Honda
Honda makes cars to a very high engineering standard, ensuring good build quality and great engines. Its UK factory builds Civic and Jazz models, while its popular hybrid engined cars are very competitively priced, as well as cheap to run.
Honda Accord
The Accord is available as a saloon or Tourer estate. Honda's latest update has positioned the car as a rival to the Audi A4 or BMW 3 Series, rather than the Ford Mondeo. That means the Accord is very well built, should be reliable and has lots of standard equipment. It also has the option of Honda's very good 2.2-litre diesel engine. The Accord's interior isn’t the best designed however, and the exterior looks bland, especially next to a BMW or Audi. The Tourer estate is practical, but rivals have bigger boots.
Honda Civic
The Honda Civic is well built and practical, and was credited with revolutionising the Japanese firm's image here in the UK – helping it to reach a younger, more image-conscious audience. There are three and five-door versions of the futuristically styled family hatchback, but both look very similar, because the five-door has cleverly placed rear door handles ‘hidden’ in the window frames. Interior and boot space remain the same across the range, regardless of body style. Honda reserves the three-door style for the sportier Type S. The most economical 1.4 i-VTEC petrol versions are only available with five doors.
Honda CR-V
The Honda CR-V is a small 4x4 aimed at the Land Rover Freelander 2. The Honda can’t match the Land Rover off road, but its performance on tarmac is impressive, as the CR-V has a strong range of engines, good handing and a decent ride. The CR-V is also very practical, with a spacious interior that's also very well built. Prices are reasonable, and the CR-V does come with plenty of standard equipment.
Honda CR-Z
The CR-Z is Honda's first sporty hybrid. The three-door coupe looks much more attractive than the Insight on which it's based, and proves that going green need not compromise style. A 112bhp 1.5-litre petrol engine, boosted by Honda's IMA hybrid electric motor, powers the CR-Z. That takes total power to 122bhp, which gives the car a top speed of 124mph. The CR-Z is fun to drive, and allows you to run a sports car with a clear conscience.
Honda Insight
Despite the huge publicity that surrounds it, petrol-electric hybrid engine technology is still in its infancy. And although the number of cars on the market that feature such engines is growing, choice is still limited to just a handful of cars. Honda's petrol-electric-engined Insight is one of them. It goes head-to-head with the Toyota Prius and Honda's own Civic IMA Hybrid saloon. However, the Insight is cheaper than both of those cars, if not quite as economical or technically advanced. Despite headline-grabbing economy and emissions figures, the Insight will not suit all drivers. It is compromised in a few areas, such as road and engine noise, and most modern diesel cars will drive in a more familiar manner to buyers. It should prove to be very cheap to run and ultra-reliable, though.
Honda Jazz
With a versatile cabin, brilliant reliability and smart looks, it's no wonder that Honda's Jazz is such a popular supermini. With easy-to-fold seating in the front and rear, the Jazz is the most practical supermini money can buy. Only a lack of engine choices and a harsh, uncomfortable low-speed ride count against it.
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