Category: Honda

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CR-V DRIVING TO THE LETTER

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The folk at Honda, it seems, have long memories. Back in 1995 the Japanese company developed one of the first compact sports utility vehicles on the market – the Comfortable Runabout Vehicle, or CR-V, as we know it. Landing Down Under in 1997, in the 30 years since, the CR-V has sold almost a quarter of a million units here and won numerous awards, including Australian Car of the Year in 2023. Why wouldn’t anyone wish to continue to bask in the glow of such storied ancestry? Welcome to the… Read more

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HISTORIC INSIGHT INTO HYBRID HONDA

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It’s not surprising that one of the world’s largest engine builders, in 1999, was among the first to bring electric power to the production automobile. What is surprising is that the company, Honda, persisted with its poor selling petrol/electric powered Insight, whereas rival, Toyota’s hybrid Prius went on to capture the world’s imagination and massive sales. The Insight limped on to a third generation in 2018. Based on the tenth-generation Civic sedan the new Insight used Honda’s third generation two-motor hybrid powertrain, featuring a 1.5-litre Atkinson Cycle petrol engine, combined… Read more

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HONDA CIVIC E:HEV L

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Civic received a mild makeover towards the end of last year. The refreshed model sees the sporty styling enhanced with a new front bumper and radiator grille that combined produce improved aerodynamics. The previous petrol-powered entry model has made way for the hybrid e:HEV L, powered by the same petrol-electric setup that powers the more expensive LX. You might think Honda is a little late to the hybrid party, but along with Toyota was one of the pioneers of hybrid technology with the launch of the Honda Insight way back… Read more

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HONDA HR-V Vi X

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When it arrived here in 1999 it was one of the first compact SUVs around and at once set the standard for what has since become one of the fastest growing segments of the automobile market. Unfortunately, with its bland styling and three-door body, that original HR-V never really took off and it was subsequently discontinued in 2003. It remained off the Australian market until 2015 when the much more attractive five-door second-generation model arrived. The third generation of the HR-V arrived here in 2022 with sleeker styling, advanced safety… Read more

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HONDA ZR-V VTI LX

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You might think the ZR-V is the smallest of Honda’s SUVs but you’d be wrong because the latecomer actually slots between the HR-V and long-serving CR-V. It’s taken us a while to catch up with the ZR-V, but it has been worth the wait because ZR-V is the pick of the bunch. STYLING ZR-V is a good-looker, in an understated way with its Maserati-inspired grille. Based on the Civic hatch, ZR-V is a five-seat, mid-sized, front-wheel drive crossover. It’s available in three petrol-only grades plus a range-topping hybrid, petrol-electric version…. Read more

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CIVIC SERVICE INTO THE FUTURE

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With a heritage of more than half a century there is lots that can be said about the Honda Civic. No navel gazing here, though. Far from dreamy reminiscences about its-once popular product, the maker says the company is looking strictly to the future with the updated model as a bridge to total electrification of its vehicles. The entry-level petrol engine has been given the shove, with the new Civic e:HEV L hybrid filling the position, while the e:HEV LX variant is still available. Performance buyers have not been left… Read more

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HONDA ACCORD FAR FROM JOURNEY’S END

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Few vehicles can match the Honda Accord for longevity. On the road in Australia since 1977, the award-winning sedan, now in its eleventh generation, shows no sign of going away anytime soon. Surprisingly, despite it being one of the maker’s most important nameplates, the latest Accord, a petrol-electric hybrid, stands alone in its bid to keep the opposition at bay. In doing so the Accord e:HEV RS – touted as the best Honda Accord ever – claims ‘to deliver an unbeatable combination of style, efficiency, performance and connectivity’. But does… Read more

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HONDA CR-V E:HEV RS

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The Honda CR-V e:HEV isn’t the Japanese company’s first petrol-electric hybrid. It’s the latest in a long line of hybrids that started with the cutting-edge, two-seat Insight way back in 2001. But the CR-V e:HEV (it’s a mouthful) has a big role to play as Honda fights to find a place in the new order of things that started with the move to SUVs, then the swing to electric vehicles and finally the arrival of the Chinese — in full force. You might say it’s time to shape up or… Read more

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HONDA CIVIC TYPE-R

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Honda’s hot hatch is a car that never seems to lose its appeal. It’s probably the closest thing we mere mortals will ever get to a Ferrari-like driving experience. The Type-R goes hard, stops hard and is engineered to thrill, but is not a car that will appeal to everyone. And at $73K price creep threatens to put it beyond the reach of the very group of drivers at which it is targeted. STYLING Priced from $73,600 driveway, the Type R has gone up $1000 since we last tested it…. Read more

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NEXT GENERATION HONDA ACCORD ON SALE NOW

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Honda Accord has come a long way since it first arrived in Australia in 1977 as, believe it or not, a 1.6-litre three-door hatchback. As well as growing in size over the years Accord has also grown in quality and is now bordering on luxury status but without the luxury price tag of its German rivals. Previous models came with the option of a station wagon body but the SUV invasion quickly put paid to that. Honda has now released details of the latest, 11th generation, Accord. It’s longer and… Read more