Add in destination charges and you'll be able to get the new 2011 Honda CR-Z for less than $20,000.
Honda dealers will get the official go to start selling the maker’s latest hybrid model, on August 10, and the Japanese maker says the 2011 Honda CR-Z will carry a base price of $19,200 – plus a $750 destination charge – making it one of the market’s lowest-price gasoline-electric vehicles.
Reminiscent of the long-lamented Honda CR-X, the sporty 2-seat coupe will be offered only with a hybrid powertrain, in this case a 1.5-liter VTEC-based gasoline engine mated to the maker’s well-known Integrated Motor Assist system.
In an unusual move, Honda will offer CR-Z buyers the choice of a 6-speed manual gearbox or the Continuously Variable Transmission the carmaker’s other hybrid models are normally outfitted with. But even the CVT will come with sporty wheel-mounted paddle shifters.
There’s a three-mode drive system that can be configured to Norm, Econ or Sporty.
Initial reviews of the CR-Z have been mixed, some critics finding the driveline a bit underwhelming in performance, though others have said it’s more than expected performance for a hybrid.
For those who prefer to emphasize fuel economy, the 2011 Honda CR-Z includes several green-minded driving tools, including Eco Assist and Eco Scoring, both aimed at showing a motorist how to maximize mileage.
A well-equipped 2011 Honda CR-Z EX with navigation will go for $23,210.
By comparison, the 4-seat Honda Insight carries a base sticker price of $20,550. And the 2010 Toyota Prius, the most popular hybrid on the market, goes off the lot at a starting price of $22,150.