Honda CR-Z hybrid

KBB picks: Honda Insight, Ford Escape hybrid and Chevy Volt

Cheapest to own hybrid after 5 year according to KBB

Best hybrid and plug-in deals after 5 years of ownership

Kipplingers, Forbes, Intellichoice, Consumer Reports, US News & World Reports, etc. have all offered up best and most cost-effective vehicle lists in recent months, and it’s sometimes a little surprising the lack of consensus. Consequently, I’ve often wondered if there isn’t some sort of advertising-related objective.

Regardless, these lists are still interesting and usually useful for buyers, and the latest one comes from Kelly Blue Book. Read more…

Honda CR-Z hybrid testimonials

Is the Honda CR-Z a worthy hybrid?

Would you buy another CR-Z hybrid?

Are you the owner of a Honda CR-Z hybrid?

Tell us about your experiences with the CR-Z hybrid. What kind of gas mileage do you achieve in your hybrid CR-Z, and in what kind of driving?

What advice would you give to potential CR-Z hybrid buyers? What tips can you provide to other CR-Z hybrid owners?

Add your Honda CR-Z hybrid testimonial in the comments.

Check out sister site Soultek.com for more on the Honda CR-Z hybrid.

Cheaper compact hybrids coming from Honda

Hybrids the key to Honda

More mid-sized Honda hybrids also coming

While the idea of world cars seems to be gaining traction in the auto industry as a way to scale down costs, meeting regional demands is still going to require regional products according to Honda. Hence, while cars like the Fit will be sold in several different markets, the next-gen Fit will be developed “at each R&D base in the world’s six regions simultaneously” to ensure a proper fit for each each market.

Likewise, cheaper hybrids will also be a bigger part of the formula. Read more…

Honda CR-Z hybrid recalled

Time for software update.

Requires a software update

Honda has announced the recall of almost 1 million vehicles, including some models of the CR-Z hybrid.

According to Honda, all 2011 CR-Z hybrids with manual transmissions, about 5,626 hybrid cars, require a software upgrade to fix a problem where the CR-Z hybrid could unexpectedly roll either forward or backward. Read more…

Mugen’s 197-hp Honda CR-Z hybrid: Does it mean anything?

Helping to make eco-modification cool?

Is there a bridge between performance and eco-tuning?

By the time Mugen is done fine tuning the Honda CR-Z hybrid, they’ll have added 15 percent more power to their current CR-Z tuner that now offers 197 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque. Unfortunately, while the tuned CR-Z can achieve 0 – 60 in about 6.6 seconds when in ‘Mugen mode’, it only achieves about 25 mpg.

However, when in eco mode, the Mugen modified CR-Z achieves better fuel economy than a stock CR-Z hybrid. Read more…

Honda hybrid supplies limited through the summer

Buy your Honda hybrid now.

Shortage of parts could last until end of the year

According to MSNBC Honda’s hybrid production will be extremely limited until some time later this year. Consequently, dealers will find it hard to refill their supplies of the Civic, Insight and CR-Z hybrid vehicles.

Additionally, other fuel efficient models will also be limited. Read more…

Hybrid vehicle production stalled by Japanese earthquake

Hybrid supplies set to decline just as gas prices set to increase?

Toyota, Lexus and Honda hybrid supply issues?

Today, Toyota produces most of its hybrid cars in Japan, as does Honda. Likewise, the Nissan Leaf is currently only produced in Japan. Unfortunately, Japanese auto production has been halted by the earthquake and subsequent tsunami.

According to some reports the production shutdown in Japan could reduce auto exports by 10’s of thousands of cars, reducing supplies and possibly leading to pricing increases. Read more…

2012 Honda Civic hybrid switching to lithium

Can Honda finally take on the Prius?

But can it really top the Prius in the city?

At one time Honda and hybrid cars fit well into the same sentence. Not these days. Whether its Civic hybrid owners fuming over IMA issues, automotive critics slamming Insight hybrid execution, or the purpose of a two-seat hybrid sports car that barely feels sporty, Honda hybrids aren’t really hot.

But Honda hopes to change that with the lithium-powered 2012 Civic hybrid. Read more…

9 of 10 of EPA’s most fuel efficient are hybrids

Prius, hybrids, dominate EPA fuel efficiency list

No diesels this time around

The Toyota Prius is the most fuel efficient vehicle sold in the US according to the EPA, and of the ten most fuel efficient vehicles sold in the US, 9 are hybrid cars. The Smart ForTwo was the only non-hybrid to make the list coming in at number 7, behind both a luxury hybrid and a hybrid SUV. Read more…

Honda CR-Z: The tuner’s hybrid

Can hybrid tuning spark an increase in hybrid sales?

Mugen and other CR-Z hybrid modifications key to CR-Z sales?

Last month Honda sold 1,419 CR-Z hybrids, which isn’t too bad for a two-seat hybrid vehicle. Nevertheless, since the CR-Z hybrid is just hitting the market, it’s not hard to wonder whether such sales figures are sustainable.

The answer to that question might have been found at the SEMA show where modified CR-Z hybrids took center stage. Read more…