2011 Honda CR-Z hybrid scores too low for Consumer Reports to Recommend

Consumer Reports News: December 07, 2010 11:57 AM

We know what you're thinking: Hondas typically do well in Consumer Reports testing. And since Consumer Reports emphasizes good fuel economy, a hybrid should score highly in our tests, right? Not so much.

The two-seat CR-Z is derived from the Insight, a five-passenger hybrid hatchback that also scored too low to be recommended. To be sure, there are improvements in the CR-Z: the interior isn't so glaringly cheap, and handling is much more nimble than the Insight. The CR-Z's manual transmission is crisp and easy to shift and 35 mpg is nothing to sneeze at.

But compared to a long list of drawbacks, that good news isn't enough to recommend the car.

Handling is short on steering feel, a recent (and unwelcome) Honda trait. Even for a small sports coupe, the ride is stiff and noise levels are high. The stability control intervenes too late when it's needed, so the CR-Z's tail can swing out mid-corner. Lousy rear and over-the-shoulder visibility made changing lanes "like Russian Roulette," according to one tester's logbook comment. A diminutive 400-lb. payload capacity somewhat negates the large cargo hold and speaks to a real limitation in a country where 200-lb. adults are commonplace.

Even the details rankle: The car shuts off when stopped to save fuel -- but unlike most other hybrids, the air conditioner shuts off too, making it a drag on a hot day. The exterior door handles are awkward to grab, and you basically lunge in and out of the low-slung car.

So just because it's a Honda doesn't mean it's a good car. Even if the CR-Z turns out to be reliable, it scores too low for us to recommend it.

—Tom Mutchler

See our guide to fuel economy for advice on saving gasoline. Learn about future technologies in our guide to alternative fuels.