HONDA / ZF1 / ZF2 / 2010–2016

Honda CR-Z

A compact hybrid coupe that made the unusual decision to pair Honda’s IMA system with an available six-speed manual and three drive modes.

Gallery ↓Specs ↓What to check ↓

01 / KNOW THE CAR

Hybrid.
But playful.

Honda introduced the CR-Z in Japan in February 2010 with a 1.5-litre i-VTEC engine plus IMA hybrid assist. The launch offered both a 6-speed manual and a CVT with paddle shifters, alongside SPORT, NORMAL and ECON modes.

Honda 2010 Japan CR-Z launch reference ↗

Choose the gearbox first

The six-speed manual is central to the CR-Z’s enthusiast identity, while the CVT offers a different ownership brief. Confirm the exact car before comparing prices.

Hybrid health is not optional

Assess IMA battery behaviour, warning history and charging/assist operation. A clean body and nice wheels cannot compensate for ignored hybrid-system issues.

Preserve the light-car feel

Brakes, tyres, alignment, dampers and bushes shape the CR-Z more than huge power figures. Check modifications for balance rather than just appearance.

Know the market differences

Japan and UK cars can differ in trim and equipment. Verify navigation/media, lighting, keys, options and any parts you expect to work seamlessly in Britain.

02 / VISUAL PROFILE

More than
one angle.

Generation-correct reference imagery is prioritised. Where a photo shows a different trim or a modified car, that distinction is stated directly in the credit instead of being hidden.

Image sources and licences. Tokumeigakarinoaoshima / Wikimedia Commons — CC0 · Fiver, der Hellseher / Wikimedia Commons — CC BY-SA 4.0 · M 93 / Wikimedia Commons — attribution licence · Flow in edgewise / Wikimedia Commons — CC BY 3.0 / GFDL · Flow in edgewise / Wikimedia Commons — CC BY 3.0 / GFDL

03 / REFERENCE SPECS

Numbers with
context.

These are generation/model references, not a promise about an individual vehicle. Verify the exact chassis, build year, grade, transmission and equipment before purchase.

Years2010–2016

Chassis familyZF1 / ZF2

Powertrain1.5L i-VTEC + IMA

DriveFront-wheel drive

Manual option6-speed manual

Automatic optionCVT + paddle shifters

Drive modesSPORT / NORMAL / ECON

OutputVerify year / market

Put it against its rivals.

Add this car to My Garage, compare it with two other machines, then move into Japan Motor Hub only when research becomes a sourcing decision.

DRIVE → Japan Motor Hub