Honda Reviews

Sports coupes are rare nowadays, but Honda returns to old pastures with the Prelude. Yet the reborn 2+2 seater is anything but retro, with crisp styling, Civic Type R components and a performance-tuned hybrid system promising excitement with economy. An odd combo perhaps, but even a brief drive reveals engineering refinement and dynamic athleticism that transcend the sum of its parts.

There was a time when Honda was considered by some (and itself) to be the Japanese version of BMW. Sporty, prestige cars that were distinctive and high-end. How things changed.Frankly, Honda lost its mojo somewhere around the turn of the century, and while there have been glimpses of that former aspirational brand, many of Honda’s products in the meantime have been cannon-fodder stuff. And into that mix, you could probably toss the CR-V.It’s not that the CR-V was a bad car, just that it lacked the old sparkle. The fifth generation of the CR-V SUV failed to change that perception or Honda’s unenviable sales trajectory.A shift to Thailand production didn’t help, either, and somehow the CR-V has struggled along. Which is not to say it isn’t worth a look as a used-car buy, because in terms of ride quality, cabin fit and finish and interior space relative to its exterior dimensions it’s still a Honda. In other areas, not so much…Dubbed internally the 'RW' series CR-V, this car was available in Australia in a bewildering range of models and driveline layouts. That started with the entry-level VTi which was a five-seater, front-wheel drive variant. The range then moved up to the better equipped VTi-S, still with five seats, but a choice of front- or all-wheel drive. The range-topper was the VTi-LX which was a five-seater and AWD only and then, just to confuse us, Honda also dropped the VTi-L into showrooms with its FWD platform but seven seats.Which ever variant you bought you got the same powertrain; a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine driving through a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). Unless, of course, you bought the most affordable model which Honda quietly slipped into showrooms in 2019. Called the Vi, this was a stripped-out version designed to get a car on to the market at under $30,000, As a result, the turbo engine was dropped in favour of a gutless, low-tech SOHC 2.0-litre, four-cylinder with but 113kW. Add the same CVT auto and you had a recipe for humdrum.

Honda’s CR-V has a long history in Australia. The mid-size family SUV doesn’t sell in the numbers it used to, but it’s one of the best cars in its class. And it just got more appealing. Honda has dropped all but two petrol grades and increased the number of hybrid grades from one to four. Is that enough to hold off the new Toyota RAV4?

The Honda Civic is an all-hybrid affair in Australia - and it might be one of our absolute favourites. But there is one sizeable sticking point - its price.So, is the Civic e:HEV L worthy of its more-premium price tag? We put it to the test to find out.

Like many car brands, Honda is storming the hybrid field. The new HR-V brings with it a hybrid powertrain and external facelift but is it enough to keep it competitive in the small SUV segment?

After three months driving one of the most impressive hybrid family SUVs on the market we find a chink in its mighty armour.

The Honda Accord is now in its 11th generation but it's a sedan in a world where the SUV is king. Can a new hybrid powertrain and streamlined model line-up reinvigorate a family's interest?

The arguments for the Honda's CR-V e:HEV RS are stacking up in our second month behind the wheel and we now have a good understanding of how it performs its daily duties.

This Honda CR-V e:HEV RS is in the goldilocks zone for family SUVs.

The Honda ZR-V is larger than the HR-V but smaller than the CR-V - is this the Goldilocks of Honda SUVs?