2013 Honda CR-Z Hybrid Coupe: Quick Drive Report (Page 2)

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2013 Honda CR-Z Hybrid Coupe: Quick Drive Report Page 2

Antony Ingram

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Antony is an automotive obsessive: Whether it drives, sits there looking pretty or intrigues from afar, he'll talk and write about it. Automotive... More

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2013 Honda CR-Z hybrid coupe [UK specification]

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Styling and (dis)comfort

We love the way the CR-Z looks. It's as sharp and eye-catching today as it was at launch. It's equally space-age inside, enhanced by the blue and green glow of the instruments. Trying to keep the car "happy" by growing trees in the instrument panel becomes an all-consuming pursuit.

However, during our week with the car, we just couldn't get comfortable. Whatever position the seat and wheel were adjusted to, back and leg ache would set in after less than an hour. This echoes our previous experiences with the car, and seems indiscriminate of height or weight.

Final thoughts

Our gas mileage over a week of driving proved more than respectable. In a mix of city and country driving, the car's computer displayed a figure of 37 mpg. That rose to 41 mpg after several hundred miles of freeway driving, most of which was driven at around 70 mph.

Both those figures are improvements on the official 34 combined and 38 highway EPA ratings for the 2013 car, though as always--your mileage may vary.

That seat discomfort rather spoils the CR-Z for us, though. For this writer, still yet to break into his 30s and a fan of small, sporty, thrifty cars like the CR-Z (and therefore probably in the car's target market), it's a huge disappointment.

The CR-Z is fun, quicker than before and offers good real-world mileage, but until Honda fixes those pain-inducing seats, it's being struck off this reviewer's potential car list...

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Comments (17)

Rich M Posted: 2/15/2013 10:30am PST

I am really surprised at the seat issues. Of everything I've owned I rate the CR-Z seats #2, behind the OE Recaros in my STi. Unless they changed the seats from 2011 to 2013, or the UK seats are different? They are better than: 07 Fit, 99 Civic Si, Transit Connect that I've spent as much time in.
Maybe you're too bony?

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Antony Ingram Posted: 2/15/2013 12:14pm PST

Not particularly. Certainly less than I used to be!

The padding of the seat base seems fine, as it wasn't my backside that caused problems - I *think* for me it's the lack of under-thigh support, though the lumbar support is also too high to support my lower back too. Specifically, it was my right leg and right lower back that suffered - and I wasn't sitting twisted, since the seat, pedals and wheel are all in-line.

It's not just me - Green Car Reports editor John Voelcker suffered similar issues when reviewing the car back in 2010, and he's taller than I am.

Wasn't for the want of trying, either. I've very rarely driven a car in which I'm completely unable to find a comfortable position.

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Rich M Posted: 2/15/2013 12:22pm PST

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John Voelcker Posted: 2/15/2013 3:02pm PST

@Rich: Weighing in here as the "previous experiences" Antony linked to. I'm a shade under 6'0" and my better half is 5'6", and both of us suffered identical backaches within 90 minutes of driving or sitting in the CR-Z seats. I've never had that happen in more than 100 different models tested over five years.

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Rich M Posted: 2/15/2013 3:27pm PST

Clearly John Broder has been sabotaging the seats...
Seriously though, I was just a bit surprised, that's all.

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Al Bunzel Posted: 2/16/2013 5:05pm PST

Do you have a list of comfortable eco cars you have driven or sat in? Comfort is an important criteria to me.

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Antony Ingram Posted: 2/17/2013 9:19am PST

@ Al - Good question. We don't have a definitive list, since comfort can vary from person to person. The CR-Z is one of the few vehicles we've had issues with here though, so generally you should find most eco cars relatively comfortable.

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Vladi Ivanov Posted: 2/15/2013 12:31pm PST

Were those imperial gallons or US gallons in this UK CR-Z?

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Antony Ingram Posted: 2/16/2013 2:12am PST

U.S. gallons. For the absence of doubt, all economy figures on Green Car Reports will be quoted in U.S. gallons unless stated otherwise.

For the record, the mixed use/highway figures in imperial gallons would be 45/50.

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Charles Ellis Posted: 2/16/2013 6:37am PST

I can't imagine the CRZ or Insight will be around too much longer at the rate they are selling. I look forward to seeing Honda's new hybrid system in the new 2015 Fit. Hopefully it will be competitive with the Prius in mpg's and a lot funner to drive. Maybe even look good too.

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Gavin Shoebridge Posted: 2/17/2013 1:33am PST

Personally I find 34 MPG combined pretty lacklustre for a brand new 2013 hybrid.

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Antony Ingram Posted: 2/17/2013 9:18am PST

34 combined isn't brilliant for a modern hybrid, you're right, though our test car did 37 combined, which is an improvement.

Our 41 highway figure might be beatable too for those drivers in states with lower speed limits than the UK's 70 mph limit. Or states with warmer weather than the UK!

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Rich M Posted: 2/17/2013 11:03am PST

Lifetime average of 47.1 in my 2011 CVT. About 50/50 city/hwy. The only time I see under 40 is on very short trips in the cold. Just working with the IMA system a little will make the numbers explode. And running at

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Rich M Posted: 2/17/2013 11:06am PST

(Apparently you can't type the 'less than' symbol on here)

...running at less than 2000 RPM at 60 helps a lot. the 6MT has terrible gearing. They could have at least made 6th a long gear.

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Antony Ingram Posted: 2/18/2013 6:11am PST

It's good to hear your experiences, Rich. And you're right, 6th seems surprisingly short, considering the gearing in general is quite long - third gear is long enough to attain those new 85 mph Texas speed limits...

I suspect it's another one of the CR-Z's trade-offs to placate both enthusiasts and green buyers.

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carl ziegler Posted: 2/17/2013 11:55am PST

I have just bought one of these CRZ's for th eeconomy, an new job means 100mile trip in town traffic not a 45 trip on freeways, and love it so far, getting mid 30's not 14 of my SRT around the local roads, even in ECO mode i have no problems keeping up with local Houston traffic - do miss my old 425hp, but have not been caught short yet. My only gripe is the lack of route options on the sat nav but maybe its hidden in the options. Wanted soemthign completley different but comfortable as i have back problems and so far it has filled every thing i wanted

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Antony Ingram Posted: 2/18/2013 6:10am PST

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. With yourself and Rich's comments on comfort compared to our own, it does seem that it can vary hugely - definitely a "try before you buy" situation.

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