Honda axes Insight and CR-Z in the UK

Honda axes Insight and CR-Z in the UK

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AmitG

Original Poster:

3,272 posts

159 months

Thursday 27th February 2014
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It's sad news IMHO. But if there are not enough customers, there is not much else that Honda can do.

I had an Insight and really loved it. It wasn't the last word in refinement but it had a fun and a charm all of its own, and it was surprisingly agile on twisty roads. I only sold it because I needed something bigger. I guess that a hybrid version of the Civic Tourer would fill the space left by the Insight, but there isn't one yet.

The CR-Z was also really cool. The only thing is that it felt underpowered. A few more BHP and a few grand off the price and perhaps it could have become a hit, there was nothing else quite like it.

It's always a shame to see interesting and unusual cars disappear from the marketplace. It leaves the Honda UK lineup looking rather thin. I think it is just Jazz, Civic and CR-V now? With only the Jazz available as a hybrid.

Interested to hear any other thoughts.

Deerfoot

4,897 posts

183 months

Thursday 27th February 2014
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As a Honda owner (and a bit of a convert as well, my last 3 family cars have been Hondas after a lot of Germans) I find it a bit disappointing that Honda now have a pretty drab model line up in the UK.

My Accord really is a decent car, I tried the competitors and for the money the Accord was an easy choice for me. Of course most people will aspire to a BMW or an Audi and I think Honda's pricing structure killed the Accord in this country, new they were overpriced.

The present Civic is a poor package financially too, I received an e-mail from Honda last week inviting me to look at a Civic Tourer, it was £27,000 for a 1.6 diesel albeit with leather etc etc. I really do not know how they expect to shift them at that price.

I'm not surprised that the Insight has gone, I can not remember the last time I saw one, the Prius must outsell it 10-1.

I'm sad to see the CR-Z go, it was a missed opportunity for Honda IMHO.

Honda UK really needs to get a grip.

Edited by Deerfoot on Thursday 27th February 17:12

5 o'clock tea

29 posts

125 months

Saturday 1st March 2014
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CR-Z was recently axed in other European countries a few months ago, so it comes to me as no surprise it has to happen in the UK as well.

As a CR-Z owner I fondly remember the impression it gave that Honda was back on track and hybrid was the trend to be... Three years down the line and I'm looking at non hybrid engines to replace it when the time comes. It still feels special as it is a rare sight on the road, and has that special Honda feeling. Good car it is if you forgive its lack of straight line performance.

I tried the gen 2, wasn't convinced it was better than the gen1, and the lack of one in the showroom combined with the pushiness of the salesmen made me think its days were counted...

I don't know what the NSX and Civic Type R will bring to the mix, but can only hope Honda will shine again, it is a brand that deserves it.

hondafreek

225 posts

169 months

Thursday 6th March 2014
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Sad times, but if they aren't selling, they have no choice. £27000 for a civic estate is way too much.

I was pleased to see the Civic Type R look so bold and brash, which is so far from removed from the current line up, it just can't get here quick enough.

So my local dealership will only have 3 cars to chose from, interesting.

Deerfoot

4,897 posts

183 months

Thursday 6th March 2014
quotequote all
hondafreek said:
£27000 for a civic estate is way too much.
I went on the Civic Tourer configurator and the price of the car was only the tip of the iceberg with comedy pricing.... They had a high visibility vest (in a Honda branded wallet no less) for £40 and a reflective triangle for breakdowns for £60. These items are available for less than a tenner including postage from eBay.


NPI

1,310 posts

123 months

Thursday 6th March 2014
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The range is pathetic now - it must be a nightmare being a Honda dealer.

You can tell how desperate they are with Jazz - the great thing about Japanese manufactures is the efficiency of production by not making loads of different versions and there used to be 2 Jazz models. Now there's got to be at least 20 - bonkers!

I had a fairly new Accord diesel auto for a day recently and Goodness knows how they hope to sell that against the usual Audi/BMW/Merc alternatives. I can't really put my finger on it but it was just horrible, like driving a large American car. I know they sell it there, do we get the same version now?

Deerfoot

4,897 posts

183 months

Thursday 6th March 2014
quotequote all
NPI said:
I had a fairly new Accord diesel auto for a day recently and Goodness knows how they hope to sell that against the usual Audi/BMW/Merc alternatives. I can't really put my finger on it but it was just horrible, like driving a large American car. I know they sell it there, do we get the same version now?
I chose my Accord after driving the 3 series (harsh ride), A4 (harsh ride, poor refinement) and C-class (poor build quality) partly because of it's relaxed demeanour.

Not everybody aspires to huge wheels and a badge to impress the neighbours.

NPI

1,310 posts

123 months

Thursday 6th March 2014
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I nearly got the previous model but really wanted an auto and they didn't have one then - loved the flexibility of the Honda diesel engine, of all the cars I tested it was one I probably could have lived with as a manual.

We don't really fit the usual demographic (old) for Jazz, but my wife got one of the first ones here and when we came to change it she didn't even want to look at anything else.

hondafreek

225 posts

169 months

Monday 10th March 2014
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NPI said:
I can't really put my finger on it but it was just horrible, like driving a large American car. I know they sell it there, do we get the same version now?
They sell that accord as the Acura TL, their Honda Accord is much different to ours. Lovely looking car too.