Given that the main purpose of the Enviro Dad Test Drive is to profile and review automobiles that speak to both the environmentalist as well as the parent in me, I initially wasn’t sure if I wanted to spend a week in a 2 seater. However when that 2 seater happened to be the Honda CR-Z, a car that is billed as the first 2 seater sport hybrid coupe, I let my curiosity get the better of me.
Modelled on the rather successful Honda CR-X and using the platform of the original Honda Insight Hybrid, the new CR-Z takes the sporty styling and performance of CR-X and added to it some tremendous fuel efficiency with the utilization of Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid-electric system. The goal for Honda, of course was to prove that being sporty and stylish can mesh quite well with being environmentally progressive.
FIRST IMPRESSION
Right from the outset the CR-Z, just as it is with its CR-X cousin is a unique and impressive looking vehicle. Its low slung hood is pushed forward somewhat to give it an aggressive look. It has a deeply inset beltline, and then widens out at the rear. Honda calls this a “One-Motion” wedge design and it’s one that is as distinctive as it is aerodynamic.
Upon entering the CR-Z it becomes abundantly clear that this is a small car. With a low ceiling and not quite enough legroom for my liking, it took me a little while to feel comfortable driving the CR-Z. If one is accustomed to minivans, SUV’s or even mid-sized sedans it would almost be inevitable that you’ll feel a bit like a sardine inside – at least initially. Over the course of the week I kept a tally of just how many times I bonked my head while getting into the car and I wound up doing it three times, with the final one being one of those seeing-stars-in-my-eyes doozeys. I suppose with more time in the car I’d learn exactly how to avoid 
risking a concussion again.
The high tech look of the interior with multi coloured tachometer display and other accents does provide a fun and exciting feel to the CR-Z. It also turns out that part of that fun and flash incorporates a certain amount of function too.
DRIVE
Given that the CR-Z sits with only 143 Millimetres of clearance, it’s hard not to notice that you are sitting pretty low to the ground. Immediately you get that sporty feeling but bear in mind while the CR-Z can be peppy, it’s not a sports car.
The CR-Z is powered by a 1.5 litre, 16 valve, 4 cylinder engine combined with the IMA Hybrid technology. It produces 122 Horsepower and 128 lb-ft of torque (or 123 lb-ft in the CVT model). With a gross weight of only 1435 kg, the engine produces enough power to make the sporty looking car drive with some pep, but the CR-Z is really about blending fun with fuel efficiency.
To that end, the CR-Z delivers some very impressive fuel consumption numbers. According to the 2011 Fuel Consumption Guide as published by Natural Resources Canada, the CR-Z posts a rating of 5.6 L/100 km (City), 5.0 L/100 km (Hwy) and 5.3 L/100 km (combined) for the CVT transmission and 6.5 L/100 km (City), 5.3 L/100 km (Hwy) and 6.0 L/100 km (combined) for the manual transmission. This puts the ratings of the CR-Z among the top 10% of all vehicles rated in Canada.
Also of note with the CR-Z is the fact that it offers 3 different driving modes to choose from. The CR-Z can be driven in Econ, Normal or Sport modes with each offering different characteristics. The Econ mode maximizes fuel efficiency but makes the car awfully sluggish. The Normal mode produces what you’d expect out of a typical Honda while the Sport mode creates a more responsive drive and a tightened steering and suspension combination, which ultimately produces a more fun ride.
One big concern I had while driving was that given the significant size of the B and C pillars found on the CR-Z, it produced big blind spots that I found very difficult to check. When changing lanes, I had to be particularly careful and if I were to drive the CR-Z in heavy traffic I’d likely find it very frustrating and perhaps somewhat anxiety inducing.
INTERIOR COMFORT
As mentioned earlier, the CR-Z is a small car. I personally found that while I could drive in it for commuting periods of time, I would be hard pressed to see any real enjoyment out of sitting in a car of this size for any substantial period of time. This of course is a highly subjective element and given the limited cargo space as well, one would think that the CR-Z isn’t really intended to be a car vacation kind of vehicle.
Size issues aside, the CR-Z is nicely appointed for a vehicle in its price range (mid 20’s). The seats are well contoured and the layout of the cockpit leaves all controls within a comfortable and ergonomically sound layout.
GADGETS AND GIZMOS
Perhaps one of the most unique features found with the CR-Z are the 3 colour driving indicator found encircling the tachometer and speed indicator as well as the Eco-Assist function. Each are designed to help drivers get the most out of their car’s performance and fuel efficiency. The 3 colour indicator emits a green light when driving optimally, a blue light when driving normally and a red light when driving in sport mode.
The Eco-Assist function helps drivers to learn how to become more fuel efficient drivers through the use of measurements that show when you are driving optimally. I have always felt that with any Hybrid vehicle a certain amount of tutorial should come with it since optimal driving techniques with hybrids are not necessarily the same as they are with regular engines.
Beyond the above the CR-Z offers a 360 Watt 6-speaker sound system that was good for my ear but not the best I’ve heard. Other features such as navigational display and auto day/night rear view mirror with compass are options.
STORAGE
With about 711 Litres of cargo space in the rear hatch back compartment of the CR-Z there is enough room for most basic needs. This won’t hold a weeks worth of groceries for a large family, but any large family with a CR-Z in its driveway also likely has another vehicle for that task. Certain compartments in the rear can be concealed to hide more valuable items which is helpful.
IN THE END
The 2011 Honda CR-Z is a new class of vehicle that tries to combined 2 seater sporty design, with optimal fuel efficiency that comes with hybrid technology. The end result is a car that looks good, handles okay, drives okay but overall left me a bit puzzled as to where it exactly fits into the overall mix of things.
This was a mostly fun car to drive for a week but I don’t know whether I’d see myself in it long term. In so far as fitting in with the Enviro Dad Test Drive criteria, this may not be a suitable family car, but certainly as a secondary car for a family that tries to make environmentally conscious decisions wherever possible – it might be something neat to have available and sitting in the garage.
ENVIRO DAD’S Test Drive Ratings (Out of 5):
STYLE: 4.0
COMFORT: 2.5
FEATURES: 4.0
STORAGE: 3.0
DRIVE: 3.0
ENVIRO/ECO: 4.5
VALUE: 4.0
(MSRP as tested $24,290)
OVERALL RATING: 3.5
I too think Honda is one of the leaders in progressive automotive engineering, but I would like the price to fall some what to encourage more of the younger demographic to make the leap to hybrids. As volume increases and battery technology continually improves, we should hope to see more alternatives and less of the regular.