Report: Honda May Stop Selling the Insight and CR-Z Hybrids in Europe

The Honda Insight and CR-Z hybrids may be discontinued in Europe before the arrival of next-generation models, because of poor sales. A company source quoted by AutoExpress said the next-generation Insight and CR-Z would continue to be offered in North America and Japan, but not in Europe, since current hybrid models returned disappointing sale numbers.

Launched in 2010, the Honda CR-Z was criticized for its relatively low combined output of 122hp and average performance, although the Japanese carmaker billed it as a “sport hybrid coupe”. The car combines a hybrid powertrain with a manual gearbox (a first for a series production hybrid). In 2012, Honda upped the car’s combined output to 135 hp, but that didn’t result in a sales boom.

The CR-Z seems to be missing the point, as it’s neither fast (0-100 km/h takes 9.1 seconds in the Sport model) nor economical enough for a hybrid. Honda’s claimed average fuel economy is 5 l/100 km (56.6 mpg UK/47 mpg US), which doesn’t quite justify paying a premium for the hybrid technology.

The Honda Insight failed to impress Europeans as well, despite being much more frugal than the CR-Z, at 4.1 l/100 km (68.9 mpg UK/57.3 mpg US) and 96 g/km of CO2. That is still behind the segment’s leader, the Toyota Prius, which claims 3.9 l/100 km (72.4 mpg UK/60.3 mpg US) and 89 g/km of CO2.

The good news is that Honda’s new Jazz hybrid and the upcoming NSX hybrid supercar won’t be affected by the move regarding the CR-Z and the Insight, as the carmaker says its decisions to axe models are strictly based on each car’s sales performance.

By Dan Mihalascu

PHOTO GALLERY

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The CR-Z is offered exclusively with a mild-hybrid drivetrain comprising of a 102HP 1.5-liter iVTEC 4-cylinder engine and a 20HP electric motor that deliver a combined output of 122HP and 128 lb-ft. of torque at 1,000 to 1,500 rpm with the standard six-speed manual gearbox and 123 lb-ft with the optional CVT that costs $650 and includes steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.