Motoring: Honda goes its own way with clever new hybrid

The Japanese carmaker broke the mould with the original HR-V, and its latest hybrid model is both stylish and strong. But it has missed a trick by not bringing out a fully electric version here

Honda has reinvented the HR-V with a hybrid version that delivers a composed and remarkably quiet experience

There’s barely a car manufacturer in business today that doesn’t have at least one SUV or crossover of some kind in its range. Since the late 1990s there has been a boom in taller machines with styling inspired by off-road vehicles of varying sizes. But the smaller, compact crossover as we know it today can arguably trace its roots back to Honda.

In 1998, the Japanese giant launched the HR-V, short for Hi-rider Revolutionary Vehicle, ...