MK1 Ford Focus Zetec vs Honda CR-Z

[2o6]

I drove up next to a CR-Z today and my brain started thinking....I wonder which car would win out in a race? Before you laugh me out of the room, consider this



Curb weight

Focus - ~2600lbs

CRZ - ~2800lns

Power output

Focus - 130HP
CRZ - 122HP

0-60

Focus - ~8.8seconds

CRZ - ~9.0 seconds

Skidpad

Focus - 0.81g to 0.84 I keep seeing

CRZ- Solid 0.83g


MPG

CRZ - 37 (highway)

Focus - 32 (highway, but I see around 35 or better)



Then the Focus does have a more sophisticated multilink rear suspension design, in comparison to the CR-Z's torsion beam.

[CALL_911]

If it's an SVT Focus, I'll take that.

Otherwise, I'll walk.

[2o6]

If it's an SVT Focus, I'll take that.

Otherwise, I'll walk.

My car has the suspension bits, but not the power.




The suspension geometry between the SVT model and the basic Zetec is pretty similar. And the Focus really does have one of the best feeling steering systems out there.

[Raza]

I'd take the Honda, but only because I like it more, not because I think it's better. 

[Eye of the Tiger]

2467 lbs
110 hp
0-60: 8 or 9 or 10
skipad: more than u
mpg: 27-35

Accent wins

[ifcar]

I've seen better times than that from the CR-Z manual.

[MX793]

Focus.  CRZ might manage to be a little quicker initially, but after a little spirited driving the battery will go dead and you're left with only the gas engine and lose a considerable amount of your low to mid-range power.

[ifcar]

Focus.  CRZ might manage to be a little quicker initially, but after a little spirited driving the battery will go dead and you're left with only the gas engine and lose a considerable amount of your low to mid-range power.

I never had that problem in the one I drove, because the gas engine can continually recharge it. The only hybrids that are really affected by battery depletion are the ones that can run on electric-only, but even they have the gas engine kick back on to charge it up.

[MX793]

I never had that problem in the one I drove, because the gas engine can continually recharge it. The only hybrids that are really affected by battery depletion are the ones that can run on electric-only, but even they have the gas engine kick back on to charge it up.

Any Hybrid's battery will go dead if you drive it hard for any period of time.  A couple of hard accelerations from a stoplight or an autocross run, probably not, but take it to a track and it will be depleted in a couple of laps.  Every review I've read on the CR-Z mentions that the testers managed to drain the battery completely while flogging it on their test track of on the back roads.

[ifcar]

Any Hybrid's battery will go dead if you drive it hard for any period of time.  A couple of hard accelerations from a stoplight or an autocross run, probably not, but take it to a track and it will be depleted in a couple of laps.  Every review I've read on the CR-Z mentions that the testers managed to drain the battery completely while flogging it on their test track of on the back roads.

I can see that on a track, but I had a CR-Z test car for a week and never lost the electric boost.

[MX793]

I can see that on a track, but I had a CR-Z test car for a week and never lost the electric boost.

How hard were you driving it?  If all you did was stand on the gas every once in a while, it won't drain it.  Flog it up and down the Tail of the Dragon for a day, and it'll probably go dead.

[sportyaccordy]

Hybrids are so fucking stupid

[ifcar]

How hard were you driving it?  If all you did was stand on the gas every once in a while, it won't drain it.  Flog it up and down the Tail of the Dragon for a day, and it'll probably go dead.

Guess it depends on how you use it, then.

[SVT666]

CR-Z unless it's an SVT.

[MexicoCityM3]

The original Focus was a very, very good handler even in base trim. A friend at the office had one. Pretty nifty, in the same great-handling euro-based small Ford tradition as the original Mondeo.

[Xer0]

The CRZ is a stupid car that comes short of what it could be, but it won?t embarrass itself completely.  Also, I doubt you?re making close to 130 anymore what with how old that car is.  I think the CRZ will probably have the advantage but not so much that driver skill won?t be able to compensate if its anything more than mashing the pedal and going straight.

[Cookie Monster]

If Honda had any sense at all, they'd do a K20 swap into the CRZ and make it a CRZ-R or CRZ Si. People already do the swap easily, so it's not like it's any harder for Honda to do.

