Honda promises a hybrid version of every model

Honda Australia has promised to offer a hybrid variant of every new model in its range starting with the next-generation Honda CR-V.

Until yesterday, the only hybrid model currently for sale in the Australian Honda range was the $400,000 NSX supercar. But after this week's launch of the new Honda Accord the number of Honda hybrids available in Australia has grown to two – and Honda Australia director, Stephen Collins says there are more on the way.

"I think we made the decision to delete nearly all of our hybrid models with the exception of NSX, really because the business case didn't add up for them," Collins explained.

"So I don't think it was ideal... we sort of pioneered it; we stuck with it for a long time, but for business reasons we just felt we had to really concentrate on our core models.

"We will certainly introduce hybrid variants and get more active in that space.

"I think hybrid is still about three per cent of the total market. It's grown from one per cent – and yes it's growing off a low base – but to me it shows that when you get the equation right, particularly the premium between the petrol and the hybrid... clearly the market is growing."

Collins confirmed that the next generation of Honda CR-V would be available in Australia in hybrid form.

"It's not available to us out of the Thai factory, so we'll be certainly looking at it from the full model change on," he revealed. There'll be more to follow, as well.

"From full model changes onwards is when we will introduce hybrids into everything. CR-V is most likely to be the next, in terms of volume, that we would be looking for in a hybrid."

When asked explicitly whether Honda Australia would offer a hybrid in every model range, Collins was unequivocal: "That's our intention, absolutely."