Despite its relatively small scale of operations when put alongside Toyota, Honda continues to be Japan's most interesting auto maker, Asia's response to the European techno-house of Audi. Its IMA, for example, is a truly practical petrol-electric car, and the NSX continues to be the best supercar that no body has heard of. In between these comes an everyman range of cars, from the simple elegance of its Jazz city car through to the Volvo-rivalling Accord Tourer. There is also 1.0 litre insight, a strange-looking little hybrid car that, since the introduction of IMA, has fallen out favor. A neat two-seater sports car that feels distinctly European in execution. Honda has some really interesting products in the pipeline, which promises sparkling performance allied to outstanding economy.



ACCORD/TSX

Offered in both sedan and Touring (estate) variants, the sculpted Accord is a far more substantially-sized car than it looks at first glance; this is particularly the case with the stylish Touring version. Quite and comfortable and with a suspension system more geared as much to ride quality as it is sporting handling, the car has winning fans at a rate which is surprising even its advocates within the company. A choice of petrol engines-2.0 and 2.4 litre units with respective outputs of 155PS and 190PS and the 2.2 turbo diesel, a fine piece of engineering that was long awaited; Honda's engine designers set themselves very high standards which took time to meet.

CIVIC

Honda's mainstay model is produced in 3-and5-door body shells, with a choice of engines and transmissions, and like its smaller stable mate Jazz, displays a high level of interior flexibility that generates considerable customer satisfaction. Recent upgrades to the styling (new lights, revised bumpers) have helped keep the look fresh, and the range has been added to Type S, which slots in between the mainstream petrol model and the stunning hot hatch Type R; that later car is fastest-accelerating car in its class, finally rectifying the one omission in Honda's small car range.

CR-V

Honda's response to the mid-sized 4x4 of Suzuki, Land Rover and the Mitsubishi, CR-V is a competent, solid-feeling multi-purpose player. Chunky in appearance yet surprisingly pleasing to drive, the machine is available only with the 150PS, 2.0 litre four cylinder engine.-though there is a choice of manual or automatic transmission. As with the HR-V, the car can be run in either front-drive or four wheel drive formats. Handling is as clean as can be expected in this class of cars, and the ride quality is good too; there is a tendency for the car to wander at high speeds, but that is symptomatic of most sports utility vehicles.

JAZZ

This car is a masterpiece of flexible design, managing to provide accommodation for five adults-and an incredibly efficient package of seating flexibility which would allow three adults and a wardrobe into the car at the same time.-without taking up any more road space than is absolutely essential. Early cars suffered from a slightly jittery ride but indicating Honda's ability to quickly change production, this has since been remedied and the car now rides smoothly. There is only one engine option-a zippy little 1.4 litre four cylinder-but this can be matched to either manual of constantly variable transmission, and there is also a Sport version offered which offers sharper handling.