Get the Honda's new CR-Z hybrid for less than $20,000

Jun 28, 2010 By Melissa Hincha-Ownby
Get the Honda's new CR-Z hybrid for less than $20,000 Enlarge

The super sporty Honda CR-Z hybrid, which will debut at Honda dealerships across the nation on Aug. 24, comes with a price tag less than $20,000. The two-door coupe comes with an MSRP of $19,200 plus a $750 destination and handling charge, bringing the starting price to just under $20,000.

The vehicle's lines are reminiscent of the Honda Civic CRX, a car popular with teens and young adults in the 1990s. Honda is likely targeting this same audience with the "not your mom's hybrid" design of the CR-Z. The CR-Z is a two-passenger coupe that comes with a six-speed manual transmission. The availability of a manual transmission not only speaks to the younger, sportier driver but it is also a first for any mass-produced .

The CR-Z will be available in two models _ the base model as well as the CR-Z EX. Unlike many base models available on the market today, the entry level CR-Z comes well-equipped with an AM/FM/CD/USB sound system, automatic climate control, remote entry, cruise control, and power windows and locks. The CR-Z EX features an enhanced audio system and Honda's Satellite-Linked with Voice Recognition.

Although the CR-Z is a 4-cylinder hybrid, the EPA estimates aren't anything to write home about. The six-speed manual version has a 31-mpg city rating, a 37-mpg highway rating and a combined fuel efficiency of only 34 mpg. The automatic transmission provides a little more fuel efficiency with ratings of 35/39/37 respectively.

For more information about the availability of a 2011 Honda CR-Z, contact your local dealership.

Explore further: Radiation leak at Japan lab; small impact expected

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(c) 2010, Mother Nature Network.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

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User comments : 19

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Leathersoup
4.2 / 5 (6) Jun 28, 2010
So... a hybrid that just barely gets better fuel economy than a standard gasoline vehicle with less performance. And when winter comes it will have much worse fuel economy due to cold batteries... I don't think so.
jtdrexel
3 / 5 (5) Jun 28, 2010
31/37mpg is not classified as "barely better fuel economy than a standard gasoline vehicle". But you're entitled to your right to blab.
Sonhouse
4.5 / 5 (4) Jun 28, 2010
31/37mpg is not classified as "barely better fuel economy than a standard gasoline vehicle". But you're entitled to your right to blab.


What is your problem with that statement? The article says it is nothing to write home about. One can only assume they are talking about gasoline only powered cars and even worse performance if talking about comparisons to other hybrids.

I have a friend in Boston who has an elderly Honda Civic small diesel and it regularly gets 55 mpg.
So it sounds like they are not doing ANYTHING special with this new car.
Leathersoup
5 / 5 (2) Jun 28, 2010
The standard Honda Civic with it's 140hp engine gets 25mpg in the city and 36mpg hwy. So... yeah it's not that much better.
trekgeek1
5 / 5 (3) Jun 28, 2010
That is pretty pathetic performance for a hybrid system. The savings in fuel will barely offset the maintenance of the more complicated systems. You're better off buying a TDI from Volkswagen.
gunslingor1
3.7 / 5 (3) Jun 28, 2010
Everytime they actually design a car that is beautiful and that people will drive, they make it inefficeint (case in point). Everytime they release a car that is efficient, they make sure it's ugly and that it won't be bought. The EV-1 is a good example, though with the ugliness, people still wanted it. Of course, GM confiscated all vehicals as soon as they caught on.

This is intentional. 37 mpg is absolutely pathetic for a hybrid. Pure gas engines have been designed to get 60 mpg without hybrid technology and without any loss of performance; so much energy is intentionally waisted in the cars we drive, kickbacks from oil companies no doubt. 300 mpg cars have been achieved, but permance is obviously affectect.

I started reading this, thinking, FINALLY a hybrid I would drive. Then the fuel efficiency, and I'm done.

