient (-ish), weird, and above all, fun to drive. We’ve emphasized that it comes with an available manual transmission, but we haven’t made it clear how good that stick is to use. The CR-Z debuted in an era where Honda (and, by extension, Acura) has completely nailed that part of the driving experience. The club itself feels great as it moves from position to position with a short, light but tactile toss. Combined with a smooth, easy-to-operate clutch, this set-up is so engaging, it encourages you to forget energy saving (31 city/37 highway for MT) and take full advantage of the CR-Z’s 122-130 horsepower and 127-140 pound-feet of torque (depending on model year and transmission) .
If those output numbers look ridiculously small, don’t worry too much about it. No, it’s not a particularly fast car, doing 0-60 between 8 and 9 seconds, depending on who is doing the test. But it’s not fast to be happy and what it lacks in acceleration it makes up for with excellent handling. This tiny hybrid is great at gliding through corners, but has a bit more suspension compliance on rough roads than its contemporaries. Mini Cooper partner.
It’s also a car that’s customizable, whether it’s something like the Recaro seats, after-sales wheels or suspension, or even a supercharger from Honda’s Performance Development portfolio. That’s right, the manually-fitted hybrid engine can (and still can) be turbocharged, for a total of 197 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque if you go the Honda-powered route .
In the end, we like the CR-Z because it’s exotic and relatively scarce. It comes at a time when two-seater and three-door hatchbacks are dwindling in popularity and they just continue to do so. Honda only sold about 35,000 units during the production of this model. We highly doubt its nostalgic enjoyment will ever reach the status of the CRX, but it will certainly always evoke a smile and fond memories on the rare occasions that we spot it. a car in the wild.
Which CR-Z to choose?
Obviously, buy one with a manual transmission. That’s one of the biggest draws of this car. The rack shift is only so good, and the 122 hp will be the same or worse when you’re stuck with a continuously variable transmission. If you’re worried about power, buy the 2013 model or later, as that’s when the manually-equipped CR-Z’s output increases from 122 hp/128 lb-ft to 130 hp/140 lb-ft thanks to Updated hybrid system, complete with a new lithium-ion the battery. 2013 also saw the addition of Bluetooth, a backup camera, the S+ push button, and some tweaks to the exterior design.
It’s really the only option (other than color and mileage) to make, as it comes in two versions: EX or EX w/Navi, with the 2016 model being the exception. Last year’s CR-Z saw even rarer EX-L trim (with heated leather seats added) as well as LX trim omitted.
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What else to consider?
The Honda CR-Z comes at an exciting time in the auto industry. Tiny hatchbacks and wagons are still a problem – popularity is dwindling as intersection mania has taken place, but is still considered viable. Hybrid cars started to gain a lot of success thanks to cars like the Toyota Prius and Honda’s Insight. So, Lexus CT 200h seems like a good candidate for the CR-Z. It doesn’t have the nostalgic charm of the Honda CRX, but it’s alluring and still something to behold when seen in the wild. It was sold concurrently with the CR-Z in the United States, but appealed more to luxury buyers who couldn’t accept the dullness of the car. Prius versus cheap thrill-seeking enthusiasts. Lexus Significantly more CTs are sold here than Honda’s CR-Z, but as far as the price reflects, its luxury positioning more than dismisses the fact that it’s less rare than the Honda. Also, with the Lexus, you’re still stuck with the CVT, but you’ll get a better mpg rating (43-city/40) as well as a second row of seats and two extra doors.
If you like a lucky little hatchback that plays well on autopilot, you might as well consider Mini Cooper. The price of the used Mini is about the same as the CR-Z, and the manual transmission is plenty. It’s not uncommon, but a Cooper still feels new every time you join. You don’t even lose much in terms of fuel economy compared to the CR-Z – just a few city mpg, really.
Finally, there is the first generation Hyundai Veloster. It’s not a hybrid, but, like the Mini, is nearly as efficient on paper (though Honda can generally beat it) EPA ratings in real world driving). While the CR-Z has a better manual transmission, VelosterThe longer wheelbase makes it a better companion when you’re off the big streets and onto the highway. It has a second row of seats and a half side door on the passenger side to help access it without forcing the driver or front passenger to get out. At the time, the Veloster seemed almost as much a duck as the Honda, but it became much more successful, making it feel closer to the mainstream at the time of production. finish. And, thankfully, Hyundai has seen enough popularity to revive nameplates for 2020.
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