Hybrid cars are beginning to make a real impact in the world of motoring, which is not surprising, as motorists look to cut their costs and also the emissions their vehicles expel into the atmosphere. Car companies are developing a variety of hybrid models and one of those at the forefront of this technology is the Japanese motor giant, Honda.
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new Honda Hybrid offers cutting edge technology matched with excellent fuel economy, lots of safety features and a smooth, comfortable ride. Honda currently produces three hybrid vehicles, the CR-Z, a sporty coup, the Insight, which is an economical family car and the Jazz for those looking for a supermini.
Fuel economy is probably the first thing on the mind of a driver buying a new Honda Hybrid, and all three cars deliver, with the Insight recording an official combined fuel economy of 64.2 mpg, the snazzy CR-Z 56.5 mpg and the Jazz a healthy 64.2 mpg, the same as the Insight. The level of economy achieved does depend on how the car is driven so thoughtful driving will make trips to refill the tank less frequent.
The hybrid technology means that cars are driven by a small petrol engine, assisted by an electric motor that is recharged when the car slows down or stops, making an external power supply (or plugging in) unnecessary. When the electric motor is working it reduces the amount of petrol used, thus assisting fuel economy.
The CR-Z comes in three model types, the S, the Sport and the GT. The CR-Z S has a 1.5 litre petrol hybrid engine with manual transmission; the Sport has the same engine but with additional features, such as rear parking sensors and cruise control. The CR-Z GT has even more features, including hands free telephone and panoramic glass roof.
The family Insight is available in five models, the SE, SE-T, ES, ES-T and EX. All have a 1.3 litre petrol hybrid engine with Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) to aid fuel economy. With respectable safety specifications and a range of standard features, as well as front and rear electric windows and assisted power steering as standard on all models, this makes for a neat and comfortable family car.
The Jazz supermini has six models to choose from, the H, HE-T, HS, HS-T, HX and HX-T, all with a 1.3 litre petrol hybrid engine coupled to a CVT transmission system. The top of the range HX-T includes integrated satellite navigation with Traffic Message Channel and Bluetooth hands free phone.
