Fuel efficient, reliable, and a bit of fun... Honda CR-Z?

[TNThomas]

Currently, I am looking to buy a new car. I will use the car for my daily commute of about an hour per day. So fuel efficiency and reliability are my main concers. However, I like driving cars, so a bit of fun would be nice. I don’t need a lot of power at all, but good handling, nice looks, and just a car that not everyone drives would be nice!

All in all, after some ‘research’, I think the Honda CR-Z matches my wishes. So my main two questions are:
- What do you think of the Honda CR-Z?
- What other cars should I consider?

[ZX10R NIN]

First thing the CR-Z will not be fuel efficient if you want to get a hustle on they don't like to be worked hard, saying that though they can be fun though, a set of springs with some good rubber helps things & try to find a GT model.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

[T6 vanman]

I bought a real ropey one for T6 junior to learn to drive in,
The insurance is cheap and tax at 20 or 30 depending on spec,
I think JHMZF13** D as opposed to B or C has the better lithium battery
The base JHMZF132 is devoid of the toys you'll want
The JHMZF134 doesn't have Bluetooth phone connectivity

They are quite economical an easy 42~45 with a commute or on the motorway and if A road commuting..more is possible - even T6 junior learning in town crawling in the lower gears is getting 40,
They give the impression of being faster than they are, but it's great & engaging to be able to prod the loud pedel WOT without endangering your licence, I love stealing it … but then I drive a van

T6 juniors is real ropey, mega mileage £1k heap but has been super reliable
Cant recommend more highly for you

[ChrisH72]

I quite like them but still not entirely convinced that hybrids are the way to go.

It’d be useful to know your budget so people can suggest a few alternatives.

There’s quite a few warm and even hot small petrol hatches which are fun to drive and also very economical. CRZ is stylish and different though, and becoming pretty cheap too.

[bigmowley]

Mrs Bigmowley had one for 7years from new. A full spec GT. Wildly odd car. She loved it,
Strict 2 seater, even tiny kids don’t fit in the back. Most idiosyncratic dash of any car we’ve ever owned, there are 3 different clock positions depending on what is switched on. Wierd.
Quite slow and not that economical, she averaged 45mpg over 70,000 miles. Her X3 diesel did the same. Not bad to drive at up to 7/10ths but fell apart after that, allegedly benchmarked on an Elise , , , we have a 111S S1 Elise and the Honda was nowhere. Better without the standard eco tyres.
Totally reliable, well it’s a Honda, and brilliant looking but a massive missed opportunity for Honda. Bung a 1.6L VTEC lump in and it would have been brilliant.
Quirky, try one for an extended test drive first would be my advice.

[TNThomas]

Thanks for all the replies and the useful information!

At the moment, I am also looking into the Hyundai Veloster. So I will decide between these two cars. It’s a shame that test driving one is kind of hard to arrange in my country due to COVID-19.