”It’s like having two cars for the price of one,” said Mike Accavitti, Vice President of National Marketing Operations for American Honda.  Riding on a short wheelbase and weighting in as a featherweight, the CR-Z can easily grab a couple of apexes and do so with a smile.  It’s raked body and bold lines are on par with a hard-edged race car but in reality, the little coupe is mild-mannered and easy to live with.  Paired to a close ratio six speed manual transmission is Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid drive system that works with the 1.5 liter inline four cylinder engine to supply adequate acceleration while returning 31 mpg in the city.  It’s low entry cost, low insurance rates, high economy and high reliability combined with its fun-factor is why the USAA placed it on its Best Value list for 2012.

“The Honda CR-Z rose to the top as a vehicle that offers these key elements, making it a great buy for the value-minded consumer,’ said Steve Thompson, an assistant vice president at USAA.

Source: Honda

“The Civic has long been the vanilla ice cream of compact sedans; it’s easy to fall back on due to its remarkable reliability and exceptional value,” said the editors of KBB.  To be considered for a spot on the list of Best Green Cars, vehicles must have more than just low emissions and high fuel economy.  Items such as value, comfort and overall features are all taken into consideration by the folks at KBB.  The Civic, with its wide variety of powertrain options and interior features that can please both the minimalist and comfort seeker, was given the accolade due to its flexible nature.  “For 2012, the Civic has evolved into more of a Neapolitan option as it presents a choice of three different engine types: gasoline, natural gas and hybrid gas/electric. Considering all of them achieve nearly 40 highway mpg or better, the Civic is an excellent choice no matter what flavor you pick.”

Source: Honda

“This win-win partnership with Honda adds to Zipcar’s array of smart and sustainable transportation options and by introducing Zipsters to Honda’s newest hybrid and electric vehicles we can help increase overall awareness of these exciting new technologies,” said Scott Griffith, chairman and CEO of Zipcar.  One of the main driving forces behind the partnership is low emissions.  A large portion of the Honda models joining the Zipcar fleet are ultra-low emissions vehicles while a few, zero emissions hatchbacks will be found in rotation.  Beginning early in 2013, the Fit EV will be offered as well as the all-new, Accord Plug-in Hybrid.  Other Hondas such as the CR-V and Insight will be offered rather soon and will be found on Zipcar’s global scale. 

“As the car sharing market leader, Zipcar is the best choice for us to showcase our newest energy-efficient transportation technologies, given the strength of their brand, their tech-savvy, conscious and connected members and the geographic reach of their operations,” said Steven Center, vice president of the Environmental Business Development Office at American Honda.

Source: Honda

“At Honda, we feel that this visibility feature will be important to many families and we’re widely applying it even before we may be required to do so,” said Vicki Poponi, assistant vice president of product planning for American Honda.  The widespread use of backup cameras was created by Honda’s comprehensive 360-degree approach to visibility technologies.  Joining the rearview function will be front and side view assists so that vehicles such as the 2013 Accord will be able to see all around.  With the multiple view points, Honda can use Forward Collision and Lane Departure Warnings as well as LaneWatch blind spot display to further enhance safety. 

Source: Honda

The affected vehicles are 2003 model year Pilot large SUVs and 2002 through 2004 compact CR-V models.  So far, approximately 554,000 Hondas are being investigated, all of which are in the U.S.  As of yet, no accidents or injuries have occurred because of the problem but Honda still encourages owners to take their utilities to a certified dealer as soon as they receive their notice. 

Source: Honda

“Last year, more than 85 percent of the Honda and Acura models sold in America were built in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, using domestic and globally sourced parts, and this will reach more than 90 percent in the coming years,” said Rick Schostek, Senior Vice President for Honda of America Mfg.  Taking up 5.66 million square meters, the new plant will first get its start producing Fit subcompacts.  The car will be distributed on a truly global level but its main destinations will be Mexico, the U.S. and Canada.  Both the vehicle and its engine will be made in Celaya facility in order to keep importation and shipping costs down.  Once its working, it will join the 10 other Honda assembly plants housed inside North America. 

“Considering the needs of the Mexican market, which is expecting continued growth in the future, and also serving as a global production base for the North American region and beyond, we decided to make the Fit the first product to be produced here,” said Honda Motor Company CEO, Takanobu Ito.

Source: Honda

At this point, Honda is in the process of investigating 1,316 CR-Vs, all of which are 2006 model year vehicles.  Fortunately, there have been no reports of accidents or injuries in relation to the issue thus far.  The automaker themselves are openly encouraging owners to contact certified dealers as soon as they receive their notification.  These will begin to be sent out in mid April of this year and owners will be given the option to double-check their recall status online.  The remedy will consist of an inspection and if needed, a full replacement of the right front lower control arm.

Source: Honda

• 2012 Chevrolet Sonic
• 2012 Ford Fiesta
• 2012 Honda Fit
• 2012 Hyundai Accent
• 2012 Kia Rio
• 2012 Nissan Versa
• 2012 Toyota Yaris

From this varied and impressive list of candidates, it was the venerable Honda Fit that came out on top. The Fit was praised for its unsurpassed versatility and interior space, while everyone also lauded the way the little hatch drove. It did face some harsh criticism for its outdated interior and unacceptable interior noise levels. Considering the Fit is the oldest design in this group, it appears that the automakers better step up before a new model arrives on the scene to right these current wrongs.

Below is the finishing order of the rest of the field to see where they fall in comparison to the Fit. Feel free to peruse the high-resolution gallery below as well.

1. 2012 Honda Fit
2. 2012 Kia Rio
3. 2012 Hyundai Accent
4. 2012 Chevy Sonic
5. 2012 Ford Fiesta
6. 2012 Toyota Yaris
7. 2012 Nissan Versa

No official photos are available at this time, but Honda has promised those, and more, after the car is unveiled in a few weeks time. We will also be on the scene to bring you live shots from the New York show floor.

To pass the time, why not check out our high resolution gallery of the current 2012 Crosstour below.