The spectacular All-New 2011 Honda CR-Z Sport Hybrid Coupe was great fun to drive on the 110-mile smooth curves of The Sunshine Coast Highway in British Columbia.
I felt one with the road in Honda's latest hybrid, a two-passenger sports coupe developed as a stylish, driver-focused vehicle.
It was quick with sporty handling.
A first-of-its-kind in the gasoline-electric hybrid segment.
Wow!
Building on the successful technology of the Honda Insight Hybrid, which I thoroughly enjoyed driving last year, the Honda CR-Z went further.
Where the Honda Insight felt sturdy and peppy, the Honda CR-Z felt like a grip-the-road, love those turns, sexy two-seater sports car with plenty of trunk room for a long road trip.
So let's start this baby's engine...
Vraaammm...
and experience the thrill of the open road.
To begin, I sat in the Honda CR-Z Sport Coupe sturdy driver's seat, which was low to the ground compared to my Lexus, but adjustable and comfortable for my back.
I turned the key in the ignition and watched a modern dashboard dazzle with its neon blue and green lights.
To the left of the steering wheel was a new, exclusive 3-mode drive system to configure the vehicle's responsiveness for Sport, Normal or Eco (Economy) driving modes. To the right was the dashboard's GPS and audio systems.
On each side of the car were well-designed rear-view mirrors. I adjusted the mirrors to make sure I could see well behind me. This was particularly important in the Honda CR-Z because due to its design there was a blind spot when I turned my head.
The rear-view mirrors compensated for this blind spot, allowing me to see well behind, but I had to force a new habit relying on the mirrors more than turning my head.
Let's look at what makes this splendid driving machine unique.
Sports Mode
Sports mode gave me exciting power, and boy was that fun.
I reserved Sports mode for the long windy road that was The Sunshine Coast Highway.
I took corners like a sports car driver, forgetting I was in a hybrid, utilizing new technologies.
The CR-Z had speed and agility.
The ride was smooth.
I was a free spirit, shifting up and down, zipping around the bends, cruising long stretches---queen of the road.
I passed blue waters, Douglas fir trees, and wildflowers that hugged the Pacific Northwest highway.
Hardly any other cars were on the road, which was the best way to go...go...go!
The all-new Honda CR-Z Hybrid let me zoom!
I'd picked up the Honda in Seattle and drove a long not-too-interesting highway to Vancouver. So for this portion of trip, I drove between Normal and Eco modes. I didn't find a huge difference between the two, though Normal felt a bit more peppy than Eco.
It was when I arrived to the smooth curved open 110 mile Sunshine Coast Highway--a dream highway, especially for one coming from congested Southern California--that I turned on Sports mode.
Immediately, I felt the power surge, making this sports coupe the most fun hybrid I have ever had the pleasure to drive.
Honda's Eco ScoringI made use of Honda's Eco Scoring and Eco Assist to help gauge how efficiently I was driving. Just knowing this system was in place encouraged me to drive in Eco mode and see how efficiently I spent fuel. The system allows one to compare economy achievements to previous trips as well as the life of the vehicle.
Gas MileagePut away your wallet. Okay, not completely but it's likely you'll save with this hybrid. It's up to you and how you choose to drive from Eco to Sports mode.
Its estimated to get 31 city and 37 highway but the range goes from 25-37 city mpg and 30-44 highway mpg depending on how you drive and maintain the car.
I believe I got around 42 mpg based on my Normal and Eco driving mode choices for two-thirds of the trip. I used about $35 dollars worth of gas driving from Seattle to the Upper Sunshine Coast--325 miles--and while I'd love to tell you my exact mileage, I filled up before taking a chance on running out of gas, as I was headed to a remote area where I wasn't familiar with gas stations.
Under the hood
Under the hood, Honda has a 1.5-liter i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine that works with Honda's unique, compact and lightweight Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system, which supplies power and efficiency to the CR-Z.
Its sport-focused, six-speed manual transmission was smooth; the first of its kind for any mass-produced hybrid.
The CR-Z has two equipment grades, a well-equipped CR-Z (base) and the feature-rich CR-Z EX.
Standard features on the CR-Z include an AM/FM/CD/USB audio system with six speakers, automatic climate control, power windows and door locks, and cruise control.
The EX is available with the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System with Voice Recognition, which I used getting through Vancouver. The female voice on other end seemed to be with me, getting me through the city's maze.
The CR-Z EX also has a 360-watt AM/FM/CD high-powered audio system with seven speakers, leather-wrapped steering wheel and a hands-free Bluetooth linked navigation system with voice recognition.
Regarding safety, both versions offer a special design to help protect vehicle occupants in a frontal collision. Plus it has standard dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags; standard front-side airbags with a passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System; side-curtain airbags; and a tire pressure monitoring system.
This two seat sports coupe is not for children. In fact it's recommended that children under 12 and or of a certain height refrain from sitting in the car because, in case of an accident, the air bag would be too much for a small body to handle.
Style
After fun and safety, comes style unless you're from Southern California and style comes first.
The all-new Honda CR-Z has style in spades.
It had something looking like a fin on the top of the car. I kind of felt like a shark navigating the tributaries of the great highway.
Men, women, and kids stopped to comment about the Honda CR-Z's futuristic look.
They stopped enroute to Powell River on a B.C. Ferry.
They stopped at parking lots.
Even stop signs.
It seemed like everywhere I stopped, admirers commented on its sleek modern design and asked about my driving experience.
After awhile, I got the idea to snap photos with my iPhone to show you what returning to the car was like.
Driving and parking the Honda CR-Z had the same effect as walking a cute dog.
I made new "friends" that I otherwise would have never met.
The Sunshine Coast averages between 1,400 to 2,400 hours of sunshine per year, and I'd say it was fitting that I test drove the CR-Z here, for the sun certainly shone brightly when Honda technicians crafted this car.
The All-New 2011 Honda CR-Z Sport Hybrid Coupe starts at a reasonable $19,200 and goes to $23, 210 fully loaded.
I loved the Honda CR-Z enough to consider it for my 2011 Chasing Clean Air vehicle of the year.
The 2011 Honda CR-Z Sport Hybrid Coupe is futuristic, sleek and maneuvers like a true sports car. Plus it's environmentally-friendly and fun.
Honda supplied the All-New CR-Z EX Sport Hybrid Coupe for review.
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