6 AMP HOUR CHALLENGE: Honda CR-Z
Does the CR-Z really allow you to have your hybrid cake and eat it too?>> Sporty handling
>> Fuel efficient powertrain
>> 16-inch rims look lost
>> It's two years late
But unlike most of the others assembled for this test, the CR-Z is still heavily dependent on petrol power, with its on-board electric motor existing only to give the occasional boost to the 1.5 litre four-cylinder engine.
All up, the CR-Z develops 91kW and 167Nm, with a claimed average fuel consumption figure of 4.7L/100km and average CO2 emissions of 111g/km.
It’s got less mass to move, so expends less energy to get up to speed. It also turns and stops better.
Out on the track, the difference is stark. Although it just barely managed to pull ahead of the Prius c in straight-line acceleration, the nimble (and better-tyred) CR-Z was able to carry much more speed through the corners. As a result, it led the pack by a substantial margin.
The CR-Z is also a real delight to drive. The steering is responsive and very precise, while the handling strikes that fine balance between sportiness and comfort.
The only blight was the constant, monotone drone of the engine -- a side-effect of the continuously variable transmission (CVT).
Some may argue that the technology involved in the CR-Z’s hybrid powertrain justifies its premium price tag, but there’s nothing terribly sophisticated about the car’s single-overhead cam 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine, nor the electric assistance motor that it’s mated to.
You do get a good number of mod-cons though. The CR-Z Luxury boasts leather upholstery, climate control, cruise control, sat-nav, a panoramic glass roof, reversing camera, heated front seats and Bluetooth audio integration.
There’s also value in the way the CR-Z handles, which is no less than brilliant for a car based upon the humble Jazz’s underpinnings.
But as a green car, the CR-Z is still at the mercy of petrol prices. Its lack of plug-in chargeability and ‘hybrid lite’ powertrain means its reliance on the bowser is greater than all the other cars in 6 AMP HOUR CHALLENGE. And although its average consumption is still under 5.0L/100km its fuel ‘costs per kilometre’ are the greatest.
The CR-Z’s futuristic instrument cluster is a visual highlight too, and all major controls are clustered around the steering column.
Issues? The sat nav unit has a distinctly aftermarket appearance, and the front seats refuse to return to their set position after the backrest is flipped forward.
Its straight-line performance is rather lukewarm though, and the CVT saps a lot of the fun out of the CR-Z experience. Solution? Buy the base model manual and save yourself $5800.
In other words, it’s far from the most sophisticated hybrid powertrain around.
You do have the option of switching between Normal, Sport and Eco modes though, which modifies the responsiveness of the throttle, the level of electric motor assistance and the strength of regenerative braking.
Elsewhere, there’s none of the technological whiz-bangery of the Holden Volt or Nissan LEAF. The infotainment unit is a fairly average double-DIN sat nav module, and the on-board trip computer only gives you a basic idea of what the CR-Z’s powertrain is up to.
There’s no big LCD digital dashboards or smartphone-run systems, but then again it’s important to remember that the CR-Z is more about driving enjoyment than being at the cutting-edge of automotive technology.
The wrap-up of the 6 AMP HOUR CHALLENGE:
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