FROM the futuristic design of the latest Civic to the sedate, almost dated look of its flagship Legend, Honda designs cover just about every base Its newest creation is firmly on the Civic lines with a stunning wedge design. I say stunning because of the attention it received, almost without fail at traffic lights, on car parks or just sitting on the drive. Designed as a sports car with its sleek, low slung wedge style, eye-catching alloys and dark tinted windows, this hybrid lacks the juiced up pace of many hot-hatches, but still has decent performance and superb economy for the type of car. Some might argue the car is a bit of a conundrum, some might say bonkers, given the sporting design and fact that some diesels deliver just as impressive economy. It clearly looks like a sports car if not performing like one, but is still a green machine, with claimed economy of an average 56.4mpg and low carbon dioxide emissions of 117g/km, making it cleaner than many diesels. This could make it a slightly left-field choice for a company car. You get the tax benefits, but you can kid everyone you're driving a hot sports machine. The hybrid technology comprises a 1.5-litre petrol engine and electric motor combining to produce 124bhp. In a car of this size that gives it plenty of urge and while the performance is not rip-roaring, it is still great fun. The 0-60mph sprint takes 10 seconds and on to a top speed of 124mph. Not the quickest, but a sporty drive is not just about raw speed. The Honda is superbly balanced and handles well with tremendous road holding ability. The small, leather-bound steering wheel provides plenty of feedback for the driver and the steering itself is nicely weighted and responsive. If you do overcook it or run out of talent at times, standard traction control kicks in to assist. The power units are mated to a smooth six-speed gearbox. Depending on the drive mode you are encouraged to shift gears with visual reminders on the dash. To get the maximum performance the car has to be worked hard and the engine can be noisy when pushed but otherwise it is pretty refined. Motorway cruising is also pretty good, but the car can be upset by turbulence caused by huge lorries The interior has one main dial supplemented by lateral LED meters that indicate fuel consumption and how the energy is being distributed from the hybrid drive system. Three buttons to the side allow selection of economy, normal or sport mode, these control the acceleration sharpness, gearchange and feel of the steering and the names really speak for themselves - and there is a snazzy little touch with this. Depending on what mode you are using, the dials change colour accordingly. There are plenty other stalks and buttons to keep the enthusiast occupied, and while it never feels cheap and nasty, it can feel a little cluttered. The car very well equipped both in terms of occupant comfort and safety with many standard goodies you would normally pay extra for. Despite some lower quality plastics, the interior feels well put together and of decent quality and front occupants enjoy plenty of legroom and comfort in the supportive seats. Vision is just so-so with a the rear window compromised by the sloping roof and tailgate, while the tiny rear windows must just be there to keep the draughts out. The rear seats are a waste of time and could only really support baby seats, but they do fold to provide decent storage space, not what you normally get from a sports coupe. The rear hatch lifts to show a shallow and cramped boot area, but you get a couple of small bags in there. Not the most practical, but well equipped and a hell of a lot of fun, even if sports enthusiasts scoff. This car could have an army of followers with a starting price of just under £17,000. FAST FACTS Honda CR-Z 1.5 i-VTEC IMA GT Price: £19,999 Mechanical: 114ps, 1,497cc, 4cyl hybrid engine driving the front wheels via 6-speed manual gearbox Max speed: 124mph 0-62mph: 10 seconds Combined mpg: 64.2 Insurance group: 14 CO2 emissions: 117g/km BIK rating: 10% Warranty: 3yrs/ 90,000 miles | 
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