Motorists in the UK are facing somewhat tough times as of late. New rates of Vehicle Excise Duty have meant a sharp increase in road tax for many. Petrol prices continue to rise with no signs of abating and insurers have been radically increasing the cost of their coverage to all their policyholders, even those with several years no-claims bonus. As a result of these rising costs, saving money has become a primary motivating factor for many motorists considering buying a new car and if one company can offer this, through its range of traditional and hybrid cars, it is Honda.
Therefore, let us take a look through the range of vehicles currently offered by Honda and examine how green they are, and how purchasing one of these vehicles can translate into cheaper motoring for the average UK motorist.
It is perhaps easiest to see the amount of savings a typical driver can make by viewing the current range of Honda hybrid cars UK drivers have as an option. Currently Honda is offering three hybrid vehicles for the UK market, the CR-Z, Insight and the brand new Jazz.
Each of these vehicles is clearly aimed at a different market. The stylish Insight is the perfect family car, with a spacious interior, ample boot room and with a host of extras as standard that mean that regardless of whether you are driving or a passenger, you will be transported to your destination in style and comfort.
In contrast, the Honda CR-Z hybrid is the world's first sporty hybrid coupé. The CR-Z has taken the 'hot hatch' concept and transformed it into a car that not only looks stunning and offers outstanding levels of performance, but which also combines that with outstanding fuel economy and low emissions. The CR-Z hybrid is a car which not only is a welcome addition to the UK marketplace, but it is a car which has redefined just what is possible with hybrid technology.
The latest addition to the UK stable is the Honda Jazz hybrid. This brand new vehicle due for UK release in 2011 is the world's first hybrid supermini. Honda has taken the most popular selling points of their enormously successful petrol-engine version of the Jazz and transformed the vehicle into a 21st century hybrid. This means that the new Jazz not only retains the characteristics, functionality and drivability that made it one of the most popular superminis of its time, but now that is allied to a hybrid engine which delivers outstanding levels of performance combined with unheard of levels of frugality when it comes to fuel consumption.
So, how do these quality vehicles then translate these technological advancements into a weekly saving for the UK motorist? The answer lies simply in the numbers.
The first thing to note is that all the Honda hybrid vehicles, due to their low CO2 emissions, qualify for the lowest rate of UK road tax, which means that owners only pay Ł15 per year road tax, according to current government legislation. That represents a saving of over Ł200 a year in road tax compared to, for example, a traditional 1.8-litre family saloon car.
In addition to that, savings are made daily at the petrol pump. The new range of hybrid vehicles from Honda achieve between 56 and 68 miles per gallon, which means that you get a lot more miles for your money. Indeed, if your car is currently achieving around 30 miles per gallon, you can halve your petrol costs for one year by switching to a hybrid.
Those figures certainly make convincing arguments for the motorist to consider hybrid vehicles as a form of cheaper motoring, but perhaps the most amazing thing about Honda's range of vehicles, is that even the traditional non-hybrid forms of car, can still save money compared to similar vehicles from other manufacturers and this is perhaps best illustrated by the Honda CR-V.
The CR-V is one of the world's leading 4x4 cars, a type of car that has often had its green credentials lambasted in the past due to its large engines, high emissions and very low miles per gallon rate. Despite that, the 4x4 remains a popular choice with motorists and Honda now makes it possible to enjoy this type of vehicle far more cheaply. For example, the CR-V 2.2-litre Diesel achieves 43.5 miles per gallon and emits just 171 g/km of CO2, which is better economy than the tiny Mini Cooper S.
Honda's range of traditional and hybrid vehicles come in a myriad of different engine sizes, with plenty of optional extras available and a range of different colours, but best of all, regardless of which Honda car you choose, they are all green.
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