Dan Trent of The London Times
It’s a hybrid, but not as we know it. This is Honda’s attempt to snatch the momentum away from a winded Toyota and make hybrids cool. The Toyota Prius, or Pious, was designed to be driven slowly with a Fairtrade jumper. Honda’s new CR-Z is aimed at the busy, smartphone generation who are also smart enough to beat the London congestion charge. Unlike other hybrids to date, you’ll want this one because it’s cool.
A low-slung coupé, complete with laughable claims at 2+2 accommodation, it’s a refreshingly distinctive design. The double-decker split rear window doesn’t do much for rear visibility but harks back to the much-loved Honda CRX of the late 1980s, not to mention the original Insight hybrid of a decade ago — the first production hybrid sold in Europe. It feels genuinely sporty inside, with a low driving position and controls that include nifty dials in a sharp-looking instrument panel. And unlike other Honda hybrids, the CR-Z comes only with a manual gearbox in Europe — a sign this green machine is aimed at those who enjoy their driving. And the engine? Honda’s IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) system is much simpler than that of the Prius and works more like a turbo or supercharger, where the electric motor boosts the 1.5-litre petrol engine, giving a combined power output of 122bhp.
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