honda

A study by iSuppli Corporation shows that the top 10 cars being bought with Cash for Clunkers vouchers offer tech features such as GPS navigation, Bluetooth phone systems, satellite radio, and iPod integration. However, in iSuppli's automotive tech rating system, the average score for these 10 cars, 14.6, falls below the tech average for all cars available, 17.8 according to iSuppli. The Ford Focus tops the list, and sets the tone for the rest, which are all relatively inexpensive and economical vehicles.

The iSuppli report notes that none of these cars offer driver assistance technologies, such as … Read more

The cash for clunkers program has proven so popular, Congress passed a bill to keep it funded. If you have a car built in the last 25 years that gets an EPA-certified combined fuel economy of 18 mpg or less, it qualifies for the credit. And to get the full $4,500 credit, the new car you buy has to get at least 10 mpg better than the clunker you scrap. We've picked out six cars we've reviewed this year that qualify for the maximum credit.

See which six cars maximize cash for clunker dollars.

When Honda redesigned its large Pilot SUV last year, we saw the expected sheet metal changes. But we didn't expect such a radical change to the cabin tech. In fact, so much of the tech interface is borrowed from Acura that we were in pretty familiar territory. There was the big joystick/knob controller, the profusion of buttons over steering wheel and stack, and the two sets of buttons for two different voice control systems. The cabin tech has the essentials: a stereo with digital music sources, navigation, and a Bluetooth hands-free system, along with an impressive rear-seat entertainment … Read more

The hybrid comparison of the year is the all-new Honda Insight versus the updated Toyota Prius. Having reviewed both of these cars at CNET Car Tech, our staff, Antuan Goodwin, Brian Cooley, and Wayne Cunningham, evaluates them against each other. Of course we look at fuel economy and driving performance, but we also put a CNET spin on the comparison, looking at each car's cabin tech and interface, as you will also have to live with the electronics if you purchase one of these cars.

Read the article for a blow-by-blow account of each round, and watch the video … Read more

Here's a look at the new Type R, which comes equipped with a 2.0-liter VTEC four-cylinder engine. The car boasts 237 horsepower and 160 pound-feet of torque. It will be available in the U.K. this fall.

How are auto writers receiving Honda's Insight hybrid? Here are some snippets from early reviews.

"The Honda's petrol engine is a much-shaved, built-for-economy, low-friction 1.3 that, at full chat, makes a noise worse than someone else's crying baby on an airliner...To get an idea of how awful it is, you'd have to sit a dog on a ham slicer."

-- Jeremy Clarkson, Timesonline.co.uk

"The Insight has two significant warts: Its backseat is considerably tighter than the Toyota's family-sedan-grade rear quarters, and there's plenty of Honda's trademark … Read more

When people think hybrid, they think Toyota Prius. This iconic car popularized hybrid powertrains more than any other model. This week, the newest version, the 2010 Toyota Prius, starts to show up at dealers. Although not a radical update, the 2010 Prius gets more power and improved fuel economy over the previous model, a double-win by any measure.

But Honda attempted to usurp the Prius' place as premier hybrid earlier this year by letting loose the 2010 Honda Insight. Although coming in 8 mpg lower in fuel economy than the 2010 Prius, the new Insight undercuts its price by $2,… Read more

Electric cars have been getting plenty of buzz lately, but the development of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles is still going strong. The California Fuel Cell Partnership, along with Powertech Labs, National Hydrogen Association, and U.S. Fuel Cell Council, will seek to regain the spotlight with a road trip to demonstrate the practicality of these vehicles.

Twelve fuel cell cars from seven automakers will drive from Chula Vista, in Southern California, up to Vancouver, Canada, a trip of 1,700 miles. Vancouver was chosen for the destination because it will play host to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, where a … Read more

Bigger really is better when it comes to driver safety in a head on collision. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, minicars and microcars take a lot more damage than their midsized counterparts do in 40 mph car-to-car collision tests.

The IIHS this week published its findings, and posted a Web video on YouTube.

Although smaller cars are a lot safer than they were just a few years ago, they crumble and buckle in head-on collisions. The smaller, lighter weight cars are also propelled backward during a crash, causing further damage to the car.

According to the test … Read more