Test drove the Honda CR-Z CVT (automatic) today. What a fantastic car. The route was freeway and surface streets so the experience was balanced.
It doesn't feel like a Hybrid, is super comfortable, hugs the turns better than many cars at way higher price points, and is really good-looking.
The techy dash is tasteful and easy to read. The interior is well designed and the seats are amazingly comfortable. The zero rear seat factor is a drawback, totally eliminating any chance of carrying more than two passengers and it could bump insurance rates. However, the rear divider folds flush creating quite a bit of room for gear, dogs, and should hold plenty of bags of, um, groceries. The only other drawback is the poor rear visability which is to be expected from a two-seater.
The exterior design is stylish. Great swoop of the rear shoulder, subtly agressive snout, and nice rear-end. It is distinctive without shouting.
The difference between the base and the EX is not enough to justify the additional cost in my opinion. The EX has Bluetooth, fog lights, upgraded sound system, and xenon headlights to name a few. But, the base is so well equipped that the EX may be a bit of an overkill. That's a personal preference.
The driving experience is surprising. First, hybrids are boring. Well, all other hybrids are boring. Honda hit the ball out of the park with the CR-Z. The car has three driving styles, ECON, Normal, and Sport. Pretty obvious as to their drive quality, but darn impressive with execution. Entered the freeway in Sport mode and proceeded to climb up the rear-end of the truck ahead. Oops, point taken, and we'll save that little mode for the back roads. Way too much fun. Normal, is well, normal and perfect for everyday use. ECON gives the most bang for your buck, not boring, just efficient.
An impressive challenge to the Hybid world and at a price point that screams great deal. The test model we drove was $20,900 USD.
Pros:
Acts like a gas car
Comfortable seats
Great handling
Good value
Cons:
True two-seater
Poor rear visability
Photo attached:
http://www.hybridcarblog.com/uploaded_images/2011_honda_cr-z_sporty_hybrid-704909.jpg
