BEAUTY, they assure us, is in the eye of the beholder - an adage that if applied to car design would throw up some interesting views on the Honda CR-Z.

Stunning, both inside and out, is how some time-honoured pundits have described the low-slung coupe.

More a car from the 80s that's trying to look futuristic, is how one of my kids described it, while another labelled it ‘an ugly, spiny skunk'.

No idea where that last description sprung from, because the CR-Z doesn't emit any nasty odours, nor are there any really sharp bits.

Whatever your take on the petrol-electric Honda - I think it looks sensational from the front, a wedge of cheese at the back - it certainly bucks a trend because hybrid cars aren't generally associated with cutting edge design and spirited performance.

The CR-Z, a compact two plus two coupe, has a decent helping of both and comes in three trim grades - S, Sport and GT - with prices from £17,695.

It is powered by Honda's petrol-electric IMA system - a 1.5-litre engine boosted by an electric motor, the engine producing 114PS and motor 14PS.

Both the power and torque come from way down the rev range - between 1,000 and 1,500rpm - so initial acceleration is stronger and ideal for stop/start driving in urban conditions.

Better still for a car with sporty pretensions, the hybrid system and lightweight construction combine with the car's stop-start technology to allow an average fuel return of 56.5 miles per gallon and CO2 emissions of 117g/km, which puts it in the £35 a year road tax band.

Enjoyable to drive thanks to its spirited performance, low driving position and short shift six-speed manual gearbox, the CR-Z has a 3-mode system offering a choice of Normal, Sport and Econ settings.

Econ mode prioritises fuel economy while Normal provides a balance between performance, economy and emissions. Switch between the two and you hardly notice any change.

Only when the Sport button is engaged do you really feel a difference as the steering weights up, the throttle response sharpens and the electric motor provides more assistance.

This is the mode in which the Honda impresses most, making it a very enjoyable car to drive, though you really feel the stiff chassis on uneven roads.

Once in the cabin the driver is faced with something like the console of a spacecraft with buttons everywhere, neon lights that change colour depending on the mode selected, an Eco bar and pods either side of the multi-function steering wheel. Attractive to some, but too fussy for me.

Otherwise there's plenty of space up front, the seats are well designed and feel durable and there's a decent amount of room in the boot.