This is Honda’s latest offering in the CR series that captured motoring enthusiasts attention, beginning in the late 1980’s, with the now legendary CR-X. But, make no mistake, this is a totally new animal, and for the price, I don’t want a car that ‘sparkles’, or has a ‘dazzling performance’…. I want something where I run out of courage before I run out of road, yet live to tell the tale! With Honda’s new engine and transmission system, this is definitely the beast. The performance is truly remarkable, given the engine is a diminutive 1497cc, producing 122-brake horsepower at 6,000 revs – which is getting close to the ‘bang’ zone.
The CR-Z comes in either an automatic or a 6-speed manual option. The automatic allows for paddle shifting gear changes, from the steering wheel – which, if you have never experienced it, is pure engineering sorcery! Honda call it the CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). But there’s more…much more…It’s the IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) that’s an electronically managed engine and transmission response that dumps, instant, maximum power, to the drive train. And, after you’ve unleashed it, you’ll appreciate the brown trail behind the car ‘ain’t’ all exhaust system rust! If you have a heart condition, you might want to treat this feature with caution, if not…
Like its predecessors, the CR-Z is diminutive, similar in interior volume to the CR-X. As I remarked to a fellow onlooker at the Pukekohe Honda launch, ‘Well, I suppose you could get two hay bails in the back, but you’d need to cut the mother-in-law’s legs off to stuff her body in the 25 cubic foot trunk’. All joking aside, at 49 cubic feet of passenger volume, this is a serious contender for the ‘ladies’ car market. But this is no shopping trolley…. It’s an impeccably designed, high performance, tourer.
The interior is well thought out with excellent instrument and steering layout and most importantly, within easy reach. LED backlit systems ensure bright, multi-colour displays and won’t cripple the battery. Although the 360-watt stereo system (with seven speakers including sub-woofers) might give it a serious nudge. The seating is excellent, with a full range of positions to suit most, even those with minor mobility problems. Frankly, I find the body styling is somewhat pedestrian, but this has never been Honda’s strength. It’s a high quality, robotic product, but it lacks flair. Still, I have owned four Hondas, from 1986 onwards, because this is the only Japanese company with 50 years of motor racing experience integrated into their vehicles. It’s not about what you can see, it’s the clever bits you can’t see that make the difference… and this can be life saving. This new CR-Z makes most of its competitors look very ordinary indeed. But be warned, they’re not cheap! At around $45,000 for the base model to $49,900 for the very top of the range Mugen model, they’re getting into the upper price range bracket. Yet, given the leading edge technology and sheer performance, packed into this Queen Street powerhouse, you’d have to drive a long way to get a better ride.