Alternative review of Honda CRZ

I love sportscars as much as the next person, maybe more, but I had resigned myself to the fact that owning one would mean putting up with some fairly hefty running costs. Sportscars, you see, are designed for going fast and going fast is invariably a more expensive business than pottering along at a more subdued pace. That's why I greeted news of Honda's CR-Z hybrid so positively. Here was a compact coupe that put efficiency on an equal footing with fun in its list of priorities. Gazing into my crystal ball, I can really see this approach catching on and the CR-Z being the first in a long line of environmentally-friendly funsters. The question is whether or not it's any substitute for a full fat sportscar.

Hybrid cars are nothing new but we're used to seeing the petrol/electric technology installed in relatively mundane family cars. The CR-Z is a far more intriguing proposition for the keen driver with a level of desirability we hadn't previously associated with hybrids. The low, road-hugging looks of the CR-Z don't lead you to expect a voluminous cabin but the car should be roomy enough for two. It's being touted as a '2+2' but as usual when that old chestnut is wheeled out by a manufacturer, the rear seats aren't much use to full-grown adults. They work better with their backs folded down to increase the 225 litre boot to 410 litres. The CR-Z sits you low down like a good coupe should and presents you with an array of instruments that could have been lifted out of a spaceship as imagined on a 1980s Sci-Fi show. Chunky controls are mounted within easy reach and displays with bold white fonts shine out from glossy black backgrounds. There's a tactile Honda steering wheel and deeply sculpted door linings incorporating chrome pulls and storage bins.

We won't go into the ins and outs of the hybrid drive system too deeply because technologically, the CR-Z is anything but straightforward. In simple terms, it has a 1.5-litre petrol engine with 112bhp that's assisted, when necessary, by a 14bhp electric motor. Do the sums and you'll realise that together they produce maximum power of 122bhp. That isn't a lot of power for a modern coupe and the 0-60mph sprint takes a lengthy 10 seconds but the electric assistance helps gives a strong pull from low revs. Drivers can select Sport, Normal and Economy modes which change the parameters of the hybrid system. The CR-Z is also unusual in that it matches its hybrid powertrain to a six-speed manual gearbox, one with a really slick sporty action that gets you in the mood. There's definitely fun to be had in this Honda coupe but it comes more from the agility and accuracy of the handling than the pace that the engine can deliver. The CR-Z also removes the sense of guilt and the images of wilting polar bears that come when you mash the throttle in a V8 supercar. Despite its complex hybrid mechanicals, the car weighs just under 1,200kg. This relative lightness is a big aid to fuel economy and the official combined cycle economy is an impressive 56.5mpg with emissions of CO2 measured at 117g/km.

The approach of the CR-Z is refreshing. It's nice to see that as the clamour for more and more efficient vehicles grows, manufacturers are still going to give us cars that put a smile on our faces. It's not the fastest or most exhilarating coupe in the world but is a hoot to drive and it comes with lower running costs and a smaller environmental impact that most other sportscars I could mention.