Comments on: Could Honda CR-Z Be The World's First Sexy Hybrid?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 17:01:41 +0000

The bar is not specifically important, but the shape requires it for visbility. The shape is special (without going into the aerodynamics), and it allows for a huge interior with very little drag. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kammback

By: sava green

sava green — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 10:47:07 +0000

James,

"Sexy" is product/auto designer lingo for very well designed, attractive.

By: JCR

JCR — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 15:48:59 +0000

I think when somebody refer to car to be sexy means that you becomes the sexy one… Just make a test… Count how many girls look at you driving a BMW and how many girl will look at you driving a Ford Focus… And that my friends is The ugly truth…
CR-Z uuuh yeah it is sexy…

By: carguru

carguru — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 02:43:42 +0000

I still don’t like this car, as while the idea of a sporty hybrid sounds attractive–this one was poorly executed as 0-60 in 10.5 seconds is just unacceptably slow for any car ( let alone one with sporty aspirations). Since, Honda failed miserably on the weak powerplant in this car, it has been trying to promote the supposed great handling of this car (ie. how the engineers drove Lotuses)–apparently it does not deliver superb handling eiither as the English article states “It’s sporty by hybrid standards, but the CR-Z is far from the most agile smalll coupe around–a Mini or a BMW 1 Series would leave it dead on a twisty road”. In another review in Japan, the writer noted that the brakes were smoking after a few hot runs up and down the hills. I also read another review which noted that the start/stop feature of the motor needs some work as it would sometimes stop at the wrong time. Most of the reviewers also complained about the very poor rear visiibility. To sum it all up it’s muich too slow, likely too expensive ($25,000-$28,000), does not even handle as well as a cheaper Mini, has weak brakes, poor visibility and does not even get all that great gas miileage. Maybe Honda should have delayed the release of this car until it could get it right (ie. like it did for the Civic).

By: StanCatt

StanCatt — Tue, 25 May 2010 01:07:35 +0000

Yeah… obviously you’re not a car person. Google the the Citroen 2CV and try not to think about how it looks like a duck. Or what about the Renault R16? Tell me it doesn’t look like it has a squinty face. And millions agree that the Pontiac Aztek looks ugly and the Mazda Miata is cute, so why can’t cars like the CRZ, or older ones like the BMW 3.0 CSi, Jaguar XK120, and Mercedes 6.3 be sexy?

By: Mr. Fusion

Mr. Fusion — Mon, 24 May 2010 12:49:20 +0000

Shines: The HX would probably get around the same MPG as the CRZ with that extra weight.

I like Honda. They make the most reliable cars out there. However, my opinion still stands that with the CRZ, Honda has produced a car with lots of technological advances but of similar weight and MPG as a 14 year old model. The MPG numbers shouldn't even be close.

BTW, the HX has a couple of air bags, power windows and locks.

By: Shines

Shines — Thu, 20 May 2010 03:36:33 +0000

Redbeard so the CRZ is still 357 lbs heavier, I wonder what the mileage would be in your Civic HX with 2 extra adults driving with you everywhere? And those extra 357 lbs goes to; Anti lock brakes, stability control, air bags, regenerative braking, UV protecting windshields, safer headrests, better crumple zones power windows and locks…
Civic HX was a great car – give Honda some credit with the CRZ.
If my choices were; Mini, Miata, Golf TDI, Scion TC or the CRZ I’d pick the CRZ.

By: Mr. Fusion

Mr. Fusion — Wed, 19 May 2010 13:01:59 +0000

I'm going to bring up my 14 year old Honda Civic HX again.
39+ mpg hwy.

For those of you who are going to start with the "Oh, but new cars are heavier due to safety improvements" here's the weights:

2010 Honda CRZ Manual Transmission: 2670 lbs
113 hp 1.5 liter + 13 hp electric motor assist

1996 Honda Civic HX Manual Transmission: 2313 lbs
115 hp 1.6 liter

So Honda, what have you done in the past 14 years?
The CRZ should be a lot more efficient.

By: Shines

Shines — Wed, 19 May 2010 05:18:47 +0000

Hold on a sec… 37 mpg average is not so bad. It is better than any conventional ice. Sure Mustang gets 31 highway and what 21 in the city? Even the puny Smart 4 Two averages only 35 mpg (Jetta TDI is only 34). Maybe for a hybrid it is not that great, but as a sporty 2 seat coupe (and if Honda can sell it for under $25K) it looks like a pretty good package to me. Maybe this will be my mid life crisis coupe ;-b. I agree that is a very nice looking car. Any way with the manual tranny and a bit of hyper mileing I bet one could get it to average near 40 mpg (which is close to most other hybrids except the Prius).

By: Nelson Lu

Nelson Lu — Wed, 19 May 2010 04:13:30 +0000

ex-EV1 driver writes:

Finally, a hybrid that's not just a boring sedan or pseudo-SUV! Maybe the auto industry is finally realizing that hybrid is a better drive train, not a body style.

Ford's and Toyota's (and, if it passes the test of time, Hyundai's) hybrid powertrains are better drivetrains than the conventional ones. Honda's is simply not. It doesn't provide additional drive boost or sufficient efficiency boost.