Hybrid refinement is one area where Honda are years behind Toyota, at least with the cars they currently have on the road.

40ish MPG seems to be quite a normal figure the model your father has, which is way behind what a similarly driven Prius would achieve, despite the Honda having smaller petrol engines.

I wouldn't be in such a hurry to give hybrid up, but i would recommend your father tries a Prius or a Auris HSD if a smaller car is suitable, before signing up for another Honda.

Without going Diesel and its increasing complications you will not find an auto petrol car of equivalent size to touch Toyotas hybrids for overall economy and VED or refinement, albeit at some cost, unless you LPG convert a compatible petrol car.

Edited by gordonbennet on 13/05/2012 at 16:25

You could always nip into a newsagents and pick one of these car magazines such as Top Gear, or What Car or a car guide. Top Gear and Which do guides, though the Which one is rubbish IMO.

It is odd that people get fixated with hybrids even though they may not be cost effective for the circumstances... perhaps they like to feel that they are being green!

In this case, I would have thought something like a Hyundai i20 automatic or the Kia equivalent would be suitable; for a conventional autormatic the economy is pretty good, and the tax at 135 odd pounds isn't unreasonable (but unless the car is a guzzler the cost of the tax is probably the least significant motoring expense). The i20 should be reliable and has a good warranty. Depreciation may be higher than Japanese cars, but when you are paying less for the car in the first place, it may work out better value.