2011 Honda CR-Z consumer reviews

I just test drove the new Honda CR-Z and think it's the biggest waste of money I have ever seen. The CR-Z is niether a good sports car or a good hybrid. The CR-Z's 40mpg leaves much to be desired since even Civics and Corollas can get on average about 35mpg without hybrid technology. The performance isn't even worth mentioning since this car is practically the slowest thing on the road with 0-60 times somewhere over 10 sec. These numbers are atrocious considering that this car is only a two seater. Looks like Honda's CR-Z will be the latest failure since the Del Sol. If Honda were to put a 200hp engine that gets 25-30mpg, then the CR-Z has the potential to be a hot seller. Now it's just a car that doesn't do anything well.

Coming from a MINI Cooper this car had big shoes to fill (so to speak). My MINI simply spent too much time at the shop so I wanted to return to Honda's reliability. The CR-Z is far better for my needs. It is so much more comfortable to drive (even though lumbar support could be better). The seating position, road composure and steering are so smooth for such a small car, and it feels effortless to drive. The MINI was taut and precise, but tiring for long drives. The CR-Z handling still manages to be quite good but perhaps not as good as the MINI. But I do not care at all. The trade off is well worth it. Dash controlls are well placed (unlike the MINI), the interior is very nice looking (unlike the playful but gaudy MINI), and performance is similar to the base MINI while getting slightly better fuel economy (car is barely broken in). The blind spots are big and side mirror use required. Missing features: a locking fuel cap (in the US version), and an inability to adjust speed with cruise control buttons when engadged. I wanted a fuel-efficient car that was fun to drive and looked good. Honda has come through for me like no other car company.

I really love to just cruise around in my CRZ. It's acceleration is great even if you can't get the same results from a pure sports car. The CRZ is a hybrid so I honestly don't expect to go from 0-60 in like four seconds and besides, I'm not a power hungry type person. I just don't see a need to go 95+. I can also get around 40 mpg. It's very comfortable to be in and to drive. Like I said before, acceleration is just too fun for me and the handling is spot on. I absolutely love the way the exterior and interior designs look. Just the other day when I was in a parking lot, a random person just started to compliment the cars design and it's nice size.

Alright, from the reviews written on this car in this forum so far, it is obvious that some folks "just don't get it". Back in 1979 I bought the worst car I've ever owned............a 1979 CHEVY CHEVETTE. I recall that GM was having serious problems with the UAW in years leading up to that time, so I don't know if the Union that was causing quality problems to get back at management, or if it is the fact that no one in the UAW cared about putting out a quality product, or an honest day's work or WHAT? Anyway, that red Chevette was a real piece of you know what of a car. 4 cylinders and a 4 speed transmission and it was seriously underpowered. Really it didn't seem to have much more power that the Golf (non-turbo) Diesel I bought some years later. The best gas mileage I could get with this underwhelming car was about 19-20. The Chevette had hard plastic everywhere inside, parts fell off while driving down the road, it rode terribly, and lost over half its value in two years. The seats were vinyl; hot and sweaty in the summer, cold in the winter. The valve cover started leaking at less than 20,000 miles, so the engine compartment looked TERRIBLE. A window crank stripped its axle. UGH! Enter the Honda CR-X in 1984. This car was so superior to the Chevette that I previously owned that there was just no comparison. All the switches worked precisely and positively for the life of the car. The car handled and drove with a taut road gripping feel. The 5 speed shifter always worked flawlessly, like a hot knife through butter. Never ground gears while shifting (unlike the Chevette). The engine never leaked oil or coolant, plus it got almost DOUBLE the MPG of the Chevette. When I sold the CR-X, I got almost 90% of the price I paid for it. It was one of the most satisfying cars I ever owned (especially compared with the Chevette). When I found out about a year and a half ago that Honda was going to produce a similar car to the original CR-X, make it a Hybrid, and call it the CR-Z, I could not WAIT to buy one. I put a $500 deposit down at my local dealer 6 months before the car was released. I got the first one delivered to the Indianapolis, IN area. So far, the new CR-Z has lived up to my expectations. It's a wonderful car, and like a beautiful woman, gets nothing but positive comments. Not only that, I've averaged over 40 MPG overall so far. The young hot rods who are not happy with Honda not giving them an 11 second 1/4 mile tire burner do not understand that is NOT what Honda set out to do. I live near the Indy 500 Mile Race Track and without exception, EVERY competitive car that seeks to qualify at the Indy 500 has a HONDA engine. Don't you think Honda could produce a Corvette beater if they wanted to?? -Of course they could (but you guys writing the comments couldn't afford to buy it). Honda realizes that in a worldwide recession and a shrinking middle class people want style, comfort, and MPG at a reasonable price. I sold my S-2000 to buy my CR-Z. I enjoy the "Z" just as much or more than I did the S-2000. There is so much traffic on the road anymore that you cannot fully exploit an S-2000's capability anyway. So get a CR-Z, look cool, have fun, save $$$ and the planet! usmcdad

