LIKE most motorists I have had my fair share of bad days on the road, visits to the bodyshop prompted by various crashes and bashes, numerous mechanical implosions and even the odd write-off.

But undoubtedly the worst day of my driving life was the one when I woke up to discover that the local thieving community had relieved my of my Honda CRX while I slept.

The nifty little sports coupe then had, and probably still does, something of a cult following of enthusiasts and it was my absolute pride and joy.

Full leather interior, electric everything and just about as much fun you could have as a young driver.

Any hope of a happy re-union was shattered when the police phoned several weeks later to break the news that my baby had been found abandoned and burned out a few miles away.

My little old CRX was never forgotten though, and all those memories came flooding back when Honda's CR-Z coupe arrived outside my house for evaluation.

Despite the best part of two decades elapsing since the last CRX coupes were produced the design cues in the CR-Z are unmistakable and deliberate.

The low lying suspension, low raking roofline and truncated rear end with it's distinctive split level rear glass hatch all make a nod to the car of the eighties and nineties. Hell, even the metallic Horizon Turquoise Pearl paint job was as near as dammit to the colour of my old favourite.

But could this 21st century re-incarnation live up to memories of my CRX, especially as the new model is a petrol-electric hybrid?

Well slip behind the wheel and stick it into ‘sport' mode and it doesn't do a bad job at all.

The 1.5-litre petrol power pack coupled with Honda's IMA electric motor generates 122bhp and acceleration is punchy, handling sharp and nimble, steering responsive and there's plenty of fun to be had.

You'll be capable of going from 0-62mph in 10 seconds and hitting top speeds of 124mph and the six-speed manual gearbox offers great versatility and involvement.

But the problem is that when you do flick it into that sport mode - the CR-Z does it's best to make you feel guilty about it.

You see this is a coupe with a conscience, a split personality almost, and as a respectable hybrid it would much rather you drove in a responsible manner that is kinder to the environment.

Hence there are also ‘normal' and even ‘economy' modes and the shiney high-tech dashboard has any number of ways of letting you know just how environmentally friendly or otherwise you are driving.

Chief among these is an, admittedly very nifty, ambient light surrounding the cool 3D speedo which sits centrally behind your steering wheel.

In normal and economy modes this fluctuates between cool blue and calming green illumination - the greener it goes the more efficiently you are driving.

Flick that switch to sports mode, however, and it just glares at you in a disapproving, angry red.

And therein lies the dilemma.

It's smooth sporty lines and smart funky interior all look the part and the spec and equipment levels are all top notch, but you're left wondering whether the CR-Z really wants to be a sports car.

Automatic start/stop and a gear shift indicator also keep the emphasis on economical motoring and mean that you can get up to 56.5 miles per gallon and CO2 emissions are pegged back to a very respectable 117g/km.

And there is no doubt that a car which looks great, can be sporty and fun when you want or frugal and more reserved when necessary will appeal greatly.

But while all the environmentally friendly and fuel saving innovations are to be commended and encouraged, their is surely still room for the odd car to be built just for fun.

Perhaps my judgment is clouded by misty-eyed yearnings for days of old behind the wheel of my CRX.