@@williamegler8771 another CRZ owner here. my door handles have also gone wonky, haha. i’ve also had boot struts wear out a lot quicker than any other car i’ve ever owned before. both are pretty cheap and easy fixes though so it’s not the end of the world.
@@williamegler8771 did someone piss in your cornflakes this morning??!! You seem to be looking for an argument, these people just stated their own ownership experience. Were you expecting them to check warranty direct and insurance, warranty statistics on this particular model before commenting 😂.
I've had mine since it was only 4 or so years old - a 2010 manual with the full Mugen asthetics package. Engine got torn apart at 200,000 KM, and the amount of wear on engine internals was very minimal. Never had oil dilution issues, in fact not once had it played up over the years. Fast forward to today and it's heavily modified with forged aluminium and titanium internals, 17" accord Euro alloy wheels + Cusco adjustable suspension, custom titanium exhaust from the head back, Stand alone ECU, and a water injected supercharger. It screams. It....screams!
As an owner, you guys said everything, took the words out of my mouth! My car is currently at 250k kms, no issues at all and no repairs, just regular maintenance and to be honest, I drive it VERY spiritually every day. The driving experience with the manual is amazing, no one believes that when looking at it :)
I've owned my CRZ GT over 7 years as the second owner with 109k on the clock. Mine's Storm metallic grey, light grey leather interior, 6 sp manual gearbox and has the optional Glow Pack, Carbon Pack and different grill which sets it apart from standard. Before buying it I looked at VW Corrado, Peugeot RCZ, Hyundai Veloster. Corrado was pretty common on the roads, and I was wary of Peugeot reliability and parts availablity for the RCZ. The Veloster looks good, uncommon but road tax here for the Turbo is 10x the CRZ. Also the engine is prone to turbo and value issues, and oil starvation. Amongst other cars I owned a 1985 MK I and 1988 MKII CRX and a Smart Roadster Coupé Brabus. The CRZ for me is the natural progression, and unlike the Roadster (which I loved) it hasn't blown ECUs, SAM unit, clutch, clutch actuator... It's been utterly reliable with only consumables replaced - brake discs and pads and a new 12v battery. No timing belt as it's a cam chain driven engine. No it's not the fastest or best handling hatch, nor is it the most economical hybrid. It's a blend of all which it does really well. Road Fund tax is £25/year here in the UK and it averages 48 mpg, a combination of town, city and B road driving. Three driving modes are Eco, Normal and Sport. Eco feels like you've left the handbrake on but it's useful once you depleted the hybrid battery as focus is on regeneration. Also the steering is less responsive and numb. Normal is ideal for driving around town or standard roads. Regen' isn't aggressive, steering is more accurate with less assistance. Sport mode sharpens the throttle response and weights up the steering as less electronic assistance is applied. Turn in is keen and emphasis is on the hybrid system providing boost to driving so the battery drains swiftly when you're on it. For me it is practical as an every day car as I can get work bag, gym bag and shopping without dropping the token rear seat. Seat dropped my bike fits in no problem along with bags. I've no immediate intention of selling as it does everything I need it to. The HPD Supercharger kit which was offered through Honda it was quite expensive plus installation for the power output gain of around 66BHP. I recall the kit was about £3000, plus fitting. It was also only available for manual gearbox models. However, it did not invalidate your warranty if fitted by a Honda dealer.
5th owner of a 2013. Bought at 100,000 miles, currently at nearly 170,000 miles. Beat the everloving shit out of it and no issues (other than the faded headlight housings). 6MT
Got an original model when it was 2 years old in Japan. He’s right about a lot of the issues. The door handles get sticky. The blind spots are insane, so I have to be super careful when changing lanes. The plastic buttons do become yellow from the sun. The entertainment system is garbage in this modern day. Living in Japan, there are a lot of mountain roads. It’s an absolute joy to drive up a winding mountain in Sport mode. I’ve had mine for 12 years and counting, and I’m not planning of selling it anytime soon.
Why is your entertainment system rubbish? Is it the lack of Bluetooth or sound experience? it has a subwoofer even tweeters so i was curious, i live in Africa and haven't had that yellowish button thing but perhaps it will come with time as I'm heading to year 3 of ownership
@@KeebaAfrica TV reception and responsiveness is terrible, Bluetooth connectivity is limited, iPod connection is glitchy, navigation is clunky, overall user interface is clunky, can’t control music that well. Speakers are fine. Positive points are you can control the volume and skip tracks from the steering wheel and you can mute sound quickly with one touch.
@@akisama-jpn the tax and shaken are about the same for a standard car I think. But my car will be about 15 years old next year when I have to pay for my next shaken, so I believe it will be more even expensive than now.
I just took delivery of a brand new Suzuki Swift and it has even less power than this. But because it weighs less than a ton it is an absolute delight to throw around. Light weight with great steering and handling over fast and heavy every time.
