Honda HR-V 1.5 i-MMD Advance Style e-CVT

Will this hybrid family SUV suit a long-distance driver who wants to keep costs down? We're finding out

- Chris Haining

NEW PETROL AND diesel cars are off the menu from 2030; from that point, a diet of electric motoring will be strictly enforced among new car buyers. However, until more people can keep their electric cars charged conveniently, petrol still has a pivotal role to play, and that's why I have a Honda HR-V on my drive today.

I previously ran a Kia Soul EV, which proved that my 240-mile round trip to work truly is possible in an electric car, but only if the charging infrastructure at each end of the journey supports it. In my case, commuting two days on the trot wasn't possible; I have no charger at home and my closest public fast charger is a fair distance away and heavily subscribed. How about, thought I, a car that uses electricity but can charge itself as it goes?

Yes, while perpetual motion still evades us, the efficiency potential of a hybrid has to be worth investigating. Certainly, if my HR-V returns anything close to the 67.3mpg average that it officially promises, I'll be saving handsomely compared with commuting by rail (a yearly season ticket costs £7600), despite galloping petrol prices.