2011 Honda CR-Z Overviews

The 2011 Honda CR-Z ,Honda tried to accomplish a lot with the 2011 Honda CR-Z, its new sport-oriented hybrid vehicle. There are many affordable small cars that run on gasoline and offer competitive fuel economy ratings and similar, if not better, performance. It runs on gasoline, but has similar fuel economy ratings if you compare it to theHonda CR-Z with a manual transmission.
The CR-Z is Honda’s new sporty hybrid that is available in two trims, the Honda CR-Z and the CR-Z EX.

A sporty hybrid? At first glance, the 2011 Honda CR-Z might seem a bit oxymoronic. Like the old CRX, the CR-Z is front-drive with two doors and just two seats. Mechanically, though, the CR-Z is related most to Honda's current Insight hybrid, sharing its basic structure and suspension design. Under the hood is Honda's familiar Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) mild-hybrid system. The two-seat 2011 Honda CR-Z comes in three trim levels: base, EX and EX with navigation. All CR-Zs come with a three-mode drive selector consisting of Sport, Normal or Econ. Each adjusts parameters for throttle sensitivity, steering assist, transmission programming (CVT), additional IMA assist (manual transmission) and air-conditioning usage.

Official EPA fuel economy numbers haven't been released as of this writing but Honda estimates that the Honda CR-Z will get 31 mpg city/37 mpg highway and 34 mpg combined with the manual and 35/39/37 mpg with the CVT.
While the 2011 Honda CR-Z sold in other worldwide markets will come with a small backseat, Honda chose to equip the American version with a flip-down rear parcel shelf instead.

Sport provides a feel reminiscent of a classic, free-revving Honda performance car, while Econ transforms the Honda CR-Z into a lethargic, deathly slow fuel-sipper.
As the spiritual successor to the wedge-shaped CRX, produced from 1984 to '91, the two-door, two-seat Honda CR-Z joins the five-seat Insight and Civic hybrids in Honda's semi-electric lineup. The CR-Z's higher trim level, the EX, adds features like Bluetooth, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, aluminum shift knob (manual), aluminum pedals, additional interior accents and a more powerful stereo with a subwoofer. I drove EX Navi versions, both manual and automatic.
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The front/rear weight distribution is 59/41 with the manual transmission and 60/40 with the CVT, which is the norm for a front-wheel-drive car. A high point is the CR-Z's precise, well-weighted steering from what Honda notes is the company's smallest steering wheel. The handling is definitely sporty, but the Honda CR-Z didn't beg to be driven hard. I'm no power junkie. What many car reviewers call underpowered, I call modestly powered. The CHonda CR-Z is meant to be a sporty, fun car. Sporty cars typically are less efficient than normal ones, and a sporty hybrid can be expected to be less efficient than a normal hybrid. The Honda CR-Z is, as shown below.