Owned since new?

Yes

Owned for how long?

Less than 1 year(s)

Buy this make again?

Yes

Price and equipment7.0/10

Bought an ex demo for $18000. Standard equipment is good- Cruise, climate control, alloys, electric everything, Ipod compatability. One downside is the afterthought bluetooth which is awkwardly placed on the A pillar and very fiddly to use.

Under the bonnet8.0/10

Honda's tried and trusted 1.3 Hybrid with a CVT gearbox. It's very relaxed- a decent dollop of torque from the electric motor makes it a very relaxed cruiser (2000RPM at 100km/h in a 1.3). Won't be drag racing V8s from the lights but it's got enough power for most people.

How it drives7.0/10

It's not a sports car but i didn't expect it to be. A small amount of body roll in corners and can be a small bit fidgety on bumpy surfaces. Comfortable at speed, however.

Comfort and practicality10.0/10

Tardis like interior thanks to the very handy "magic" seats. I fitted a fridge in it last week. My 6ft 4in frame has no problem finding a good driving position either.

Servicing and running costs7.0/10

Servicing intervals of 10000km- most of its competitors are every 15000. Is, unsurprisingly, very good on fuel. It's listed as 4.5 l/100km. I'm getting 5.2- the majority of my driving is stop start traffic on the way to work. Also runs on 91 Octane fuel but it is noticably smoother on PULP.

Aesthetics and styling9.0/10

Much better looking than a tall supermini has a right to be. Hybrid comes with silver grille, clear back lights, 15 inch alloys and fog lights as standard. Looks great in the bright red paint.

Safety and security9.0/10

5 star ANCAP rating, six airbags, stability control, the usual.

Quality and reliability8.0/10

Small rattle from the dash was fixed at no cost by the dealership. Otherwise, seems pretty well screwed together- the Hybrid is Japanese built, not Thai. Proven mechanicals and Hondas reliability record is impressive.

Overall verdict8.0/10

Perfect car for the commute to work. Also surprisingly good as a highway cruiser. And you can fit a tall man and a fridge in it. Not a sports car, doesn't try to be.