2010 Honda CR-Z Test Drive

Honda CR-Z Test Drive.

When the Honda CR-Z was first shown as a concept car, not very many people would have expected the CR-Z to actually make it to production. However, it is. The hybrid sports car that Honda has created is in a class of its own and is the very first sport hybrid on the market. You may be comparing the CR-Z with other smaller sports cars such as the Mini Cooper, but the CR-Z stands out in both styling and functionality.

You might notice that the CR-Z resembles the old Honda CRX, the late 80’s and early 90’s compact sports car that was very popular and you can still see driving around the road today. They styling of the CR-Z is reminiscent of the CRX, but also brings the modern smooth and sporty look. If you are wondering why the back of the CR-Z is so flat like the insight, it is due to aerodynamics. Having the flat back drop down from the roofline reduces drag and in turn provides more fuel efficiency and

performance.

The CR-Z is available in three different trim levels (or sub models with different features) the CR-Z base model will have most features. The EX model which is the next level up will add HID (high intensity discharge), if you’re not familiar with these they are the ultra bright white lights like those on BMWs and Audis) headlights which is a first for Honda, also included is Bluetooth, and more. The highest model available is the EX w/Navigation, this model just adds Hondas satellite navigation system. All models will come with USB audio interface for iPods and other mp3 players.

The CR-Z is a two seat sports car and with Honda discontinuing the S2000 after 2009 the CR-Z is now the only two seat car available from Honda. This is somewhat of a negative because both Japan and Europe are getting the CR-Z with rear seats. The US model however uses the rear for storage. Having passengers in the back would be extremely uncomfortable for the passenger and reduce performance on the CR-Z considerably in both power and handling.

The CR-Z looks great on the inside. All the gauges and buttons are styled and colored to be very futuristic looking as well as easy to find/use. The CR-Zs speedometer changes its background color depending on which mode you have the car in; normal, econ, or sport, I’ll get to the modes later on. The driver and passenger bucket seats are very comfortable and sporty feeling, unfortunately an armrest for the center console is an additional accessory; it would have been nice if t his feature was included with the car. A nice feature in the glove box is a vent that can be opened when the air conditioning is on to be used to cool drinks.

The storage space in the rear of the car is actually quite large. You have the hatch area, as well as the separated ‘back seat’ storage areas. You also have the ability to fold the ‘seats’ down to have a larger flat storage area in the back. All CR-Z models come with a retractable privacy cover which can be used in two ways. Either up above to cover your belongings or there is also a mount where you can use it as a divider.

The CR-Z is available in both an automatic CVT (continuously variable transmission) with paddle shifters and a six speed manual transmission. The CVT CR-Z has set ratios when using the paddle shifters to simulate gears and give you more control over your driving experience; there are seven set ‘gear ratios’ on the CV-T. The 6 speed manual transmission is geared to be sporty in gears 1-5 and the 6^th gear is reserved for economic highway driving. The manual transmission also features hill start assist; this will help drivers while starting on a hill by holding position for half a second while the driver switches their foot from the brake to the gas pedal.

Although 122 horsepower seems like far too little to be considered a sports car, keep in mind that the MINI cooper that most consider to be a sports car only has 118 horsepower. Also, the CR-Zs electric motor helps boost the CR-Z and provides an incredible amount of torque for a small engine. The manual transmission has 128 ft/lb of torque, a 5 ft/lb advantage over the automatic CVT with 123 ft/lbs.

All CR-Zs have the three different mode selectors. These modes again are normal, econ, and sport. The normal mode is well, normal. The car feels and handles like a normal Honda car would drive like, responsive, smooth, and comfortable. When you switch to econ mode the car limits its self. Your gas pedal becomes less responsive and your power is cut dramatically so you get the very best fuel economy possible. The sport mode unleashes the car. The throttle and steering become very responsive; the car feels completely different from the way it drives, it feels like a sports car.

Overall the CR-Z is a fun to drive car which doubles as an eco car. Honda has succeeded in creating a fun to drive two seat sports car. If you are looking for a more rich driving experience the manual transmission is probably for you. If you are looking for a car that can get you around and occasionally give you the thrill you want, then the CVT automatic will do more than plenty.