I'll just build my own in a couple years, These guys have no intent to implement current technologies to save our planet and prevent most cancer.

slaveunit
5 / 5 (2) Jun 28, 2010
Gotta agree with the general tone of the comments this 'hybrid' is a waste of time. all this will do is give the press a field day allowing them to say that hybrids as a concept dont work arent any better and shouldnt be aimed for. the reality is that a series hybrid plug in with enough charge to cover the average commute would allow most people to stop using gas most of the time. The ICE would allow longer trips to be done when necessary and with powerful electric motors would have excellent performance. Another good opportunity lost.
fixer
not rated yet Jun 28, 2010
I don't think the EV1 was ugly, it had personality!
It's certain that GM still have the blueprints and are quite capable of putting it back into production but they have chosen not to!
So v ote with your wallet, go with the competition.
Shootist
not rated yet Jun 28, 2010
It gets the same fuel mileage the Civic (CRX) got back in the late 80's.

See what happens when Unicorn farts and Fairie dust are used alongside well understood technology?
ormondotvos
not rated yet Jun 29, 2010
1981 Rabbit Diesel 55 mpg. I'm totally unimpressed. 2000 Echo 1.5 liter easily 40 mpg measured highway, 35 city.
plasticpower
not rated yet Jun 29, 2010
1.7 liter 2003 honda LX gets about 35 highway. Yeah, it's only 106 hp but seriously? Any 92-02 Saturn S-series gets about 32-34 mpg with a 124 hp engine, and with how light those cars are, they're actually very fun to drive. This hybrid is cool looking, and I hope it has more than just looks going for it, because it doesn't have impressive mpg.

Also, for the record, I had a Saturn that I turbocharged and it produced 268 wheel hp, and as long as I didn't drive "in boost" it would still get around 28-30 mpg. With plenty of power on tap to use when needed, especially in a 2400 lbs cheap plastic car.
gunslingor1
not rated yet Jun 29, 2010
I am really so glad to see so many people agree, they could have done better if the desire was there and it's not.

"all this will do is give the press a field day allowing them to say that hybrids as a concept dont work arent any better and shouldnt be aimed for."
-THANK YOU slaveunit, your a man after my own heart

"I don't think the EV1 was ugly, it had personality! "
-well, it was decisign to fail, and I do think it was ugly... each to there own. I don't think environmentalist care about the cars decisign as much as they do the fuel. I love quality things, but... the planet is more important.
po6ert
not rated yet Jun 29, 2010
Having owned an 87 crx with a five speed with 200,000 miles on it something is wrong here. I got 35 city and 42 hyway
and could exceed 100 mph. have the ticket to prove it!

I suspect that the weight of the car will be the answer. I didn't have to haul batteries and associated equipment around

hybrid is just a marketing ploy. under 55 mph weight is the determining factor in gas mileage
david_42
not rated yet Jul 03, 2010
2011 VW Polo 74 mpg $15,000.
Chef
not rated yet Jul 04, 2010
My '01 Civic EX gets 32mpg city/ 38mpg hwy, so what was the purpose of the "hybrid" part?
TJ_alberta
not rated yet Jul 04, 2010
My 95 Toyota Avalon repeatedly gets 34 MPG on the highway with with a nice big engine.
HoboWhisperer
not rated yet Jul 04, 2010
"The availability of a manual transmission not only speaks to the younger, sportier driver but it is also a first for any mass-produced hybrid vehicle."

So what about the pre-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid? That was certainly a mass produced vehicle, and it was available with a manual transmission. Also, the Honda Insight (2 seater) came in manual and CVT.
PoppaJ
not rated yet Jul 04, 2010
This car is such a waste. But that's OK. Just wait till you see what the American manufactures have up there sleeves.
gunslingor1
not rated yet Jul 06, 2010
My '01 Civic EX gets 32mpg city/ 38mpg hwy, so what was the purpose of the "hybrid" part?


Exactly, it's a BS toy so they can pretend to be increaing efficiency. All about appeareances in this society. Sure, I have a hybrid, no worries it is less efficient than an equivalent gas only model, sowhat, its a hybrid! People aren't this stupid, they see right through this. Any less 60 mpg is an insult to humanity, you yes, you could still make a sports car with this efficiency and would probably beat the gas counterparts in any competion anyway.

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