Six Rules Of The Road You Should Observe (But Probably Won't)
Journalists who cover the auto industry drive a lot of cars. Which means we like to think we know a... Read More
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The sport seat offers fine all-around support and looks good.
The rear cargo area was obviously designed with kid seats in mind for the European and Japanese market, but in the U.S. we get a pair of recessed, carpeted plastic trays in their stead.
The rear cargo area will accommodate a couple of golf bags with the rear bulkhead folded down and two suitcases with it up, not too bad considering this car’s diminutive size.
In the space where the back seats would be (and they're optional in some markets) there are two deep plastic binnacles that seem purposely built to make sitting back there excruciating-probably a good thing, since there are no seatbelts.
All CR-Zs also get a nifty cargo cover that can be relocated to the middle of the floor, and stretched up into place to segregate small loads out of sight in the back of the cargo hold.
QUALITY | 6 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
The sport seat offers fine all-around support and looks good.
Inside Line
The rear cargo area was obviously designed with kid seats in mind for the European and Japanese market, but in the U.S. we get a pair of recessed, carpeted plastic trays in their stead.
Autoblog
The rear cargo area will accommodate a couple of golf bags with the rear bulkhead folded down and two suitcases with it up, not too bad considering this car’s diminutive size.
Car and Driver
In the space where the back seats would be (and they're optional in some markets) there are two deep plastic binnacles that seem purposely built to make sitting back there excruciating-probably a good thing, since there are no seatbelts.
Automobile
All CR-Zs also get a nifty cargo cover that can be relocated to the middle of the floor, and stretched up into place to segregate small loads out of sight in the back of the cargo hold.
Motor Trend
Okay, the 2012 Honda CR-Z is a two-seat coupe. But its low roofline, high-voltage battery pack, and modern crash safety and roof-crush regulations all conspire to make it small inside as well as out. There's not even the pretense of a rear seat, and the high floor of the load deck means you won't be carrying any large rectangular boxes either.
In other markets, Honda does fit vestigial rear seats, but new rear-seat headrest requirements conflicted with the angle of the roof--so they were dropped. Their traces remain in a pair of storage wells the size of dishpans, and a panel that flips down to cover them. The lid over that area resembles nothing so much as the cover of an Igloo cooler.
The three-position cargo cover will fold down so two sets of golf clubs can be carried. But golfers and others will find the liftover high and the hatch opening narrow. Total cargo space is given as 25.1 cubic feet, far less than the capacity of a subcompact five-door hatch with its rear seat folded down. Have we mentioned that the CR-Z is a low car?
The CR-Z is a bit more than 13 feet long, which is about a foot shorter than the Insight five-door hybrid hatchback from which it's derived. The two front seats are roomy and supportive, though the seating position is lower than in the Insight. The cloth seats are well bolstered, and are both wide and tall, meaning most drivers will fit comfortably. Two adult men may still find their knees touching, and the passenger will need to keep his left leg clear of the shift lever for the six-speed manual transmission so the driver doesn't ram it into his knee.
Conclusion
Driving the 2012 Honda CR-Z may mean giving up a lot--luggage, pets, and all but a single, carefully chosen friend.
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