Review if from UK's The Register, hardware section. Honda CR-Z sporty hybrid e-car :croc: Left: Prius is better -raspberry- Right: Honda -gator- Suggested Price: From £16,999
I *really* like the VSC OFF button !!! For winter driving. Plus it's a two-door! Oh my this will be popular... I find it has a bit of the new Mazda 3 sporty look, with the big smile up front.
The CRZ looks the business and is priced well (for the UK), but looking at the stats it appears less hybrid and more conventional petrol car. I mean 117g/km is shocking for a hybrid, but not too bad for a petrol car I guess. My gf's Civic gets 137g/km out of a 1400cc petrol, whereas the Prius gets 89g/km and good diesels such as the 170bhp VW Golf GTd get 134g/km. More economical ones get even less. Also, the CRZ's seems a little weedy on the power - 112bhp, including the assistance of a 14bhp motor!! 0-60 in 10 seconds. It does look a sporty car, but I know of another hybrid that does 0-60 in 10 seconds and has 138bhp and still looks sporty - my Prius. Quite a few people have asked if the Prius was an Alfa Romeo because of its stylish looks and were quite surprised when I said it was a Toyota. I do like hybrids whoever makes them, but I hope they don't start to get bad press now that Honda are watering them down. Missed opportunity here Honda - again
Not if they price it 10k$ below the price of the G3 Prius. Which is possible, as this car is a smaller, 2-door scaled down Insight.
The UK fuel economy translates to 46 mpg combined (US). If my driving was mostly highway and the car was at least US $1500 less than a Prius I would consider it. However -- and this is the real achille's heel of Honda hybrids due to gearing choices -- don't even think about this car if you travel over 65 mph on the highways and care about fuel economy.
I'm really digging it. Looks very nice and gets similar MPG as the Prius. My only complain is the passenger vents, looks odd but who cares...overall this car looks awesome. Also like the full-off trac control. Would I buy it over my Prius? Not yet, would have to drive it...
Not even close... 46.3 mpg - Urban CR-Z 72.4 mpg - Urban PRIUS 64.2 mpg - Extra Urban CR-Z 76.4 mpg - Extra Urban PRIUS 56.5 mpg - Combined CR-Z 72.4 mpg - Combined PRIUS .
But they haven't. It is priced at £17,000 whereas the Prius here is now £19,500. A difference of £2,500 or $3,800 Canadian or $3,700US. It's still not a bad car for £17k, though the Insight is slightly cheaper at £16,325. It does look nice though.
I don't know where these mpg numbers are coming from, but the CRZ will get less gas mileage than the Insight, based on the road tests and mileage predictions I've seen. It's more powerful than the Insight, and will use more gas. The Insight gets about 10% less gas mileage than the Prius II. I know that because we own both.
The figures quoted are for the UK market where our gallon is slightly larger than your US gallon (4.5 litres to 3.8) and also the fuel economy test is different too. Your US test reflects real life driving whereas ours is more along the lines of the best you would probably ever achieve. I guess if you compare like for like mpg figures you get a good idea.