I bought a brand new Honda Jazz 1.5 five door hatchback back in 2012. For one of the services, the dealer wasn't able to complete the work on the day, and gave me a loan car overnight and for the next day. I was amazed. It was a red CR-Z with paddle shifters. I loved it. I would have loved to keep it, but unfortunately I couldn't afford it. I really enjoyed putting it in sport mode and using the paddle shifters. I remember when you were in eco mode there was green lighting on the dash, and it went red when in sport mode. It's true that rearward vision was not good, but my wife owned a 2003 Toyota Prius at the time, so it wasn't that different. I also remember it was a bit of a stretch back to the seatbelt. I certainly could have happily lived with one. What a beautiful car.
I can tell you that basically nothing goes wrong with a CRZ! My Mum has a white UK spec 2010 model - purchased new. It has not suffered any failures whatsoever in 14 years and only required tyres and some brake consumables to date. It still feels solid too with no rattles or creaks. Its fun to drive, economical and actually quite practical for a small coupe. Above all they look cool and as many comment, are destined to become future classics. A damn shame Honda discontinued them without a replacement.
Hi team, totally 100% in agreement regarding the CRZ. It was a low volume, specialist, sporty car. Well equipped for its time, nothing extra needed. I listen to the radio when driving so no need for an upgrade. Do the oil changes and filters every six months(no oil dilution issues)and use 95/98 octane fuel to keep the injection system clean and drain and refill the cvt transmission every 40,000 km will keep it healthy. Added benefit of cvt is wider ratio spread so can cruise on the highway at 2000 rpm. If ever a car proves the principle of greater enjoyment from a “slow”car driven fast especially with well tuned suspension and steering it’s this car. On my second one ,2014 cvt Milano red. Had a 2011 white cvt for a couple of years, traded for a civic type r and learnt the hard way about frustration with reining in a fast car in normal traffic. The involvement and joy of driving a CRZ it’s there every time I start it. Great video and great job. Cheers.
These are a hugely enjoyable little nugget in manual guise. All the ‘it’s not a sports car’ numpties that need huge power to get excited can skip entirely. Better for those that actually get it.
Ever since I saw this in the road, I pretty much I love with this car and would love to own one someday. It is not really powerful but glad to hear and other reviews that this is still fun. The fact there is even supercharge model is interesting. I've seen others even done K-swap with these for serious horsepower, which also benefits a weight shed since hybrid don't work on those, thus no more batteries and associated components for those. I hope Honda in the near future will make another CR-Z, maybe that might be a full EV or a proper hybrid. Idk what's with Honda especially that era, but they really never fails me with their interior design especially dashboard. They just looks so futuristic, usable and aged well for me. Most early 2000 or mid 2000 cars dash just looks so dated to me, but most Honda's don't suffer. And the exterior styling of this car is just timeless.
I love this little wedge so much. Somebody once told me it's like a modern DeLorean in that it's gorgeous and fun to drive but tops out at like 10 mph.
I like it. Great car and video( as usual). I was in Barcelona in 2010 and there were around 25 cr-z's in various colours all parked on a hill in a line. I wish I still had the photo. It looked epic .
Agree with the shift feel on the manual, part of why it's the best car I've owned. Also the blindspots you get used to, especially with the mirrors angled for blindspots. And also looking through the roof for anything behind you. Also, Honda insight, Honda Civic and the new Suzuki Swift hybrid all came manual
I've always really liked these. When my kids are out of the house in a couple years, I'll be looking for a smaller/reliable daily driver and this is going to be on my list.
Loved this review! Would it be possible to review a Nissan Maxima A33? Im planning to buy one and would love for you to do a review on it. Keep up the good work!
One of the major perks of the hybrid system is how nice the start/stop is. Especially when paired with the manual. I'm yet to come across a manual car with a better start/stop system - its so good in fact that I actually leave it on. Contrary to ever other manual with a start/stop which I immediately switched off. Also the information about the Gen 1 & 2 battery faults was back to front. Completely agree that this car is likely a future classic.
Think you got your hybrid battery info around the wrong way. There are almost no major issues (especially in terms of failures) with the old Zf1 batteries. Yes they can lose efficiency but they can be rejuvenated. The update zf2 lithium ion batteries are more prone to failure and way more cases of catastrophic issues with those. The first gen is definitely the one to go for in terms of overall reliability
I thought it was odd that the Ni-MH battery would be more sensitive to low temperatures than the Li-ion version. I'm more knowledgeable of Toyota hybrid systems, and the Ni-MH batteries are known to last very long. I'm sure it helps that those are easier to cool. I thought it was odd for those from Honda to be problematic.
By the way nothing wrong with the view out the back. Same as a Prius( have owned three still own one)and has the benefit of blocking adaptive headlights on auto settings. Adjust the passenger seat properly and you can see the rear three-quarter and set the left mirror to only see a small bit of the body( also the mirrors have a wider view on the outer third of the lens) plus the camera covers the rest. Simple enough. Cheers.
it's definitely hard to see out the back when reversing out of a parking space but one thing i wish this video mentioned is that the reversing camera has that weird/awkward angle in order to help see crossing traffic when backing up (which is obviously so good since i'd never be able to see it myself with two SUVs parked on either side).
