What do you look for in a car in the 21st century? Many people’s first answer to that question would be a vehicle that is a joy to drive and one that gives you a thrilling experience every time you get behind the wheel. But an increasing number of people would say one that is economical, and so cheap to run. A hybrid car is just that, and many of these vehicles offer drivers plenty in the performance department as well!
With the credit crunch starting to bite, people are looking to save money in any way that they can. Running a car are often a necessity which take up a significant part of a monthly budget; in addition to road tax, the increased price of petrol at the pumps means that cars which are economical with their fuel consumption are starting to become more and more attractive.
Fuel economy also goes hand in hand with another pressing issue at the moment – the environment. Cars that use less fuel consequently have fewer emissions, and so do less harm to the environment. Therefore, an economical car is friendly to both your bank balance and the environment, and hybrid cars offer among the best fuel economy of any vehicle. Switching away from petrol or diesel can really save you some serious cash.
When it comes down to it, though, however important fuel efficiency may be, how good a car is to drive is customers’ utmost concern. As car manufacturers are spending more time and are investing more money in the development of hybrid technology, the fruits of this are starting to be seen. Now drivers really can buy a car that performs well on the road and will save money at the pump.
Honda is one manufacturer that has developed a car which can do just that, and the result is the CR-Z Hybrid. The Honda CR-Z is a sporty hybrid and thus gives you an enjoyable driving experience. No longer can you say that you’re not buying a hybrid car because it’s sluggish and doesn’t accelerate well. The CR-Z will immediately remove that argument from the equation - and the more you look into the car, the more things you’ll find that you like about it.
Versatility is central to the CR-Z. In life, we come across different situations, and that’s no different when you’re behind the wheel. What might be ideal for one situation could not be worse for another, and thus in the 21st century, we require a car that can perform a number of tasks without any problems.
When you’re driving, you undertake many different journeys - from driving the kids to school to going out on a Sunday afternoon drive on the country roads. These two situations require two different things from the car, with the former requiring a vehicle that can be run efficiently and the latter needing one that offers enjoyment and a sense of escape.
The Honda CR-Z hybrid achieves this through its unique three-mode drive system. The three modes are Sport, Econ and Norm, and each offers a slightly different driving experience and brings different features and plus points of the car to the fore. So what does each mode offer to you, the driver?
Sport mode is just that: it sets the car up so that it can use all of the power available from the engine. When you add this to improved throttle response and steering, the result is a car that’s quite different from the vehicle you’ll experience in Econ mode. This will conversely set the car up so that it runs as economically as possible, with more support taken from Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist system and climate control reduced. The Norm mode is simply pitched in the middle, giving you the best of both worlds.
The Honda Insight Hybrid also has the Econ mode feature. The Insight is set up much more for fuel efficiency to start with, but a simple push of the Econ button will improve your fuel economy even more. The result is that the car uses every last drop of fuel efficiently; the hybrid boasts a fuel consumption of up to 64.2mpg.
To ensure that you’re driving as economically as possible when behind the wheel of the Insight, you are provided with real-time guidance on just how efficiently you’re doing. Brake or accelerate too aggressively and the dashboard will turn from green to blue - and your Eco score will be lower. Over time, you will see your Eco score increase after every journey you make, giving you an indication of just how much less harm you’re doing to the environment.
If an economical family hybrid is what you’re after, then the Insight really is a good choice. Not only is the car in the inexpensive B VED tax band, but it also only produces 101g/Km of CO2. When you add this to the impressive miles to the gallon that the car achieves, there are few cars that are cheaper to run.
Honda’s range of hybrid vehicles doesn’t end there, as the Japanese car manufacturer also has the Civic hybrid on the market. The Honda Civic hybrid builds on the popularity of the original model and offers customers all the advantages of a hybrid vehicle - in addition to the innovative design and impressive performance that have come to be associated with the sporty hatchback.
Whatever your main concerns when buying a hybrid car, with the range of vehicles that are on offer, you can find one that ticks all of your boxes. From the sporty CR-Z to the family Insight, Honda is one car manufacturer that has already made its mark on the hybrid sector of the motor vehicle industry.