Those of us who call ourselves car enthusiasts usually think we have most cars figured out even if we haven’t driven them. But every now and again we’re completely wrong.
The Honda CR-Z has had a few upgrades for 2013 including a new pair of ‘T’-designated trim levels that essentially take the existing Sport and GT grades respectively and add satnav — or satnav and Bluetooth for the cheaper Sport-T.
That’s wrapped up in a revised exterior with a slightly altered front- and rear-end combination. It looks a tiny bit sharper and more visually engaging on its 17in alloy wheels, and from all angles this GT-T model is a great-looking car. It was a perfect introduction for me since I’d never driven the model before.
In the main though there have been big changes under the skin. More power now comes from the petrol-electric drivetrain, with 135bhp on tap and a further increase from a Plus Sport short-term electric power boost via the button marked ‘S+’.
The car still has the opinion-splitting dual rear windscreen arrangement and a manual gearbox that, although being just a little reluctant to block-shift down the ratios smoothly, has a beautifully short throw and is ultra-precise when rifling up through the gears.
The key to unlocking the hidden world of the CR-Z lies in its three drive modes. Economy mode dials down auxiliary systems like the climate control and significantly reduces the available torque low in the rev range, which makes it harder to over-accelerate and waste fuel.
Normal mode presents the car exactly how you think it’s going to feel — with a snappy manual transmission, but other than that a little bit soft. It’s very amiable, with fast, feelsome steering, but it lacks the excitement that some owners would call for.
But then… then there’s Sport mode. All of a sudden the car is transformed into what feels like a full-blown, old-school hot hatch. The drivetrain mapping boosts low-end torque to its maximum courtesy of the new lithium-ion battery, and while the gearing is just about perfect, the near-7,000rpm redline helps you exploit the performance on offer — and there’s more than you think; more than the performance figures suggest.
But not only that, the new CR-Z’s chassis is a marvel. Supple and responsive, it’s the perfect partner to the lightning-fast steering rack, allowing fast overtakes on bumpy country roads with complete confidence. The suspension is tuned to match the steering and chassis, and together these elements let you place the car exactly where you want it every time — even on the most difficult of roads. The sheer brilliance of the way the CR-Z drives in Sport mode took me completely by surprise.
On a more functional note, the electric motor’s boost makes a huge difference when climbing hills. The car can be left in sixth gear, where without the motor it might need to be dropped to fourth or lower.
The driving position is also excellent, complete with heated leather seats biased towards everyday sporty driving. I would have preferred them to be a bit slimmer, but the majority of buyers will be taken care of.
Thankfully this power doesn’t stop the car being efficient. My impressions were that 5.2 litres-per-100km should be easily possible. The car regularly cruises at higher than 4.7 litres-per-100km.
In terms of niggles and drawbacks, there are always going to be some. That troublesome split rear screen blocks a significant portion of the rearward view — enough to see you switch to using the door mirrors instead.
The rear seats are far too cramped, too, and it’s not likely that even a child could fit their legs in behind a six-foot driver.
Then there’s the price, which for this range-topper is around £24,000 (Dh135,000) in the UK before options — not that you really need any. That’s a lot of money, and despite the car’s virtuoso performance on the road, you can get bigger, faster, more practical cars for less.
But for those who could potentially afford the CR-Z, the fact is that if practicality is of little concern, there are few new cars left on the market that combine such good fun with such relatively low running costs. I returned the car to its maker having been deeply, deeply impressed.
Specs & ratings
Model CR-Z GT-T
Engine 1.5-litre four-cyl, 15kW
electric motor
Transmission Six-speed manual, FWD
Max power 135bhp @ 6,600rpm
Max torque 190Nm @ NA
Top speed 200kph
0-100kph 9.5sec
Price Dh135,000 (UK)
UAE friendly
Plus Great drivetrain, fuel efficient, brilliant handling
Minus Pricey
