Honda CR-Z (2011) long-term test review

Honda CR-Z hello – 8 July 2011

Much excitement at the Honda’s arrival – almost enough to compensate for the sad loss of the Infiniti. Initial impressions are very good indeed. I love this car’s strikingly modern style. It looks just the way a very sophisticated 21st century hybrid vehicle should – sharky, edgy and engagingly proportioned.
I’m glad I went for the Premium White Pearl paintwork. It complements the car’s silver detailing and gunmetal grey Electra alloys beautifully, imbuing the car with a clean, monochromatic look.
There’s nothing special about the cabin plastics, but the busy instrumentation binnacle flanked by pods for the climate and audio controls, as well as the engine’s Econ, Sport and Norm settings, is perfectly in keeping with the car’s high-tech nature. The horribly antiquated and aftermarket-looking audio and sat-nav system is not. In typical Honda style, the whole structure feels incredibly well put together.
The rear seats are a joke – it’s a pity there’s no option to turn the useless back pew into a locker – but the passenger compartment feels spacious and airy, helped by the fixed glass sunroof. The front seats look more comfortable than they are because the base cannot be tilt adjusted, which means there’s not insufficient under-thigh support. Sounds trivial but longer trips result in aching legs.
My first exercise? To brim the tank and drive in save-the-world Eco mode to see what sort of economy I get. And then I’ll tank again and run it in full Sport mode. The results, along with initial driving impressions, will be posted next week.