Love this car, would get this easily over a audi, bmw. Not a fan of the manual (probably cant drive one lol) but good car Im Just waiting for the Prelude video
I recall when this car was named Car of the Year by Wheels. I think i might have seen about 3 of them on the road since. They were a complete failure sales wise.
As an owner of a 2018 fk8 type r, I can testify that the paint is still shit. In fact, writing this has probably caused it to chip or scratch again 🤦🏻♂️
I love my manual 2013 cr-z that I daily but I purchased the car solely to swap in a K 24 engine in the coming future.. they’re is a little flip up cubby right above the cup holder that you missed.
Now that is the only comment I can see. I just can't see who buy this? It is sport 2 door hatch with underpowered hybrid. But if you k swap it you get a nice fun zippy little fun car
My CRZ had the o-ring in the CVT temperature sensor disintegrate, which slowly drained it of CVT fluid... so look for any oil leaks no mater how small because that can destroy the CVT... IDK if the MT version has a similar issue, but other tthan that this lil guy hasnt given me any problems for the past 12 years. Edit: after watching the video I agree with every single thing you said about how it drives. I love how it handles even if its kinda slow, and that small bit of torque that the electric motor injects when overtaking is really nice, specially after hitting the S+.
ive been looking for a first car and the crz is one of the highest cars on my consideration list, so this video came at a right time! thank you redriven😁😁
Highly recommend. I've had an auto and traded in for a manual. Both are fantastic for spirited driving too. Just get a good set of tyres to get the most out of them
I own a 2010 dark gray CRZ with a straights pipe exhaust with HKS muffler , pod air intake and bigger air intake manifold from the honda fit. Sounds really good
I own one for four years now, almost reaching 140.000 km. It was dirt cheap back then. You need to drive the manual transmission. It's way more fun! Shifting is really precise - better than in most cars I've had so far. Four years and 85.000 kilometers later, I had to buy some wipers, filters, brakes completely once around 125tkms, and recently I had to swap the ABS-module. That's it! The driver's seat is worn, the headlights start to yellow. That's a problem. But it has been extremely reliable so far. I live in Germany, so many times on the autobahn, I'm ging top speed. My car is the first Model, with the NiMH battery. There's no degradation of the battery up until now. Imho, it would be the cooles car ever, if it had the power to weight ratio of the old CR-X Vtecs. But nevertheless, I love this car!
Watching this video because i might take a look at a CRZ soon for sale. One hand i'm excited because it seems like the perfecft car for me, something unique, bit economical, sporty, reliable and enough space for my daily things but maintace and repairs always scare me, my Corsa OPC gave me some trauma.
There'a actually been another manual hybrid- the original Honda Insight! If you look at it, you'll even see that it's the missing link between CR-X and CR-Z. A CR-Y, if you would.
I love my phase 2 CRZ. I regularly drag race it for fun here in the UK. and yes.. you can still buy the HKS Supercharger kit for them. I also on purposely didnt go for the version with the nav... its so bad its not worth it and touchscreens are shit, even in modern cars. if you cant park something this small anyway you shouldn't be driving.
Pardon my ignorance but I'm confused by the paddle shifters on a car with CVT transmission. What actually takes place when you activate the paddle shifters?? I was under the assumption that a CVT transmission only had 1 gear.
I have 2 Honda cr-zs (check my shorts) The 2014 CVT with almost 200000kms has an issue with the door handle and other than that nothing else has given me issues. The other is a 2010 CR-Z 6MT with 40000kms on it and it's perfect, only comment is these cars need more oomph. The 2014 is getting all the experimental mods (150kw atm no major mods yet) and eventually a K-swap. Amazing cars though, that steering ratio is heavenly. My CVT has no whining noise... not sure what that's about xD check your CVT fluid dipstick located under the air intake. Do not replace your door handles with oem, Go onto aliexpress or temu and get the metal printed part that swaps out with the plastic equivalent. The plastic piece fails due to heat making the material weaker then being used morphs its oem shape and eventually it stops "gripping" the metal piece is Hella cheap and stops this all together and the door handles feel so much more solid when opening. can do it in less than a hour if you know your way around cars, for those who don't the CR-Z forum (best on the planet) has loads of guides and tips that anyone can follow with some patience. Comments on the suspension, It shares the Fn2 type R suspension for those saying it's like a jazz. Also no hardly any of these cars have lost their IMA battery, i believe on the forum less than a handful have had to replace their ima battery. Interesting comments on the EGR valve, i will check on both of my Cr-z's and compare each part with 160000kms difference, but i cannot say for certain if that's an issue or not. Haven't had any fault codes other than minor misfires (changed spark plugs fix) He is 100% correct about maintaining the CVT with genuine Honda fluids. Look I'm not here to nitpick on every comment, i am simply comparing it with my personal ownership experience. I'd always pick a Honda over Toyota if we talking hybrids, hands down. Honda is #1 when it comes to electronics and the CR-Z was such a passion project from Honda that i believe these cars are timeless and are in their own rank, not a successor to the CRX but more like the Grandchild of it. Please go look up Bisimoto 500hp CR-Z and you will realise the untapped potential of this car.
