European Honda CR-Z Hybrid Gets Better Gas Mileage, Two Extra Seats
For me, the biggest letdown in recent memory was the Honda CR-Z. Touted as a spiritual successor of the CR-X, the CR-Z managed to get it all wrong. Whereas the original CR-X was lightweight, sporty, and frugal with its fuel, the CRZ is underwhelming at best. The hybrid manages to get just 37 mpg in a two-seater that has a combined horsepower output of just 122 ponies in a 3,000 pound package. Like I said, underwhelming, at least in the Americanized version.
But Europe is also getting the CR-Z. Strangely enough, their version gets two extra (albeit small) seats, converting the CR-Z into a more practical 2+2 for people with small children or petite friends. But what really got me is that the European CRZ gets much better gas mileage… 47 mpg, in fact. How did that happen?
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For clarification, that is 47 mpg on the US cycle. In European cycle, the estimate is 56.4 mpg.
I don’t know how this happened. The European CR-Z has the same 122 horsepower, 1.5 liter engine as the American version, plus the added weight from two extra seats. In my mind that means it must come down to weight and safety. In Europe, small cars are the norm, and rarely do they have to go head-to-head with an over-sized SUV. Therefore, maybe (pure speculation on my part here people) the European version of the CR-Z may not have the same safety or rigidity necessary for cars in the US, thus cutting down on weight.
The US and European tests are similar, but not identical, and the vehicles are built to different standards (like Ford cannot import its Ka to the US for being too small). But even so, the CR-Z would have to shed a lot of weight to gain 10 mpg over the US version with 37 mpg on the highway (that that is with the CVT automatic… opt for the manual, and the CRZ gets just 33 mpg on the highway).
The 56.4 MPG rating in Europe translates to 46.9 mpg in the US, which would put it in the top-tier of efficient hybrids on the market. But in Europe, which has access to vehicles which routinely get 60+ mpg on the US cycle, it is merely a middle-ground hybrid coupe. I can’t help but feel shafted… I even seriously considered the CR-Z as a hybrid I could one day live with. Not anymore.
If someone from Honda reads this, please, give me a straight answer. Barring that, maybe someone who makes it to the Geneva Auto Show, where the Euro-CR-Z will be “officially” unveiled, can ask them what gives.
Otherwise I can only conclude that Honda likes Europe better than the US. And that hurts my feelings.
Source: Carscoop | Image: Honda
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February 8th, 2010 at 7:18 pm
European fuel consumption figures are always better than in the USA, because in Europe they use the (British) Imperial gallon which is larger than the US gallon.
February 8th, 2010 at 7:21 pm
I wouldn’t be too hard on it yet, since I haven’t heard of anyone actually driving one. I will admit it sounds rather underwhelming on paper, but will reserve judgment until they hit the street.
February 8th, 2010 at 8:25 pm
Greg, please notice that they have ajusted fir the Imperial, ie, The 56.4 MPG rating in Europe translates to 46.9 mpg in the US.
Thry thinking that in Europe they have DIESELS. Yes, almost any car you can get here in gasoline (petrol) they can get in DIESEL and guess what….25-30% better milage. Again Honda, and almost every but VW, Audi and Merc are telling the US, want really efficent clean diesels…Ha Ha HA …everywheres but here. Oh yea, research it, GM, Ford and Chrysler have it over there too. The even build them (diesels) her and ship them there.
That really SUCKS!!!!!!!!
February 8th, 2010 at 9:05 pm
It’s simple. The European test cycle is different from the US EPA cycle. Identical vehicles always get a higher rating on the Euro driving cycle than on the EPA cycle. Different tests means different results.
February 10th, 2010 at 6:06 am
Chris, I venture to say that the Euro version is not significantly lighter than the US version, but would have to see the actual specs for each to be sure. The only things I can think of that might be different are the number and type of airbags and perhaps more sound deadening in the US version.
As for diesel in the US, one oddity in the current market is that that VW has had to increase availability of the diesel engine version of the Jetta SportWagen to meet demand. Nearly 80% of them are going out the door with the diesel engine under the hood. In a land where “diesel” and “pond scum” are synonymous in most people’s minds, that is an amazing anamoly. I can’t explain it, but I wouldn’t mind having one of those myself!
February 10th, 2010 at 9:16 pm
Europe and US will always have different numbers.
Everything is different:
test standards
gallon means more litre
emission standards
read a bit more
http://www.crzresource.com/honda-cr-z-news-articles-f7.html
February 10th, 2010 at 9:43 pm
Ik ben zo benieuwd wat ie gaat kosten, of het een betaalbare auto gaat worden. We zijn zeer benieuwd
February 15th, 2010 at 7:50 am
There are differnet amounts of fuel in the UK and US gallons hense the different mgs! I expect the real fuel figures to be early 50mpg which is very good (this is a clean petrol and not a dirty diesel with low co2)I think the car will be a winner so resist casting asumptions until you have at least tried it. Honda has at least dared to be different. no one else has brought to market a Sport Coupe Hybrid and it’ll drive like a 1.8 petrol engine in a small car so will perform absolutely fine. If you want fast-fast then you don’t want a Hybrid. You can’t (in the UK at least) have fast and cheap tax. There is the Civic Type R if you want performance but the CR-Z is as much about style too and brings the market to different consumers and i’m sure it will be well recieved.