THE new Honda CR-Z, a three-door hot hatch from the Honda stables in Japan, was launched last week by Honda Malaysia, giving yet another option for Honda lovers to consider.
It has been a long time since Honda offered the last hatch in Malaysia, and not only is this new model a hatch, it is also a hybrid.
The base engine is a 1.5-litre SOHC i-VTEC adapted from the Honda City, but with some tuning differences.
The engine performance, when combined with the IMA (integrated motor assist) from the hybrid system, is 124PS at 6,000rpm, which is four PS more than the 120PS at 6,600rpm for the City.
The CR-Z’s maximum torque is 174Nm, fully available at a much lower rpm, peaking between 1,000rpm and 1,500rpm. The City is rated at 145Nm at 4,800rpm.
Translated into real-world terms, that is, when push comes to shove, the CR-Z is very much quicker off the mark.
Drive is transmitted to the road through a six-speed manual transmission. Elsewhere in the world, there is a CVT option, but that is not offered here, at least for the moment.
I have been scouring the internet to check out the top speed and zero-to-100kph times, but so far, I have come up blank.
Anyway, I have been told that we would be getting a test drive session soon, and I will fill in the details then.
The most attractive part of the CR-Z, other than its snazzy looks would be its price – RM115,000, on-the-road with insurance.
This makes it one of the most attractive packages around, as a CBU and hybrid.
The main reason for this very affordable and attractive price is that the CR-Z benefits from the Malaysian government’s concession of zero duty on hybrid cars.
According to Yoichiro Ueno, managing director and CEO of Honda Malaysia, the retail price of the same car would have been close to RM200,000 if the full duty was included.
The manual six-speed transmission will result in the CR-Z finding itself a place in the hearts of the young and the young-at-heart, since manuals are quite hard to come by nowadays in Malaysia.
Although there is a trend towards automatic, there is apparently a small segment that still wants manual.
However, the same fact that makes it a hit with the diehards will also work against it, as the ‘softer’ users will still want an auto.
At the press conference, the company was asked whether an auto version will be introduced later.
The reply was the usual non-committal “at this moment, we are studying the market”.
Appealing looks aside, the CR-Z may be a fun car to drive, but based on the specifications, it would lack the grunt that a turbocharged car of a similar capacity would have.
With a kerb weight of 1,160kg, it will be quite nice to drive and can go at a nice clip, but if you are looking for a pocket rocket, this is probably not it.
What it has going for it though is a very nice body shape – sleek and sporty-looking – and outstanding fuel economy touted at around 22km per litre, when driven in economy mode.
The CR-Z can be driven in any one of three driving modes, actuated by the push of a button on the steering column – Normal, Econ or Sport.
Based on the Normal mode being the standard, driving in Econ mode will improve fuel consumption by 10%, while driving in Sport mode will result in a 5% deterioration in fuel consumption.
Norio Tomobe, large project leader in charge of the development of the CR-Z, said actual fuel consumption largely depends on the driving styles of the individual driver.
From a practical point of view, although the CR-Z is a three-door hatch, it seats four people quite comfortably, and five at a squeeze.
The rear seats fold down flat to provide extra space for carrying luggage and for golfers, two bags will go into the rear if the seats are folded down.
In terms of safety, the CR-Z comes with a six-star rating based on JNCAP rating.
VSA (vehicle stability assist) comes as standard equipment, together with dual front airbags, side curtain airbags, ABS, BA and EDB.
In addition, the driver gets a tilt and telescopic steering wheel, hill start assist which women drivers will find very useful, and power adjustable door mirrors, among many other convenience items.
In a nutshell, unless I am otherwise persuaded during the actual test drive, the CR-Z would make a great car for people who want an attractive and sporty-looking car that is fun to drive as well as economical to maintain in terms of cost per kilometre.
Best of all, it does not cost an arm and a leg.
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