Have been looking into an entry level easier to maintain sports like coupe/car, considering GT86 and CR-Z, am not a racer, know the comparison may not be direct or correct, but I am not seeing any other sporty coupe alternative
glad to see people are really starting to see the CRZ for what it is. I owned mine for a year and it was a perfect fit for me being in the military. Need to drive thousands of miles across 5 different states while lugging 500 lbs of your personal belongings? No one expects such a small car to do that while getting 40+ mpg. Also funny how AU and Euro actually have backseats, the American sold ones just have square indents for storage and a warning label saying "this is not a seat". Mine was also a manual and yeah it's kind of slow my 6 gears on a back road in sport mode is much more fun than one would expect. (arbitrary the door handles suck comment)
2010ish Honda had a thing for throwing blindspots everywhere. I don't know who buys a CR-Z because they want a fast car tho, it's a little econo-nugget
Technically, yes - I think it's a drop-in replacement? However the IMA system will throw an error when you do so - but you still have boost and regen. Look up PeterPerkins, he has a whole series on this. That being said - the NiMH batteries actually last longer - they can be rejuvenated (Again, a procedure figured out by PeterPerkins) to extend their lifespan, where as the Lithium's can't.
when i was young that car was called crx. i actually had the first black one in finland. loved the car. thanks, adam,for not promoting the antikid r-bow on your phone
@@CheapBastard1988lol most likely 😂hahah Still given how "slow" and disappointing it is in terms of sportiness. Cvt is not an issue. God knows you are not going anywhre quickly with it. Might as well drive it as a eco friendly city coupe.😅
As an owner who hasn't watched yet, door handles go wrong and that's it
Maybe that is the only thing that has gone wrong with your particular car but your experience may not be the same as a majority of owners.
@@williamegler8771 another CRZ owner here. my door handles have also gone wonky, haha. i’ve also had boot struts wear out a lot quicker than any other car i’ve ever owned before. both are pretty cheap and easy fixes though so it’s not the end of the world.
@mylifeasmanta So you and the original commenter know the complete history of maintenance and repair of every one sold?
@@williamegler8771 did someone piss in your cornflakes this morning??!! You seem to be looking for an argument, these people just stated their own ownership experience. Were you expecting them to check warranty direct and insurance, warranty statistics on this particular model before commenting 😂.
I had 2007 8th gen civic and the door handles also would act up. Not sure what year the CRZ was sold.
Good on you guys for giving this car a fair shake. It gets dumped on so much by people who don't understand the intent
I've had mine since it was only 4 or so years old - a 2010 manual with the full Mugen asthetics package. Engine got torn apart at 200,000 KM, and the amount of wear on engine internals was very minimal. Never had oil dilution issues, in fact not once had it played up over the years.
Fast forward to today and it's heavily modified with forged aluminium and titanium internals, 17" accord Euro alloy wheels + Cusco adjustable suspension, custom titanium exhaust from the head back, Stand alone ECU, and a water injected supercharger.
It screams. It....screams!
SO how much did you spent on this crap?
@@wonderwalls3565 more than your obvious opinion is worth 💁
@@Investment_Hedgehog You dont have much writing skills do you. seems like you dont have much intelligence as well.
@@wonderwalls3565another person who doesn't understand the hobby
@@caboosesms1257 another person trying to act cool.
As an owner, you guys said everything, took the words out of my mouth!
My car is currently at 250k kms, no issues at all and no repairs, just regular maintenance and to be honest, I drive it VERY spiritually every day.
The driving experience with the manual is amazing, no one believes that when looking at it :)
I've owned my CRZ GT over 7 years as the second owner with 109k on the clock.
Mine's Storm metallic grey, light grey leather interior, 6 sp manual gearbox and has the optional Glow Pack, Carbon Pack and different grill which sets it apart from standard.
Before buying it I looked at VW Corrado, Peugeot RCZ, Hyundai Veloster. Corrado was pretty common on the roads, and I was wary of Peugeot reliability and parts availablity for the RCZ. The Veloster looks good, uncommon but road tax here for the Turbo is 10x the CRZ. Also the engine is prone to turbo and value issues, and oil starvation.
Amongst other cars I owned a 1985 MK I and 1988 MKII CRX and a Smart Roadster Coupé Brabus. The CRZ for me is the natural progression, and unlike the Roadster (which I loved) it hasn't blown ECUs, SAM unit, clutch, clutch actuator...
It's been utterly reliable with only consumables replaced - brake discs and pads and a new 12v battery. No timing belt as it's a cam chain driven engine.
No it's not the fastest or best handling hatch, nor is it the most economical hybrid. It's a blend of all which it does really well.