PROS

• FUN
• Responsive handling
• Economic
• Futuristic style

CONS

• Only seats 2
• Center armrest is additional

2010 Honda Civic Test Drive

Honda Civic Test Drive

Not much has changed for the Civic for 2010, but still a solid car that continues to outsell the competition. The Civic is available in plenty of trim levels (sub-models) from the DX (not available in CA and most places. No A/C or stereo) DX-VP (base model for CA and most places) LX, LX-S, EX, EX w/ Navigation, EX-L, and EX-L with navigation. Each trim level adds more and more features, as you can see there is a Civic for almost every budget. Don’t forget that the Civic comes in both Manual and Automatic transmission and in a two door or four door. It is also available in the sporty Si model, but I won’t include that in this review.

The basics in all the Civics are the same. The current generation Civic has a sporty look and a sporty drive. The dash area and instrument cluster on the Civic is well laid out. The instrument panel is divided in two levels; the lower portion where most are familiar to seeing the gauges is made up of the tachometer, gear indicator, and odometer. The top section displays the speed temperature and fuel. The speedometer is digital, which is a handy feature that also makes the car feel more expensive and futuristic. The audio controls and climate controls are located in the center console where most of us are used to seeing it; these controls are simple and well placed.

The seats are comfortable and sporty. The semi bucket seat aids in holding your body in place while cornering, giving the driver more control of the car. The driver seat is height adjustable; it also reclines and of course goes back and forth. This adjustability in the seat plus the telescopic and tilting steering wheel gives a wide range of options to get you comfortable. The seat however does lack a lumbar support in all trim levels.

The Civic has plenty of passenger room. The front and back seats has lots of leg, hip, shoulder, and headroom. Despite being a small sedan, it is actually quite roomy. The two door Coupe Civic has a good amount of room in the back seat as well, just lacks a little headroom. EX and above models that have the moon roof loses only .2” of headroom, so don’t worry too much about that. In the past the space you lose was more significant, but not anymore. A family of 4 should be able to go on comfortable road trips in the Civic and a family of 5 should be comfortable for commuting and moderate distance drives. The rear seat does lack A/C vents, you can however receive enough air flow from the front vents to keep comfortable. Remember it is a smaller car.

The visibility of the road on the Civic is almost perfect, at every seat position there are no blind spots. The small windows on the sides of the dash almost look redundant, but while driving you will notice that they help. The rear window is large enough and at a good height to see other vehicles behind you.

Like I said earlier, the Civic is a fun sporty drive. The Civic is also surprisingly quiet, while driving, you can hear a small amount of road noise, and little to no engine noise. It is quiet enough to have a phone conversation easily without struggling to hear the person on the other side. The Civic hugs the road nicely. The automatic transmission seems to have a small amount of lag when stepping on the gas, but unfortunately this seems to be normal with all automatic transmissions these days. The Civics 140 Hp 1.8L 4 cylinder engine isn’t meant for power, but it still does a good job. No issues with the car going uphill. It’s definitely a car that you can commute in and have fun at the same time with.

The Civic is considered a ULEV-2 vehicle. Basically meaning, the Civic is a really clean car to drive. You can still help the environment a little without spending too much extra money going for a hybrid or electric car. The Civic is also very fuel efficient. The EPA (environmental protection agency) rates the manual transmission Civic with 26MPG city and 34MPG highway. The automatic transmission Civic receives almost the same, 25MPG city and 36MPG highway. Remember, this is the EPA rating and actual fuel economy depends on how you drive. you could easily squeeze more MPG out than the EPA says, or you could get less, depends on how you drive.

There is a Reason Honda has kept the Civic along for so long. It is a reliable and affordable pick for a commuter/ family car. Honda of course backs the car up with its standard 3 year/36k mile warranty. Also, if you are not familiar, Honda has no scheduled maintenance for the first 100,000 miles. The Civic receives top safety ratings and with Hondas ACE body structure, the Civic is a safe and fun pick

PROS

• Fun
• Fuel Economy
• Quiet
• Reliable

CONS

• No lumbar support