Someday, all sports cars may integrate gasoline
engines with battery packs and electric motors, but
Honda is the first to emphasize a sporty side to
owning a hybrid.
The heart of the car is a 1.5-liter,
four-cylinder engine joined with Honda's Integrated
Motor Assist system, with a nickel-metal hydride
battery pack. The "Eco Assist" gives oomph to a
small engine, but does not give battery-only
driving. For air quality, the EPA calls it Advanced
Technology-PZEV, or partial zero emissions.
There are three push-button modes for
performance: Economy, Normal and Sport, which
influence the fun factor and fuel economy. The car
will coach the driver to develop more skilled
driving behavior. As in Honda's Insight hybrid, a
3-D speedometer and tachometer ring will glow green
with thrifty driving, shift to blue with a heavier
throttle and on to red for flat-out, sport-mode fun.
The EPA tested the car in Normal mode and settled
on mileage ratings of 35 mpg city and 39 highway
with the CVT or 31/37 with six-speed manual. Compare
those numbers to 26 mpg city for the gasoline-engine
Honda Civic. Driving in Economy mode can
significantly boost the numbers, Honda says.
Driving in Normal provides quite adequate
performance, while pushing the Sport button gives a
strong jump in attitude. The mode switches are in
fingers' reach to the left of the steering wheel,
and I punched through them according to traffic flow
and frame of mind -- sometimes frugal, sometimes
careless and fun.
Magazine testers have registered 0-60 mph in
about 9 seconds, but it is the seat-of-the-pants
thrill that is more gripping.
There has been plenty of discussion among Honda
enthusiasts who want to compare CR-Z with their
beloved CRX, from the mid-1980s and early 1990s.
That scrappy, little pocket rocket had high fuel
economy with crank windows and few power
conveniences (until late in its lifecycle).
But load up the CRX with federal standards for
2011 crash safety, mileage and emissions and it
wouldn't have been so endearing. The CR-Z meets
standards for several continents and has six air
bags, traction and stability controls, anti-lock
brakes, etc. Honda's Advanced Compatibility
Engineering (ACE) designs the body of a small car to
act like a big car in the event of entanglement with
large vehicles.
The CR-Z recently went on sale in standard and EX
trim levels. Starting prices range from $19,950 with
six-speed manual transmission to $23,960 with
navigation system and continuously variable
automatic with paddle shifters.
The base model is well equipped with the power
features expected of a $20,000 car. The EX adds such
extras: Bluetooth phone connection, fog lights,
leather-wrapped steering wheel and smoked chrome and
brushed metal trim accents.
CR-Z is up against competition from other sporty
small coupes, such as the Kia Forte Koup and new
Scion tC, both of which have pricing similar to the
CR-Z and get decent mileage.
The CR-Z beats both for its Galaxian Starfighter
styling, which definitely gets it noticed. And in
two weeks of testing a six-speed manual and CVT, I
never felt kiddish driving the car. Not once did it
seem necessary to wear my ball cap backward.
Compared to the import competition, the CR-Z has
a higher refinement to the interior materials and
solid feel of the overall assembly. The car is well
soundproofed and the ride is not choppy or harsh on
the interstate. The seats (the same in both trim
levels) are comfortable with full-figured comfort.
An optional center console (dealer installed) will
be a must for many drivers.
The two-seat configuration will limit appeal for
many who participate in a school carpool or those
who just like to go with a friend and a dog to the
park or beach. In Europe and Japan, the CR-Z does
have four seats, but the small seating was deemed
too petite for American-class occupants. Perhaps,
but do as Lotus does for its Evora and offer a 2
(plus) 2 configuration for another $500.
One of the more obvious benefits of Honda's Eco
Assist system is the engine shut-off at stops,
traffic lights, etc. Sitting in a line of cars at a
traffic light — with engines idling and emissions
percolating -- it becomes painfully apparent that all
cars should have engine shut-off.
All sporty cars can be fun, but the CR-Z brings a
new awareness of performance with responsibility.
Mark Maynard is driving in cyberspace at
Mark.Maynard@uniontrib.com.
COPYRIGHT 2010 THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE.
DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS.COM.
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