Road Fund tax is £25/year here in the UK and it averages 48 mpg, a combination of town, city and B road driving.
Three driving modes are Eco, Normal and Sport. Eco feels like you've left the handbrake on but it's useful once you depleted the hybrid battery as focus is on regeneration. Also the steering is less responsive and numb. Normal is ideal for driving around town or standard roads. Regen' isn't aggressive, steering is more accurate with less assistance.
Sport mode sharpens the throttle response and weights up the steering as less electronic assistance is applied. Turn in is keen and emphasis is on the hybrid system providing boost to driving so the battery drains swiftly when you're on it.
For me it is practical as an every day car as I can get work bag, gym bag and shopping without dropping the token rear seat. Seat dropped my bike fits in no problem along with bags.
I've no immediate intention of selling as it does everything I need it to.
The HPD Supercharger kit which was offered through Honda it was quite expensive plus installation for the power output gain of around 66BHP. I recall the kit was about £3000, plus fitting. It was also only available for manual gearbox models.
However, it did not invalidate your warranty if fitted by a Honda dealer.
5th owner of a 2013. Bought at 100,000 miles, currently at nearly 170,000 miles. Beat the everloving shit out of it and no issues (other than the faded headlight housings). 6MT
Got an original model when it was 2 years old in Japan.
He’s right about a lot of the issues. The door handles get sticky. The blind spots are insane, so I have to be super careful when changing lanes.
The plastic buttons do become yellow from the sun.
The entertainment system is garbage in this modern day.
Living in Japan, there are a lot of mountain roads. It’s an absolute joy to drive up a winding mountain in Sport mode.
I’ve had mine for 12 years and counting, and I’m not planning of selling it anytime soon.
Why is your entertainment system rubbish? Is it the lack of Bluetooth or sound experience? it has a subwoofer even tweeters so i was curious, i live in Africa and haven't had that yellowish button thing but perhaps it will come with time as I'm heading to year 3 of ownership
@@KeebaAfrica TV reception and responsiveness is terrible, Bluetooth connectivity is limited, iPod connection is glitchy, navigation is clunky, overall user interface is clunky, can’t control music that well.
Speakers are fine.
Positive points are you can control the volume and skip tracks from the steering wheel and you can mute sound quickly with one touch.
Could you share about the tax, shaken and maintenance of owning this, I'm hoping to own one there
@@akisama-jpn the tax and shaken are about the same for a standard car I think. But my car will be about 15 years old next year when I have to pay for my next shaken, so I believe it will be more even expensive than now.
I just took delivery of a brand new Suzuki Swift and it has even less power than this.
But because it weighs less than a ton it is an absolute delight to throw around.
Light weight with great steering and handling over fast and heavy every time.
I bought a brand new Honda Jazz 1.5 five door hatchback back in 2012. For one of the services, the dealer wasn't able to complete the work on the day, and gave me a loan car overnight and for the next day. I was amazed. It was a red CR-Z with paddle shifters. I loved it. I would have loved to keep it, but unfortunately I couldn't afford it. I really enjoyed putting it in sport mode and using the paddle shifters. I remember when you were in eco mode there was green lighting on the dash, and it went red when in sport mode. It's true that rearward vision was not good, but my wife owned a 2003 Toyota Prius at the time, so it wasn't that different. I also remember it was a bit of a stretch back to the seatbelt. I certainly could have happily lived with one. What a beautiful car.
I can tell you that basically nothing goes wrong with a CRZ! My Mum has a white UK spec 2010 model - purchased new. It has not suffered any failures whatsoever in 14 years and only required tyres and some brake consumables to date. It still feels solid too with no rattles or creaks. Its fun to drive, economical and actually quite practical for a small coupe. Above all they look cool and as many comment, are destined to become future classics. A damn shame Honda discontinued them without a replacement.
With my CRZ 2011 I'm now at 200k Km and I had no one issues. Also the clutch is still perfect. Simply a wonderful little car.
Hi team, totally 100% in agreement regarding the CRZ. It was a low volume, specialist, sporty car. Well equipped for its time, nothing extra needed. I listen to the radio when driving so no need for an upgrade. Do the oil changes and filters every six months(no oil dilution issues)and use 95/98 octane fuel to keep the injection system clean and drain and refill the cvt transmission every 40,000 km will keep it healthy. Added benefit of cvt is wider ratio spread so can cruise on the highway at 2000 rpm. If ever a car proves the principle of greater enjoyment from a “slow”car driven fast especially with well tuned suspension and steering it’s this car. On my second one ,2014 cvt Milano red. Had a 2011 white cvt for a couple of years, traded for a civic type r and learnt the hard way about frustration with reining in a fast car in normal traffic. The involvement and joy of driving a CRZ it’s there every time I start it. Great video and great job. Cheers.
These are a hugely enjoyable little nugget in manual guise. All the ‘it’s not a sports car’ numpties that need huge power to get excited can skip entirely. Better for those that actually get it.
