Deliveries from June, starting from £17,000

• Positioned as the ‘World’s first sports hybrid’, the Honda CR-Z could be seen as a bit of contradiction

• Sporty looks owe much to the CRX models of the 80s and 90s. The wedge shape is more suited to lighter colours, and looks especially dramatic with the panorama roof that is standard on the higher specification car

• The 2+2 configuration and a small hatchback boot means that CR-Z is unlikely to be the main family car, but it is a real alternative to a Volvo C30 or possibly a VW Scirroco

• The interior design is as quirky as that in the Civic, but doesn’t have the in-your-face technology focus as that of the Insight hybrid, and is better for it.

• 124ps available from the 1.5 petrol engine mated to electric motor gives decent performance, and the handling makes for fun, rather than making it a full-on sports car drive. The CO2 output of just 117g/km is attractive as is the claimed fuel economy of over 56mpg.

• The use of a manual gearbox (rather than the CVT that hybrids are usually saddled with) means that the hybrid element of the car is almost forgotten and the ‘green’ element becomes an added bonus.

• Relatively modest sales aspirations mean that used versions will be sought after in future years, and consequently residual values should remain strong.


Verdict – Instead of a green sports car for the masses, Honda have a fine showcase for proving that their hybrid technology can be fun. Less gimmicky than the other hybrids currently on the market, the CR-Z is a car that champions lower CO2 emissions without the ‘holier-than-thou’ message being the headline..

JK - April 2010