Honda CR-Z: hybrid rockstar adds more spunk

THE BLAZING summer yellow CR-Z is a head-turner.

Photos by Tessa R. Salazar

It’s the world’s first compact coupe to incorporate a hybrid power train. It’s the first car to attempt to combine the classical driving thrills of a responsive sports car with the modern notion of environmental motoring responsibility. Car expert Tony Lewin wrote that in this quest, the CR-Z has a powerful emotional ally in Honda’s back catalogue: the diminutive but potent CR-X coupe of the 1980s, a model whose high, glassy tail and low nose the CR-Z consciously emulates.

The blazing summer yellow of the three-door hatchback 2016 CR-Z test unit this author drove is by itself a head-turner, let alone the futuristic exterior design, which has added spunk via the new 17″ alloy wheels, a wide track, sporty front and rear bumpers, standard side sill, and Projector HID Headlights with LED daytime running lights (DRL). The illusion of a “tomorrowland” driving experience continues in the interior, with the use of piano black and brushed metal finish, orange accents and stitching, a Push/Start system, and 7″ touch screen display audio with navigation.

Oh, but that illusion is somewhat real when it comes to the powerplant. The Sport Hybrid Coupe CR-Z’s main power source is a 1.5-liter i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine with an integrated compact and lightweight electric motor: Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) Hybrid System.

For several days, I tried the three different drive modes— Normal, Sport and ECON mode—and thoroughly enjoyed the throttle response as well as enjoyed the challenge of fuel efficiency in my own driving style.

NEW 17-INCH alloy wheels, sporty front and rear bumpers, standard side sill, and projector HID headlights

For the highway run, my best fuel efficiency range was 19.5-33.5 km per liter. As expected, traffic jams resulted in a mileage of just 9.9 km/liter.

The ECON mode is already satisfyingly responsive. If you’re planning to test drive one, don’t forget to try the Plus Sport System (S+ Button). Pressing the S+ button enhances overall response and driving feel for a more fun experience. And yes, the instrument cluster backlight changes to an aggressive red in sport mode.

New vs old

The 2016 CR-Z does sport some notable differences from the previous model. Some of these are:

The added 10mm to the Rear Wheel Track, for improved stability, especially when tackling corners

The Active Noise Control (ANC) and the Active Sound Control (ASC), which aims to enrich auditory sensation by muffling unwanted sounds during Normal and Econ modes and supplementing the sound throttle sound in Sport Mode.

THE CR-Z may well be a glimpse of our motoring future.

LED Daytime Running Lights

New Design 17″ Alloy Wheels

Touchscreen Display Audio with Navigation

Smart Entry with Push Start System

Electric Parking Brake (EPB)

Multi-View Reverse Camera

The 2016 CR-Z’s engine and transmission is the same as the 2013 – 2015 model.

Verdict: Without much fanfare accompanying it, the CR-Z may well be a glimpse of our motoring future. It looks handsome, is aggressively styled, yet gentle to the earth, in many ways. Note the cruelty-free Michelin tires (which, by some reliable reports, has no animal ingredients). There’s a touch of animal leather in the interior, though. I wish that an environment-friendly car such as this could totally remove animal ingredients—for the environment and for animal compassion. There are more durable and better alternatives to leather that forego the need to slaughter animals for their skin.

ZIPPY little thing

However, as we have reiterated in previous articles about hybrids and electric vehicles, the future remains an unreachable future if legislation supporting tax breaks and other incentives are not passed. Imagine how much of the P1.440-million (for the 6-speed MT) or of P1.530-million (for the CVT with paddle shifters variant) could be slashed if only the government (attention: Digong administration, make this a priority) gave tax breaks to Honda Cars Philippines Inc, or to other car manufacturers who have continued to bravely offer hybrids despite poor sales (precisely because of the steep price tags).

But if you can afford the CR-Z, we’re not dissuading you from buying this zippy little thing. At least you’ve already got one foot in in an ideal world.