Ever since I saw this in the road, I pretty much I love with this car and would love to own one someday. It is not really powerful but glad to hear and other reviews that this is still fun. The fact there is even supercharge model is interesting. I've seen others even done K-swap with these for serious horsepower, which also benefits a weight shed since hybrid don't work on those, thus no more batteries and associated components for those.
I hope Honda in the near future will make another CR-Z, maybe that might be a full EV or a proper hybrid.
Idk what's with Honda especially that era, but they really never fails me with their interior design especially dashboard. They just looks so futuristic, usable and aged well for me. Most early 2000 or mid 2000 cars dash just looks so dated to me, but most Honda's don't suffer. And the exterior styling of this car is just timeless.
I love this little wedge so much. Somebody once told me it's like a modern DeLorean in that it's gorgeous and fun to drive but tops out at like 10 mph.
I like it. Great car and video( as usual). I was in Barcelona in 2010 and there were around 25 cr-z's in various colours all parked on a hill in a line. I wish I still had the photo. It looked epic .
Had a 2011 manual with the cd player. Best car I've ever owned imo.
Edit: haven't watched yet but door handles and blindspots
Agree with the shift feel on the manual, part of why it's the best car I've owned. Also the blindspots you get used to, especially with the mirrors angled for blindspots. And also looking through the roof for anything behind you.
Also, Honda insight, Honda Civic and the new Suzuki Swift hybrid all came manual
I've always really liked these. When my kids are out of the house in a couple years, I'll be looking for a smaller/reliable daily driver and this is going to be on my list.
It's a shame you couldn't get ahold of a manual one. I know they're rare, but it genuinely transforms this car
@@lachlancook6718 In the UK they were only available in manual
Lol rare?
Entire europe had manual only.
Im on the opposite problem than you. I wanted automatic 😂😂
@@F.S92 I have both but manual is fantastic but the CVT is genuinely good too so i can't fault either
Will it be possible to do a W124 as well?
Loved this review! Would it be possible to review a Nissan Maxima A33? Im planning to buy one and would love for you to do a review on it. Keep up the good work!
One of the major perks of the hybrid system is how nice the start/stop is. Especially when paired with the manual. I'm yet to come across a manual car with a better start/stop system - its so good in fact that I actually leave it on. Contrary to ever other manual with a start/stop which I immediately switched off.
Also the information about the Gen 1 & 2 battery faults was back to front.
Completely agree that this car is likely a future classic.
I love my CRZ
The tiny seats are for insurance reasons, for here in the United States at least. Two seaters have higher rates than four seaters.
Think you got your hybrid battery info around the wrong way. There are almost no major issues (especially in terms of failures) with the old Zf1 batteries. Yes they can lose efficiency but they can be rejuvenated. The update zf2 lithium ion batteries are more prone to failure and way more cases of catastrophic issues with those. The first gen is definitely the one to go for in terms of overall reliability
I thought it was odd that the Ni-MH battery would be more sensitive to low temperatures than the Li-ion version.
I'm more knowledgeable of Toyota hybrid systems, and the Ni-MH batteries are known to last very long. I'm sure it helps that those are easier to cool. I thought it was odd for those from Honda to be problematic.
By the way nothing wrong with the view out the back. Same as a Prius( have owned three still own one)and has the benefit of blocking adaptive headlights on auto settings. Adjust the passenger seat properly and you can see the rear three-quarter and set the left mirror to only see a small bit of the body( also the mirrors have a wider view on the outer third of the lens) plus the camera covers the rest. Simple enough. Cheers.
it's definitely hard to see out the back when reversing out of a parking space but one thing i wish this video mentioned is that the reversing camera has that weird/awkward angle in order to help see crossing traffic when backing up (which is obviously so good since i'd never be able to see it myself with two SUVs parked on either side).
I still have mine from Brand new, no issues.
This has to be one of the best reviews for this car, because the community helped a lot to do this video. I hope my longtime experience also helped :)
As someone who picked up a CRZ recently I am very happy to see you guys thoughts on it. :)
Best review you've done so far. Cheers.
Love this car, would get this easily over a audi, bmw. Not a fan of the manual (probably cant drive one lol) but good car
Im Just waiting for the Prelude video
I recall when this car was named Car of the Year by Wheels. I think i might have seen about 3 of them on the road since. They were a complete failure sales wise.
Test drove this and a Jazz in 2011. The Jazz won on vision and practicality. And fun to drive.
As an owner of a 2018 fk8 type r, I can testify that the paint is still shit. In fact, writing this has probably caused it to chip or scratch again 🤦🏻♂️
I love my manual 2013 cr-z that I daily but I purchased the car solely to swap in a K 24 engine in the coming future.. they’re is a little flip up cubby right above the cup holder that you missed.
Now that is the only comment I can see.
