Honda CR-Z

It seems like a great idea: a sporty two-seat hybrid with a manual and styling evoking the early-Eighties CRX. A 1.5-liter gas engine and an electric motor make 130 hp and 140 lb-ft with the six-speed manual; a CVT version makes 127 and 130, respectively. The CR-Z offers Honda’s superb chassis response and ergonomics, but both performance and fuel economy are unremarkable. Factor in the lack of an all-electric driving mode or plug-in capability and the CR-Z is lacking in the hybrid segment.