Hybrid sports cars are here to stay, but the Honda CR-Z has never quite managed to secure a place in our hearts.
When it arrived two years ago, it promised to be fun and frugal in equal measure, but ended up as a halfway house – not sporty enough to take on petrol coupes and not clean enough to choose over an efficient diesel rival.
That could be about to change, as Honda has raised the stakes with a facelift. New batteries and tweaks to the engine have raised its total output to a respectable 135bhp, while an F1-style boost button gives an extra 10 seconds’ assistance from the electric motor.
Minor styling tweaks keep the CR-Z looking fresh, but will they be enough to see off the Renault Megane Coupe that beat it in our previous test?
The Renault has also been revised. Desirable GT Line trim gives it a sporty edge to match the CR-Z, while a punchy 1.5-litre diesel engine means it has staggeringly low CO2 emissions of just 90g/km. So which clean coupe is better?
Honda has raised the performance stakes with this new CR-Z, but has it finally delivered a hybrid coupe to set driving enthusiasts’ pulses racing?
Its slick manual gearbox is still a joy to use, but the heavy steering and firm ride hamper its ability to entertain. The Plus Sport boost button feels like a cheap gimmick rather than a genuniely useful overtaking feature, and the problems that dogged the outgoing model remain: coupe buyers may not bat an eyelid at the cramped cabin and tiny boot, but there are plenty of hot hatches that offer genuine performance and practicality for less cash.
The Renault isn’t in the same league for straightline performance, but it soundly beats the Honda at the pumps. The Megane is also fun to drive thanks to its agile chassis, plus its diesel engine feels perky enough in everyday driving. It also matches its rival for style and hi-tech kit, while the icing on the cake is the £21,800 list price: £1,250 less than the CR-Z.
That’s enough to allow an upgrade to the superb 1.6-litre dCi engine, closing the gap in performance. Some buyers will prefer the high-revving Honda to the more sedate Renault, but overall the CR-Z still struggles to justify its place in a competitive class. Honda needs to rediscover its sports car magic before the new NSX arrives later this year.
For an alternative review of the latest Honda CR-Z Hatchback visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk
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Why didn't they test the Megane dCi 130? In this supposed 'sports car' test, surely power and pace are a bit higher on the list of priorities for buyers in this market? Then the price difference wouldn't be so relevant.
But still, the Renault would so much easier to live with and would win this test because the new 1.6 is exceptionally smooth, refined and powerful for its type.
There's nothing sporty about Renault Megane Coupe except its looks. Same can be said of the Honda CRZ's whose only saving grace is that its a hybrid with a manual transmission.
Its a shame that Honda did not use this mid-life uplift to bring this hybrid under 100g/km. And thus gave us another car after Honda Insight that's not quite there and totally misses the point. Honda is failing to keep up with market expectations and the competition. No wonder they're losing sales to all and sundry.
How does that make sense?! If I want something sporty I'd buy a sporty looking car. Engine wise would be a bonus. But look at all the boy racer cars. All 1.2 engines or similar but with sporty trims/body kits etc. Take the new Corsa. White with black alloys sri kit. Looks sporty but has a 1.2 engine.
One of my colleagues is 23 years old. He owns a Vauxhall Corsa SRI with 1.4L engine that eventually hits 62mph in 12 seconds. The other day he got to drive a Vauxhall Astra VXR.
Since then he hasn't stopped smiling and can't stop talking about his scintillating experience. Now he's saving to buy a VXR that hits 0-62 in half the time of a Corsa SRI.
there is everything sporty with the megane my friend,not with honda
Almost £22k for a diesel powered Renault Megane - no way! I would take the well engineered, well built and great to drive Honda any day thanks.