I just can't see who buy this? It is sport 2 door hatch with underpowered hybrid. But if you k swap it you get a nice fun zippy little fun car
Nice car, was about to buy one , but got worried about parts. Enjoyed driving it though
My CRZ had the o-ring in the CVT temperature sensor disintegrate, which slowly drained it of CVT fluid... so look for any oil leaks no mater how small because that can destroy the CVT... IDK if the MT version has a similar issue, but other tthan that this lil guy hasnt given me any problems for the past 12 years.
Edit: after watching the video I agree with every single thing you said about how it drives. I love how it handles even if its kinda slow, and that small bit of torque that the electric motor injects when overtaking is really nice, specially after hitting the S+.
ive been looking for a first car and the crz is one of the highest cars on my consideration list, so this video came at a right time! thank you redriven😁😁
Highly recommend. I've had an auto and traded in for a manual. Both are fantastic for spirited driving too. Just get a good set of tyres to get the most out of them
Great review guys always worth it ...can you please please please do a review on the Kia Optima GT I've been waiting for your thoughts on this cheers.
I own a 2010 dark gray CRZ with a straights pipe exhaust with HKS muffler , pod air intake and bigger air intake manifold from the honda fit. Sounds really good
I own one for four years now, almost reaching 140.000 km. It was dirt cheap back then.
You need to drive the manual transmission. It's way more fun! Shifting is really precise - better than in most cars I've had so far.
Four years and 85.000 kilometers later, I had to buy some wipers, filters, brakes completely once around 125tkms, and recently I had to swap the ABS-module.
That's it!
The driver's seat is worn, the headlights start to yellow. That's a problem.
But it has been extremely reliable so far.
I live in Germany, so many times on the autobahn, I'm ging top speed.
My car is the first Model, with the NiMH battery. There's no degradation of the battery up until now.
Imho, it would be the cooles car ever, if it had the power to weight ratio of the old CR-X Vtecs.
But nevertheless, I love this car!
Do love the look of the car but was underwhelmed what was under the bonnet. If it had a K series motor would be commanding insane used prices now.
4:00 Hey, that's my car 😅
I own a NZ new 2011 manual, becoming more relevant as fuel prices continue to increase. Only issue has been the glove box lid breaking.
please review my Honda Odyssey RB1 next!
Mate of mine has a Mugen-spec manual one.
I love these cars! Really want one still as a second car to daily…
4:15 Nice.
Watching this video because i might take a look at a CRZ soon for sale.
One hand i'm excited because it seems like the perfecft car for me, something unique, bit economical, sporty, reliable and enough space for my daily things but maintace and repairs always scare me, my Corsa OPC gave me some trauma.
My car is a 2016 CR-Z.
It's always perfect.
There'a actually been another manual hybrid- the original Honda Insight! If you look at it, you'll even see that it's the missing link between CR-X and CR-Z. A CR-Y, if you would.
So good over here in NZ, you can take the Aussie prices and cut it half, 6000-16,000 NZD. I had a 2014 just like in the video and it only cost 10k NZ.
I love my phase 2 CRZ. I regularly drag race it for fun here in the UK. and yes.. you can still buy the HKS Supercharger kit for them. I also on purposely didnt go for the version with the nav... its so bad its not worth it and touchscreens are shit, even in modern cars. if you cant park something this small anyway you shouldn't be driving.
Pardon my ignorance but I'm confused by the paddle shifters on a car with CVT transmission. What actually takes place when you activate the paddle shifters?? I was under the assumption that a CVT transmission only had 1 gear.
Can the older nickel batteries be swapped for the newer lithium ones?
At the price point, I'd take the Toyota 86 but for a smidge more in my country I'd start looking at early examples of the Jaguar F-Type (2014-ish).
How much is an F-Type where you live? You'd be spending three to ten times more than a CR-Z to get an early F-Type in Australia.
Comparing a CRZ with an F-Type is a strange one. Very different cars.
I have 2 Honda cr-zs (check my shorts) The 2014 CVT with almost 200000kms has an issue with the door handle and other than that nothing else has given me issues. The other is a 2010 CR-Z 6MT with 40000kms on it and it's perfect, only comment is these cars need more oomph. The 2014 is getting all the experimental mods (150kw atm no major mods yet) and eventually a K-swap. Amazing cars though, that steering ratio is heavenly. My CVT has no whining noise... not sure what that's about xD check your CVT fluid dipstick located under the air intake.
Do not replace your door handles with oem, Go onto aliexpress or temu and get the metal printed part that swaps out with the plastic equivalent. The plastic piece fails due to heat making the material weaker then being used morphs its oem shape and eventually it stops "gripping" the metal piece is Hella cheap and stops this all together and the door handles feel so much more solid when opening. can do it in less than a hour if you know your way around cars, for those who don't the CR-Z forum (best on the planet) has loads of guides and tips that anyone can follow with some patience.
