New to Hybrids -- driving the Honda CRZ

[Wade Nelson]

Apparently none of the auto magazines "get" the Honda CRZ hybrid.

I "get" it. With the flip of a button you can go from a 45mpg hyper-miling gas-sipper to a zippy little sports car.

The CRZ offers the best of both worlds, IMHO, and I urge you to test drive one. Be sure and try "SPORT" mode!

But learning how to GET 40-50mpg out of a hybrid is more than just coasting up to stoplights. You constantly have to

think about energy management, and frequently "lug" the motor.

Mind you, I'm not the kinda guy accustomed to lugging a DOHC Honda motor at 45mph in sixth gear. Yes, SIXTH.

But that's how you get the superb mileage. Let the battery and the ELECTRIC motor boost you up small hills, and regenerate on the way down.

Regeneration on the CRZ works different than on the Prius. On the Prius, you just step on the brakes. Press "B-mode" for greater re-gen.

In the CRZ you actually have to be in gear, and braking to regen the battery.

The battery is VERY small. If the hill you have to climb is more than 1/2 mile long, you'll deplete the battery. You've got a state of charge meter on the dash

so you know exactly where you are, and what you have left.

If you "ride" the brakes a bit coming down the hill you'll quickly recharge (re-gen) the battery. You find yourself constantly looking for re-gen opportunities.

The CRZ has automatic motor start-stop. Boy does THAT take some mental getting used to, the first time you pull up to a stoplight and she goes completely silent on you.

Silence is actually a problem on the CRZ. The exhaust note is TOO quiet, so I found myself over-reving take-offs on occasion.

Here's how I drive it: I'll take off from the light in first gear, pull away from the cars behind me a bit. Then I'll shift to 3rd, then 5th, lug the motor, and allow the ELECTRIC motor to get me up to the speed limit or 5 over or whatever I'm doing that day.

Like I said, its very WEIRD to be lugging a high revving little HOnda DOHC motor with Vtec. But that's where the great gas mileage is found.

But now and then you want to zip, select SPORT mode and she runs like a scalded rabbit! Tres fun!!!

In full economy mode, it APPEARS that Honda completely kills the "accelerator pump" feature of the fuel injection. Gutless to the max. Normal mode feels pretty normal And it really does have a lot of ZIP in SPORT mode. It's not like SOME cars where you can't feel the difference between the different settings. Here it's pronounced.

Hey, I love my 280ZX and my turbo MR-2, but I need something hyper-reliable, and super-gas mileage for when gas goes back to $4.50 a gallon.

The CRZ to me is the best of both worlds. I'm extremely happy with my choice.

Go test drive one today!

Edited February 10, 2013 by Wade Nelson

[Wade Nelson]

Here's an interesting tidbit. The CRZ comes in either stick shift or CVT models. The CVT model gets better mileage, EVEN ON THE HIGHWAY. It's simply unnatural for most of us to lug an engine as heavily as is required to obtain maximum MPG's, but the CVT does it without guilt or worry.