2014 cr z review

InHonda Cars Philippines had a model lineup that could only be described as lackluster.

The Honda CR-Z is the lowest-selling car across the Japanese maker's lineup, and it's never really found its niche. It may be the only hybrid car in the world that's a two-seat hatchback small enough to rate the designation of subcompact. Regrettably, the little CR-Z is neither quick nor lithe enough to be sporty, but neither are its fuel economy numbers remarkable. In fact, they pale against those of many other, larger four- and five-seat cars. Originally, the CR-Z was intended to marry the rollerskate character and handling agility of the much-loved Honda CRX to a modern, fuel-efficient hybrid powertrain--the same one used in the Honda Insight five-door hybrid hatchback, which was expected to sell in much higher volumes than it has. But both cars are let down by their mild hybrid systems, and the CR-Z in particular ends up as neither fish nor fowl. By today's standards, it's a tiny car for just two people, with almost no cargo space.

2014 cr z review

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Last year's CR-Z got a slightly updated nose and tail, including blue tinted headlamps and tail lamps. Moreover, the CR-Z's mild hybrid system doesn't offer the allure of all-electric running, unlike any of those Prius models. Originally, the CR-Z was intended to marry the rollerskate character 2014 cr z review handling agility of the much-loved Honda CRX to a modern, fuel-efficient hybrid powertrain--the same one used in the Honda Insight five-door hybrid hatchback, which was expected to sell in much higher volumes than it has.

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The Honda CR-Z is the lowest-selling car across the Japanese maker's lineup, and it's never really found its niche. It may be the only hybrid car in the world that's a two-seat hatchback small enough to rate the designation of subcompact. Regrettably, the little CR-Z is neither quick nor lithe enough to be sporty, but neither are its fuel economy numbers remarkable. In fact, they pale against those of many other, larger four- and five-seat cars. Originally, the CR-Z was intended to marry the rollerskate character and handling agility of the much-loved Honda CRX to a modern, fuel-efficient hybrid powertrain--the same one used in the Honda Insight five-door hybrid hatchback, which was expected to sell in much higher volumes than it has. But both cars are let down by their mild hybrid systems, and the CR-Z in particular ends up as neither fish nor fowl. By today's standards, it's a tiny car for just two people, with almost no cargo space. But its gas mileage--rated by the EPA at 37 mpg combined for the more fuel-efficient model--isn't all that good. In fact, it's walloped by the mpg combined rating of the larger, more capacious Toyota Prius. The CR-Z's engine is a 1.

2014 cr z review

Michael Harley. Autoblog accepts vehicle loans from auto manufacturers with a tank of gas and sometimes insurance for the purpose of evaluation and editorial content. Like most of the auto news industry, we also sometimes accept travel, lodging and event access for vehicle drive and news coverage opportunities. Our opinions and criticism remain our own — we do not accept sponsored editorial. Curb Weight. Base Price. As Tested Price. View All Specs. While the company has been racing with HPD parts for years, this is the first time the automaker has offered them for its street-legal vehicles, and it has chosen this year's SEMA Show in Las Vegas to be the launch venue. The complete transformation gives the normally placid hybrid hatchback a serious shot of adrenaline thanks to a bolt-on supercharger combined with suspension, tire, brake and exhaust upgrades.

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That's not the case with the CR-Z. Awards Best Car to Buy ». The version with a continuously variable transmission CVT also has paddle shifters that provide simulated "upshifts" and "downshifts" to wring more power out of the high-revving engine. See Also. It keeps the brakes engaged on manual-transmission cars when they are stopped on a slope. The CR-Z's engine is a 1. Add to that the thick fender haunches and the squat look, and the CR-Z looks every bit the sports car that Honda wanted it to be. Nor is the fun, sporty coupe that its CRX antecedent was. It slows the CR-Z's acceleration and lets the car rapidly lose momentum on hills, which is somewhere between disconcerting and unsafe. Gauges that switch among blue normal , green efficient driving , and red Sport mode light up the interior. The battery energy instead turns the electric motor to supplement engine torque, and restart the engine when the car prepares to move away from a stop. The Honda CR-Z is all but unchanged in its fourth year. The CR-Z's challenge is that there are sportier cars out there, but there are also more fuel-efficient models.

The CR-Z is a sporty-looking, two-seat hybrid with nimble handling, but is not very sporty otherwise.

Submit Vote. But two of our test drivers suffered back-aches within 90 minutes in the seats. Awards Best Car to Buy ». We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on Topgear. The seating position is low, the wheelbase is short, and at least it has more power than the Insight five-door hatchback whose running gear it shares. The CR-Z has decent feedback from the electric power steering, but you'll find its ride firm at best, and downright harsh and thumpy on rougher roads. Buying tip The Honda CR-Z's factory navigation system is one of the few that includes not only Bluetooth audio streaming but also voice controls in a car this small. The battery energy instead turns the electric motor to supplement engine torque, and restart the engine when the car prepares to move away from a stop. They're under a flip-down panel that resembles nothing so much as an Igloo Cooler cover. The interior is simple and well-organized, with all controls facing the driver. So you've given up two seats and most of your luggage volume for a car that doesn't really deliver on its sporty appearance. I understand that I can unsubscribe at any time. The passenger has to keep his left leg clear of the manual transmission shift lever, otherwise the driver ends up whacking it into his knee. We did, however, appreciate the hill assist feature.