This is Garrett Murray's Maniacal Rage

powerllama asked:

Did you bring your CR-Z with you to LA? How are you liking it after owning it for a while? I'm looking into getting a small hybrid myself, and everything is just too big. I don't need 4 doors. I want something as small and economical as possible. What kind of gas mileage do you get? I'm excited to see how the Prius C turns out this year, seeing as it'll get somewhere around 50-55 mpg.

We did bring the CR-Z, yes. In fact, it’s the car we drove cross-country when we moved out. After owning it for a year or so, I still really like it—though I do have a few complaints: Road noise is a bit louder than I’d prefer and the ride isn’t as smooth as I’d like either (especially in LA where there are lots of shitty roads and potholes everywhere). Before we owned the Prius, these things weren’t as noticeable to me, but going back and forth between the two highlights it. I also wish the stereo supported Bluetooth audio streaming for music so I didn’t have to plug in my iPhone (again, the Prius supports this, so now I’m spoiled).

Mileage-wise, I’ve averaged 31 MPG with the car in the entirety of its life, which isn’t terrible (especially compared to nearly any non-hybrid car) but isn’t as high as I had hoped. By comparison, we’ve averaged 42 MPG in the first few months with the Prius. The difference, of course, is that the CR-Z does not have an electric-only mode—no matter what, you’ll use gas.

The CR-Z is powerful, small and very nice inside, and I would definitely recommend it for anyone who doesn’t need to drive more than one additional passenger (ever), who wants a more affordable hybrid but is aware they won’t approach Prius-level fuel economy, and who likes the sportier look. I’m definitely excited about the Prius C, and depending on what it ends up looking like, I may trade the CR-Z for it when it comes out in the spring.