The 2018 Honda CR-Z: Is it the Car You Have Been Waiting For?

The 2018 Honda CR-Z is the long-awaited update to the fun and funky Fit-based model that has enjoyed a modest following among small car enthusiasts. This new CR-Z may be the car you have been waiting for if you have a taste for a tight handling, efficient, and affordable sports coupe.

Honda Heritage

The new Honda CR-Z will borrow heavily from its stablemate, the iconic and reliable Honda Civic, and enthusiasts believe that this is a good thing. A shortened wheelbase compared to the Civic, along with rumored turbo power, is sure to give Honda and future CR-Z buyers what they want: namely, an affordable and dynamic sports coupe that brings Honda’s Formula One racing credibility to the street.

Aggressive Styling

The outgoing model of CR-Z had a look all its own, but the new 2018 CR-Z pictured in early renderings released to the public and automotive press show a low-slung sports coupe, whose shortened wheelbase and wide stance provide a strong base from which Honda has built a body that is at once futuristic while evoking the styling seen on some of Honda’s greatest hits.

A Sports Coupe Deal

Unlike the Civic Type-R and the NSX, the new CR-Z is not targeted to the relatively rarefied audience of sport tuners and weekend ravers. Rather, with the new CR-Z, Honda designers are planning on bringing their vision of automotive style into driveways across the United States. Chief among the goals of the CR-Z team is to make the car affordable and efficient, as well as offer strong power and good handling. Although the new car will not be as targeted towards economy as the vehicle it replaces, the new CR-Z promises a genuine performance car from Honda at a price that should make it a good value proposition.

New Power

To deliver on this goal of a more powerful, better-to-drive CR-Z, Honda will be dropping the hybrid powertrain that resides under the hood of the last generation of CR-Z instead opting for a powerful, yet small displacement, conventional gasoline engine. Honda enthusiasts will be familiar with the VTEC name and will be excited to see a turbocharged 2.0 VTEC four banger, borrowed from the Type R and re-tuned for this application, under the aerodynamic hood of the new CR-Z. This turbocharged mill is a new one for Honda and can also be found residing under the hood of performance variants of the Civic. Given the relatively lighter weight and shorter length of the CR-Z compared to the Civic, even a retuned version of the 2.0-liter will push the new CR-Z firmly into the ranks of performance sport coupes.

For years, Honda enthusiasts and Honda’s American dealerships have been looking for a gutsy sports coupe that draws on and highlights Honda’s racing pedigree and street cred. If you have been waiting for the same thing, then the new 2018 Honda CR-Z may satisfy your cravings for an excellent vehicle.

*Based on 2016 EPA mileage/highway estimates and driving range ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your MPGe/MPG and driving range will vary depending on driving conditions, how you drive and maintain your vehicle, battery age/condition, and other factors. For additional information about EPA ratings, visit http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/label/learn-more-PHEV-label.shtml

*MSRP excluding tax, license, registration, $835.00 destination charge and options. Dealer prices may vary.