Like it or not, because of Najib, 10 years ago we got the affordably-priced Honda CR-Z

And that affordably-priced two-door coupe hatchback is none other than the Honda CR-Z. Surprising as it may be, but this space age-looking, hybrid-powered Honda is already 10 years old.

But, did you know that the Honda CR-Z almost did not happen? Then Prime Minister, who was also Finance Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak extended the import and excise duties exemption for hybrid cars till the end of 2011, which was when the Honda CR-Z was launched in Malaysia. The hybrid tax exemption was extended another two times, lasting until the end of 2013.

Over the course of its lifecycle in Malaysia, the Honda CR-Z’s combined system output received a slight bump, from 124 PS and 174 Nm to 136 PS and 190 Nm. Apart from that, the six-speed manual and CVT-type automatic transmission remain unchanged.

Visually, the updated CR-Z featured a restyled exterior, including new bumpers and updated lights. That said, you will need to squint a bit, as the changes are very subtle.

Apart from the styling cues, what sets the pre-facelift and facelift CR-Z apart is the inclusion of new “S+” button, which serves as a short power boost. It is only available when the battery’s charge level is at a minimum of the four bar level.

Equipment aside, it’s time to talk about prices. When Honda Malaysia launched the six-speed manual CR-Z back in 2011, it was priced at RM 115,000 – a surprisingly affordable price considering that it is fully-imported (CBU) from Japan. The CVT-equipped model was an additional RM 4,000.

Prices crept up a bit upon the introduction of the facelifted model in 2013. Both the manual and CVT models’ price increased by RM 4,000, bringing it to RM 119,000 for the manual and RM 123,000 for the automatic.

Despite the bump in price, it was at that point that the CR-Z still remained somewhat affordable, as by 2014, prices have jumped rather exponentially. With the full tax in place, the Honda CR-Z was priced at an eye-watering RM 183,000 – way too much for the little coupe hatchback. Needless to say, poor sales and the rather exorbitant price meant that the CR-Z was dropped from Malaysia’s line-up soon after.

Although short-lived, this tax break did pave the way for better hybrid adoption rate amongst Malaysians. Today, Honda Malaysia continues to be a pioneer of hybrids in Malaysia, with the Honda City RS.

Also Read: Review: Driving the world's first 2020 Honda City RS with i-MMD in Malaysia

Also Read: Honda opens Malaysia’s first hybrid vehicle battery assembly plant, for 2020 Honda City RS