Comments on the suspension, It shares the Fn2 type R suspension for those saying it's like a jazz. Also no hardly any of these cars have lost their IMA battery, i believe on the forum less than a handful have had to replace their ima battery. Interesting comments on the EGR valve, i will check on both of my Cr-z's and compare each part with 160000kms difference, but i cannot say for certain if that's an issue or not. Haven't had any fault codes other than minor misfires (changed spark plugs fix)
He is 100% correct about maintaining the CVT with genuine Honda fluids. Look I'm not here to nitpick on every comment, i am simply comparing it with my personal ownership experience. I'd always pick a Honda over Toyota if we talking hybrids, hands down. Honda is #1 when it comes to electronics and the CR-Z was such a passion project from Honda that i believe these cars are timeless and are in their own rank, not a successor to the CRX but more like the Grandchild of it. Please go look up Bisimoto 500hp CR-Z and you will realise the untapped potential of this car.
So you don't recommend Black & Gold supermarket motor oil?
Have been looking into an entry level easier to maintain sports like coupe/car, considering GT86 and CR-Z, am not a racer, know the comparison may not be direct or correct, but I am not seeing any other sporty coupe alternative
What goes wrong with a Honda CR...you lost me. Damn Adam, you still haven't made the swim to NZ for the NSX...I'll swim out and meet you halfway...
😂
Can also get a hks supercharger kit
Does anyone know what the crz is like k-swapped? I'm looking to buy a k-swapped crz but I'm unsure about the reliability of such a swap.
I gotta ask Adam Morris, what watch are you wearing?
Keen to see a review on fourth generation (2017>) Kia rio
Im thinking of getting one of these for a daily because they make them in a manual
glad to see people are really starting to see the CRZ for what it is. I owned mine for a year and it was a perfect fit for me being in the military. Need to drive thousands of miles across 5 different states while lugging 500 lbs of your personal belongings? No one expects such a small car to do that while getting 40+ mpg. Also funny how AU and Euro actually have backseats, the American sold ones just have square indents for storage and a warning label saying "this is not a seat". Mine was also a manual and yeah it's kind of slow my 6 gears on a back road in sport mode is much more fun than one would expect.
(arbitrary the door handles suck comment)
Saying that, you’re much better off getting an MX5.
I did a testdrive with the 184hp version of the mx5 nd. What a nice car
2010ish Honda had a thing for throwing blindspots everywhere. I don't know who buys a CR-Z because they want a fast car tho, it's a little econo-nugget
15000 aus dollars is quite expensive. In poland there are ones for sale for 9k aus equivalent
The only downside on your CR-Z is, that it is a CVT. Manual is more impressive.
The original Honda Insight was also a manual.
Can you upgrade the nickel metal hydride battery to a lithium ion battery?
Crz was first 6-speed manual, Insight only had 5
The battery is not easy to swap but someone did it
Technically, yes - I think it's a drop-in replacement? However the IMA system will throw an error when you do so - but you still have boost and regen. Look up PeterPerkins, he has a whole series on this.
That being said - the NiMH batteries actually last longer - they can be rejuvenated (Again, a procedure figured out by PeterPerkins) to extend their lifespan, where as the Lithium's can't.
@@DarkStarZN thank you. That is interesting.
Can you guys review a 10th gen civic?
an MG8 could out run this hot hatch at almost the same price!!
what a great time to be buying cars.
@mightycarmods what about this one and install the super-charger kit? :D
When did the ima go to lithium ion?
The rear seats are good for carrying dogs and seatbelts for their harnesses.
Try compare cr-z and honda n660 interior,not much different
That front corner repair job is pretty piss poor. Yikes
Must be the only honda cr-z left in Australia.
Beetle last gen used review?
A90 supra next please
Azzaaaaaah (Hello Adam)
The biggest problem with these is that the RSX exists.
the fuck you can get one in UK for 3k GBP the worse ones...
I still cant believe this one Wheels COTY….
"Sports car"?? Hahahaaa
when i was young that car was called crx. i actually had the first black one in finland. loved the car. thanks, adam,for not promoting the antikid r-bow on your phone
"antikid r-bow"?
@@yolosaurusrex90 you know, the p-ride thing. bunch of *******
@@TimQwant oh, you're a moron. I see. Enjoy your brain rot
So good nobody bought one?
2 + 2 lol like the original crx
Just get a new Corolla, sheesh.
Such wasted potential with no proper 1.8-2.4L v-tec Honda engine
Prius arse end, nuh not for me
What goes wrong? The styling?
CVTs are HORRIBLE
At least you have an option. Give how slow the car is and disappointing in terms of sportiness. Cvt is a good option
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I did consider this car 2nd hand. I do like it. I just don’t t like the poor visibility to the back. And a hybrid. Eeewwwwww
what a Fuggin sexy car 🤤
I wanted one of these when I was a kid so badly. Shame that they only had 6 speed manual in European market. Id love it even with a cvt.
You're probably the only one who prefers the CVT🤣.
@@CheapBastard1988lol most likely 😂hahah
Still given how "slow" and disappointing it is in terms of sportiness. Cvt is not an issue. God knows you are not going anywhre quickly with it. Might as well drive it as a eco friendly city coupe.😅
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