I purchased this car about a month ago and prior to this all I owned were SUV's and economy sports cars (eclipse). I first thought that since I'm a fairly big guy that it would be like getting into a clown car but I was amazed! Not only did I fit, but I was comfortable too! The sports mode really hauls (for a hybrid) but I'm happy driving in econo mode 98% of the time because there isn't a huge need for anything more when driving in town. I'm getting about 38 mpg in town and 42-45 on the hwy. I plowed over the Grapevine on the I-5 with a fairly steep grade and had no issues keeping speed or needing to leave the economy mode (except to have a little fun passing the corvette). The handling is awesome! Down sides: It has lots of bells and whistles, but the NAVI system could be much better. I would have liked a labeling option for stuff on the map. I have to hover with the little joystick to find out which deli the symbol represents. For some reason Honda thinks $185.00 for the annual map update is a good price. I'm thinking that the updates should come with the NAVI system if for nothing else than to keep you coming back. Plus despite having the DVD player in the car they disabled it's ability to play movies. It would have been a nice function even if it was only enabled while in Park. The only other gripe I have is that the split windshield in the back hatch is a bit hard to see through.

I own a 1985 CRX in mint condition and was thinking of trading it in for the CRZ. NOT HAPPENING! When I drove this car, I was shocked. Not only is the CRZ slower than my 25 year old CRX, it only gets about 2-3 mpg more than my CRX. The rear window is so flat that it doubles as a sunroof for the cargo area. For a 2 door 2 seater, this car has the worst visability of any car I have ever seen. The CRZ looks like a miniature of the Insight. Why didn't the engineers at Honda put the Civic SI engine into this car? Then, maybe this would be a halfway decent automobile. Right now, the CRZ is a mediocre hybrid with the acceleration of a Smart Car. There's absolutely nothing sporty about this car.

In addition to all the amenities on the vehicle, the dealer didn't mention the cooler in the glove box! you would never know it unless you read the owner's manual. You can open up a vent in the glove box which diverts ac to cool off cans and water bottles. Deactivates when heater is used...sorry no heating up the pizza!

I've owned a lot of Hondas (Accord, CRV, Odyssey and Civic) and this one is my favorite! Drives like a dream and has good pickup even in ECON mode (it's a Hybrid that you can also drive in REG and SPORT mode)

First, Honda ruined the original CRX by introducing the Del Sol, now they messed it up again by making the CRZ. It looks pretty good from the outside, but making it into a hybrid has made it a true DOG of a car. Come on, 122 hp and an electric motor with 13 hp will probably outperform a Smart Car or Honda Fit, but not much else. To top it off, this cars a two seater which should make insuring the CRZ even more expensive. I'm totally unimpressed

50MPG???? I HAVE ONE AND DRIVE IT LIKE A BABY. THE BEST I CAN DO IS 36 MPG....FOR A 2 SEATER HYBRID? THOSE HEAVY BATTERIES SEEM TO BE COSTING THE MPG DEARLY. TAKE THOSE OUT AND YOU MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING. IN TOWN WITH THE ASSISTANT OF THE ELECTRIC MOTOR, I REGULARLY SEE 20 MPG WHILE S L O W L Y ACCELERATING. MY OLD 1990 CRX DID WAY, WAY BETTER. SO HOW CAN IT BE THAT IN 2010 WE ARE SEEING LESS MPG? I GOT 35/45 MPG ALL DAY LONG IN 1990. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT I JUST PAID $3000 TO HAVE THE WORD HYBRID STUCK ON THE BACK OF THIS CAR. I WOULD GUESS THAT THE EXTRA (BATTERY) WEIGHT THAT I AM LUGGING AROUND IS COSTING ME MORE IN MPG THAN IT IS ACTUALLY WORTH! DON'T BUY IT UNLESS YOU'RE OK PAYING $3K FOR THE WORD 'HYBRID".