The Little Coupe That Never Could: Honda Drops CR-Z After 6 Years Of Dismal Sales

Production of the made-in-Japan car will cease by year’s end, Honda spokeswoman Nao Uzawa said Friday. Output for the U.S. market has already ended as Honda places its green-car focus there around the re-engineered Accord Hybrid with its upgraded drivetrain.

The CR-Z hit the market in 2010 to rave reviews for its inspired styling and the novelty of applying an environmentally friendly gasoline-electric system in a sporty ride. The package promised to be a modern spiritual incarnation of the tuner-classic CR-X, blending the best of Honda’s latest eco-friendly technology with its heritage for spirited driving.

MDarringer - 7/8/2016 8:03:43 AM

+1 Boost

Offering with with something like a 2.0T minus the hybrid with Si trimmings would have exploded sales.

The nose was ugly, but that was in theory fixable.

The CRZ was an opportunity squandered. Sports coupes are a hard sell, but the hybrid made it worse because it was completely impractical as a hybrid and as a hybrid it was no longer a sport coupe.

Agent009 - 7/8/2016 11:28:12 AM

+1 Boost

Agreed. The issues could have been fixed, but Honda never had the guts to admit the glaring mistakes

carsnyc - 7/8/2016 11:49:48 AM

+3 Boost

They sell so many regular Civics and Accords that this is a non-issue for them.

cidflekken - 7/8/2016 1:06:14 PM

+4 Boost

Wasn't hybriddy enough. Wasn't sporty enough. Wasn't roomy enough. Destined to fail from day 1.

mpls - 7/8/2016 4:46:23 PM

+3 Boost

Looks killed the car, if it looked better, maybe it could have survived.
A company that produced the S2000 & NSX, i cannot beleive they made this shitbox..

Runamukk - 7/8/2016 9:47:01 PM

+3 Boost

As a previous owner of a 91 CRX si I can wholeheartedly say they squandered the opportunity to make this car both nostalgic and awesome. Should have offered it with a 2.0T and some hi performance versions like MDarringer said.