Recently in Honda Category

The USA Today have published a review of the 2011 Honda CR-Z hybrid coupe. 'The CR-Z, on sale Aug. 24, resembles no other Honda. It's mechanically similar to the Insight, but it seemed more pleasant and refined. CR-Z's mileage ratings are in the 30s, hardly outstanding for a hybrid. Honda says federal rules required the mileage to be tested in the car's "normal" mode. CR-Z provides an "econ" mode for drivers who want to try for better mileage. We, however, much preferred the third choice, "sport," which made CR-Z a scooter. The sport setting typically kept the engine revving at least 500 rpm faster than normal or econ settings. Much livelier response at the expense of some mpg's.'

Reg Hardware have published a review of the Honda CR-Z hybrid sports coupe. 'The CR-Z's looks are nothing if not striking, with what Honda calls the One-Motion Wedge style surviving almost intact from the initial concept car. Shorter, wider and lower than the Insight, the CR-Z is a very much a 2+2. I'm not sure about the Europe-only daytime running lights - I don't like the LED eye-lashes on the new Audis and their presence on the CR-Z hasn't changed my mind. In the back you can fit a child or child seat but not an adult - cramped would be a polite way of describing it. Luggage space is reasonable, though, with a golf bag-swallowing 233 litres available with the back seats up and 401 litres up for grabs with them down. And there's a 19L litre cubbyhole under the boot floor. Up front, it's snug but comfortable, with the driver environment clearly being a variation on the Insight theme.'

A review of the 2010 Holda Civic VTi sedan has been posted over at Car Advice. 'The Honda Civic sedan is available in three models, the VTi, VTi-L and Sport. Both the VTi and VTi-L house Honda's 1.8-litre SOHC i-VTEC engine, while the Sport sedan moves up to a 2.0-litre DOHC i-VTEC engine. All models offer the choice of an automatic or manual transmission, mated to a five-speed gearbox. It's nice to have this choice across the range. It's only when you move up to the R-Type hatch that you score the six-speed gearbox, but in manual only.'

Paul Tan have published their "First impressions" review of the Honda Freed. 'The Honda Freed is the first time in a long time that a car manufacturer has attempted to sell a decidedly JDM styled vehicle here in Malaysia. You see, it is quite clear that our taste buds and those of the Japanese domestic market are quite different. There are plenty of little vehicles that look like the Mitsubishi TownBox all over their streets yet when the Proton Juara was introduced here, we couldn't get used to its styling.'

A review of the 2011 Honda CR-Z roadster has been posted over at Inside Line. 'The car measures 160.6 inches from end to end, 68.5 inches wide and only 54.9 inches to the tip of its antenna. The wheelbase is 95.8 inches, some 4.6 inches shorter than the Insight, and the CR-Z retains the suspension of the Insight platform with front MacPherson struts and a rear torsion-beam setup. The bad news is, Honda claims only a 97-pound reduction in weight from the Insight sedan. Once you pull open the somewhat heavy door, a novel interior design awaits, a kind of cost-conscious, Honda-type attempt to deliver the arty style of a Mini or Fiat 500. The low-set driving position is just what you want in a performance car, and the pedals and shift lever feel perfectly placed.'

Car And Driver have published their "Long-Term Road Test Intro" to the 2010 Honda Insight hybrid. 'The Insight's window-sticker numbers are now 40 mpg in the city and 43 mpg on the highway, reflecting the new car's higher weight (about 850 pounds more than its featherweight predecessor, though a still-modest 2730 pounds), its larger engine, and the changes to the EPA test procedure. Thus far we're seeing about 37 mpg on average, which, while not the advertised mileage, probably reflects typical Car and Driver driving patterns. With even the thirstiest fill-ups of the 10.6-gallon fuel tank usually being no more than nine gallons, fuel stops are NASCAR-quick, and 400-mile transits of California's nether regions seem to go by at an agreeably rapid rate. It's a good idea to carry an empty bottle in the car if you're really trying to make time, for the Insight usually needs a fill-up less often than you need a draining.;

CNET have published their review of the 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour EX-L. 'The 2010 Crosstour is undeniably functional; the rear hatch has inserts that lets it be either a large cargo space or a traditional closed trunk. And once in the driver's seat, the car feels like a Honda Accord, until you look in the rear-view mirror. With its horizontally bisected rear glass, the view out the back looks the same as in a Prius or Insight. The Crosstour that we reviewed was in EX-L trim, with the surprising addition of all-wheel drive. As we drove it up a rocky embankment to position it for a photo shoot, it began to feel like a capable off-road vehicle, high enough from the ground not to bottom out on a ridge. With the Crosstour, Honda is stepping into Subaru's market, offering a carlike all-wheel driver with enough cabin room for weekend ski trips.'

A review of the 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour EX-L AWD sedan has been posted over at CNET. 'The 2010 Crosstour is undeniably functional; the rear hatch has inserts that lets it be either a large cargo space or a traditional closed trunk. And once in the driver's seat, the car feels like a Honda Accord, until you look in the rear-view mirror. With its horizontally bisected rear glass, the view out the back looks the same as in a Prius or Insight. The Crosstour that we reviewed was in EX-L trim, with the surprising addition of all-wheel drive. As we drove it up a rocky embankment to position it for a photo shoot, it began to feel like a capable off-road vehicle, high enough from the ground not to bottom out on a ridge. With the Crosstour, Honda is stepping into Subaru's market, offering a carlike all-wheel driver with enough cabin room for weekend ski trips.'

The Truth About Cars have published their "Comparison Review" of the Toyota Venza and Honda Crosstour. 'The most complementary thing that can be said about the Crosstour is that it is an Accord Coupe stretched to accommodate a second pair of doors. Bumper to bumper, it embodies a sportiness that is entirely lacking in the entirely too practical Venza. That's not to say that the Crosstour is a hardened 'bahn burner. Or that it isn't a practical mobile for the modern family. Let's just say that the car has a little of that magic that made earlier generations of the Accord sedan a good deal more satisfying to drive than your average family car.'

A review of the 2010 Honda Accord EX-L V-6 has been posted over at the Garage Blog. 'Our test car was the top of the line EX with leather and navigation, so we had all the bells and whistles. The Accord's screen for navigation and other info is placed high on the dash, and is easy to glance at, but is not a touch screen. As a result, there are quite a few buttons on the center stack. The controls for the ventilation are split in two by the audio/nav controls in the center. I'm sure this was done for symmetry, but having the controls for the A/C, fan speed and airflow direction a full arm's length away from the driver struck me as unusual for Honda. The new Accord is the first Honda I've driven where a five second glance was not enough to know where every control was, and what it did.'