The CR-Z is a car of many layers. The car’s juxtaposed “Sport Hybrid” nature is certainly the main focus and garners most of the attention. However, the instrument panel of the CR-Z is anything but an afterthought. It has a specific purpose and philosophy behind it. When used effectively, it can be an incredible tool for enhancing your driving experience.

One way to improve your drive is to improve fuel economy. Enter Eco Assist™. The Eco Assist™ system uses various cues within the CR-Z’s instrument panel to coach the driver on how to drive more efficiently. The coaching feedback is provided with three different visual indicators.

The first is the Eco Drive Bar display that charts how effectively you’re braking and accelerating. The objective is to do both smoothly. The next fuel-saving tool is a simple visual representation of your fuel consumption via the instrument panel’s ambient color. Efficient driving results in a green-hued background; inefficient driving turns the screen blue. While in “Sport” mode, the ambient color turns to red.

The Eco Score, measured in green-leaf icons, provides an even more broad assessment of your driving efficiency. The more efficient driver you are, the more leaves you can earn. Think of it as a report card.

The rest of the instrument panel gives you all the data you’d expect from a car built in the 21st century, but with a subtle visual twist—a 3D speedometer.

The CR-Z instrument panel is more than just a tachometer, odometer and speedometer. Like so many of the high-tech gizmos we carry around today, it’ll make your life much easier once you get used to it.

— Adrienne