I have had a Honda CR-Z in my care for the better part of a year now. It has proved a trouble-free, exceptional mode of transportation. Getting into the CR-Z after a stint in a Mini Cooper John Cooper Works did, however, leave me wanting for more power. “My” last car had 155 kW, whereas the Honda makes do with 91, so you can begin to understand my dilemma. But, what the CR-Z has done is made me tailor my driving style to suit the car.
Any automotive engineer will tell you that, regardless of the number of fuel-saving measures you implement in a new car/engine/transmission, the biggest fuel saving is made by the nut behind the wheel. I can vouch for that claim. Since taking the wheel of the Honda, I have calmed behind the wheel. I don’t know if it is the “Hybrid” badge on the boot lid, or the fact that the instrument cluster lighting turns a happy green (which is far more effective that just a gearshift indicator) when I drive with a light foot. Whatever the case, it has worked. My average fuel consumption for the past 11 000 km has been 6,87 litres/100 km, not too shabby considering that over half that total distance has been covered within the city limits.
And its not to say that the driving experience has been boring either. It has the ingredients for a sporty drive: a low-slung seating position direct steering and precise gearshift action all help create an engaging driving experience. I would prefer a little less body roll and more power, but then, maybe that’s just me.
Two other highlights of the car are the excellent audio system with USB plug-in, and the heated seats, which have really come in handy of late in the freezing Cape winter.
Rumour has it that Honda is already working on a more powerful CR-Z model to satiate power freaks (woohhhooo) and concept cars have already done the show circuit. UK tuning arm Mugen has even launched its very own CR-Z turbo model, so there is hope yet. For Honda fans and petrolheads, it would be unthinkable that Honda chose to waste such a sporty looking shape on purely a hybrid-only model.
In the mean time, I suggest that every manufacturer stick a “Hybrid” badge on the tail of all its models and make the instruments glow a different colour when drivers are doing a good job – and watch fuel consumption figures fall dramatically. And, if you see a white CR-Z in the middle or slow lane, it’s probably me ambling along as I listen to my favourite tunes.