Honda CR-Z (2010 – 2015) Review

Honda CR-Z (2010 – 2015) At A Glance

3/5

+Great looking hybrid sports coupe. Fun to drive. Fairly efficient.

-Poor rear visibility through split rear window. Rear seats only suited to small children.

Insurance Groups are between 16–20
On average it achieves 87% of the official MPG figure

The CR-Z’s claim to fame is its hybrid drivetrain - power comes from the combination of a 1.5-litre i-VTEC engine and an electric motor. However, the real highlight isn’t the hybrid system at all, it’s the handling. This is a great car to drive, with nimble, direct steering and next to no body roll. It’s great fun on a twisting country road.

That’s just as well, because the hybrid system doesn't give scintillating performance. Acceleration from 0-62mph takes close to ten seconds – much slower than a similarly priced hot hatch - and official fuel consumption is 56.5mpg for the Sport trim level or 54.3mpg for the GT.

It might not be particularly swift on paper but on the road the CR-Z feels dynamic and exciting, thanks to a brilliant driving position, great dashboard layout and purposeful exhaust note. It’s not all good news. The rear seats are close to pointless, with barely enough room for children, while rearward visibility is poor due to the split tailgate glass.

The boot isn’t what you’d call practical either. It will take a few suitcases or a week’s shopping, but there’s a big load lip and the boot itself is shallow and high up, so heavy items are hard to load. However, this isn't exactly a car designed for a cross-continental escapade.

A starting price of more than £20,000 makes the CR-Z look expensive compared to something like a £17,000 Ford Fiesta ST, which is faster, just as fun and more practical. However, despite all its flaws, the CR-Z is still an intriguing car. It’s well put together, has stand-out styling and is genuinely great to drive. 

Honda CR-Z 2010 Road Test

Real MPG average for a Honda CR-Z (2010 – 2015)

RealMPG

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

87%

Real MPG

36–58 mpg

MPGs submitted

147

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

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Ask Honest John

Should I buy a Toyota Celica?

"I fancy a Toyota Celica as a second car. Probably a T Sport 190 bhp (but not the GT with a big spoiler) 2005ish for approx £5,000 to £7,000. Should I buy with leather, is silver grey or red a good colour? Which model do you advise? I would buy from a garage, not private."
I see the appeal but that's quite a lot of money to spend on a 17-year-old Celica. If you're prepared to pay top money for one, you can be really picky about condition, specification and things like service history (a full history wallet is important if you're considering it as a long-term investment). They're pretty reliable but check oil levels (excessive oil consumption is common) and look out for signs of rust or general neglect. A Honda CR-Z could be an interesting, slightly newer alternative.
Answered by Andrew Brady

What should I look out for when buying a Honda CR-Z?

"My son is considering buying a 2011 Honda CR-Z with 84,000 miles on the clock for just over £5000. Is there anything, in particular, he should look out for? Does it have a cam belt that needs changing, for instance? We have noticed on MoT reports on other CR-Zs that front shock oil seals might be a problem."
A used Honda CR-Z ought to be a very reliable choice. We've had very few issues reported (although, bear in mind that it's quite a rare car): https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/honda/cr-z-2010/good It uses a timing chain rather than a belt so no need to worry about that. Bodywork rattles are apparently common, but that's easily spotted on the test drive. We're not aware of any issues with the front shock oil seals.
Answered by Andrew Brady

Is there a hybrid car that has a petrol engine and is also a manual?

"Is there a hybrid car that has a petrol engine and is also a manual?"
There have been a few manual hybrid cars (like the Honda CR-Z) but the majority of hybrids are automatic.
Answered by Andrew Brady

I think the Honda CR-Z deserves a higher overall rating?

"I think the Honda CR-Z car deserves a higher overall rating on your site."
We don't. It doesn't fulfil its promise of being sporty yet at the same time economical. A MINI Cooper gets the same mpg yet is much more fun to drive.
Answered by Honest John
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