[2o6]

The original Focus was a very, very good handler even in base trim. A friend at the office had one. Pretty nifty, in the same great-handling euro-based small Ford tradition as the original Mondeo.

Huge reason why every car I look at for it's replacement seems to....well....suck.

[ifcar]

Huge reason why every car I look at for it's replacement seems to....well....suck.

Newer first-gen Focus.

[2o6]

The CRZ is a stupid car that comes short of what it could be, but it won?t embarrass itself completely.  Also, I doubt you?re making close to 130 anymore what with how old that car is.  I think the CRZ will probably have the advantage but not so much that driver skill won?t be able to compensate if its anything more than mashing the pedal and going straight.

If I wasn't making close to 130, I wouldn't be turning around the 8.8 0-60 time.


It's an old car, but not that old. It's not like I've lost 60HP in 10 years.


I dunno, the basic Focus is a really good handling small car. I think a Duratec Focus (2.0L) would bash it's face in.

If Honda had any sense at all, they'd do a K20 swap into the CRZ and make it a CRZ-R or CRZ Si. People already do the swap easily, so it's not like it's any harder for Honda to do.

I don't understand the CRZ. The 1.5L from the Fit only makes 7-8HP fewer than the IMA setup with the insight, and minus the battery pack, I think the CRZ would be far lighter and nimbler.

CR-Z unless it's an SVT.

Aside from the powertrain, the SVT and basic Focus aren't that much different. Stiffer springs, different damping....and that's about it.

I can see that on a track, but I had a CR-Z test car for a week and never lost the electric boost.

This is a race, not a daily drive.

Focus.  CRZ might manage to be a little quicker initially, but after a little spirited driving the battery will go dead and you're left with only the gas engine and lose a considerable amount of your low to mid-range power.

Plus the excess weight...

Newer first-gen Focus.

I don't want to buy the same car twice, but it's starting to look like I will end up doing so.

[ifcar]

This is a race, not a daily drive.

A race once wouldn't be a problem. It's a continuous demand for boost that could conceivably wear it down, not a single 0-60 run.

I don't want to buy the same car twice, but it's starting to look like I will end up doing so.

Speaking from experience, it's not so bad. You'll get a better engine, too.

[2o6]

A race once wouldn't be a problem. It's a continuous demand for boost that could conceivably wear it down, not a single 0-60 run.

Maybe I should clarify "race".


Laps around a track. Is that better?

Speaking from experience, it's not so bad. You'll get a better engine, too.

I think the styling and interior is worse, and it still has some vices (tight-ish rear seat).

[SVT666]

Aside from the powertrain, the SVT and basic Focus aren't that much different. Stiffer springs, different damping....and that's about it.

Stiffer springs, dampers, sway bar, transmission, engine, seats, wheels, steering wheel...

[2o6]

Stiffer springs, dampers, sway bar, transmission, engine, seats, wheels, steering wheel...

Those last few things are negligible. The powertrain is different, and the sway bar is bigger. The Springs are harder and the damping is less forgiving.


That's about it.

[SVT666]

Those last few things are negligible. The powertrain is different, and the sway bar is bigger. The Springs are harder and the damping is less forgiving.


That's about it.

Seats and steering wheel are negligible?

[MrH]

Those last few things are negligible. The powertrain is different, and the sway bar is bigger. The Springs are harder and the damping is less forgiving.


That's about it.

  You want to explain how the damping is "less forgiving"?

[2o6]

  You want to explain how the damping is "less forgiving"?

I meant.....firmer....sportier? Not soft? Been at work all day. I had a brain fart.

Seats and steering wheel are negligible?

I think so, honestly. I could swap in your seats and you could swap in mine. Or we could both put in Recaros. I mean, you don't put Recaros in a Chevy Aveo and all of a sudden the car can slaughter V6 Accord.

[SVT666]

I meant.....firmer....sportier? Not soft? Been at work all day. I had a brain fart.



I think so, honestly. I could swap in your seats and you could swap in mine. Or we could both put in Recaros. I mean, you don't put Recaros in a Chevy Aveo and all of a sudden the car can slaughter V6 Accord.

Not only are they more comfortable and more supportive for cornering, they're not cheap...even on the used market.