WITH a slogan The Power of Dreams you would expect Honda to be at the cutting edge of all things new and clever and the CR-Z - its latest hybrid - is just that.

It's been described by the company as the world's first sporty hybrid and that statement is backed up by the classy streamlining and distinctive lines that certainly make the CR-Z stand out in any crowded car park.

And then when you take into consideration its excellent fuel efficiency and low carbon emissions which means lower road tax and congestion charge exemption, the CR-Z's appeal grows even further.

Unlike many of the "greener" cars on our roads today, the CR-Z has plenty of wow factors and they become ever apparent as soon as you take your seat behind the steering wheel.

The dashboard lights up in bright displays and the 3D effect speedometer appears to be floating in the centre of the dials. This Multi-Information Display has gauges displaying when the car's hybrid motor is assisting or being recharged and the Eco Assist bar even gives you marks on your driving.

There are three driving modes to choose from. Firstly, ECON which produces maximum fuel economy by reducing the accelerator's sensitivity, reducing the air con's energy consumption, and the motor assists the engine more - this is the ideal mode to select when driving in heavy stop/start traffic.

Next is the SPORT mode which is the exact opposite of ECON. There's a sharper throttle response and it's the perfect driving mode for faster roads when you want a more dynamic performance.

Finally, the NORM mode provides a balance between performance, economy and emissions - this mode suits all driving conditions.

The CR-Z is a typical 2+2 vehicle with a little space for two children in the back, but certainly no room for any adults. The boot area is generously-sized and there are a number of useful storage compartments throughout.

Other creature comforts include cruise control, climate control with pollen filter, privacy glass, rear parking sensors and plenty more.

In and around town, the CR-Z was very agile and moved through the heavy traffic with ease, although one criticism would be the very poor visibility through the split rear screen, but this is fairly common with hybrids in general.

Then out on the open road, the 1.5-litre engine delivered plenty of oomph and it accelerated very smoothly through the six-speed manual transmission.

Safety features include anti-lock brakes, emergency brake assist, numerous airbags, vehicle stability assist and lots more.