SHOW ME THE LOGO (some text hidden) --NONE--

BY ANDY ENRIGHT

Introductionword count: 71

In terms of longevity the Honda Logo, on sale in the UK for a mere nine months, is motoring's equivalent of a crane fly. Here one minute and gone the next, the Logo nonetheless makes an interestingly offbeat used buy. Imbued with some traditional Honda qualities, the Logo is better than you'd give it credit for. Admittedly few gave it credit for much, but a test drive could change your mind.

Modelsword count: 8

Models Covered: (3dr hatch 1.3 petrol [base, SE])

Historyword count: 286

Launched in April 2000, the Logo was an unashamed stop-gap model designed to fill a hole in the Honda range due to be filled by a Swindon-built supermini scheduled to appear in 2002. After dipping its toe in the water with the rather horrible Jazz model, Honda became increasingly aware that as the Civic got ever larger, eventually maturing into a Ford Focus rival, a gap was appearing beneath it. This supermini class of car, upon which Honda had traditionally built its reputation, was growing fast, sales being poached by the Ford Fiesta, Fiat Punto, Vauxhall Corsa and Peugeot 206 amongst others. Wanting a piece of this not inconsequential action, Honda decided to import a quantity of cars based on their 'Europeanised' JB-X platform. Which, in motor manufacturer speak, means Honda were chancing their arm with some slightly modified versions of a car that was on its last legs in Japan. As such, the Logo suffered a bit when confronted with the sate of Europe's supermini art. Available in base or mildly sporting SE guise, both models were powered by a typically effervescent 66bhp 1.3-litre engine, usually prodded into zinging life by a five-speed gearbox. A four-speed CVT option was also offered, but found few friends in the UK due in no small part to it being an unerringly woeful piece of equipment. Playing the value card, the Logo was upstaged for quality by most rivals, but nonetheless managed to pack in a genuinely impressive level of standard equipment for its modest asking price. Unsurprisingly, the Logo didn't undergo any radical alterations until January 2001 when the UK's allowance of Logos dried up and it quietly slipped from the price lists, unseen, unmissed and possibly underrated.

What You Getword count: 503

Honda calls the Logo 'stylish and distinctive' and in some eyes that may be so. 'Inoffensive' would however, be a better description. This car could not visually offend anyone if it tried. After the failure of the Jazz to appeal to Western tastes perhaps Honda's overriding design brief was not to make the same mistake twice. From the side, it looks a little like an early SEAT Arosa citycar (though it's 200mm longer and 80mm taller), while the tail styling appears to have been borrowed from Honda's large Shuttle People Carrier. In size terms, the Logo competes, as we've said, in the established Fiesta/Corsa/Clio/Polo supermini class, but its 1.3-litre engine and equipment specification targets the higher-specification citycars. Which means it tried to steal sales from the Arosa, VW Lupo and Ford Ka as well as superminis like the Citroen Saxo, Ford Fiesta and Toyota Yaris. The UK importers chose to market two Logo models, base and SE models, with lots of equipment and the choice of bright colours including a stunning yellow. Honda claimed the Logo 'establishes a new level of standard equipment for the class'. Certainly the list is certainly impressive and the Logo was the only sub-£10,000 car in the class to provide anti-lock brakes, twin airbags and air conditioning as standard. Power steering and electric front windows were also included. Under the bonnet is a 1343cc single overhead camshaft engine that develops 65PS and 108Nm of torque to take the Logo from rest to sixty in around 14 seconds on the way to a top speed of 95mph. Recognising that some buyers in this class prefer an automatic gearbox, Honda offered its own continuously variable transmission (CVT) as an alternative to the standard five-speed gearbox for an extra £900, although this didn't find favour with conservative UK buyers. The Logo engine doesn't have the VTEC variable valve timing technology you find in the upper reaches of the Civic and Accord ranges. Instead, it's been tuned to give a wide spread of pulling power at town speeds with maximum fuel economy and achieves around 45mpg in the official EC combined cycle. Honda claims that the Logo's relatively high roofline provides class-leading headroom for five occupants and the 50/50 split folding rear seat allows various passenger and load-carrying combinations. The luggage area offers everyday practicality and an almost flat floor. Total capacity is reasonable - almost 230 litres with the rear seat backs raised. That's enough for a shopping carrier, a mineral water case and a soft drink crate simultaneously. A folded baby buggy will also fit across the width of the luggage area. Nor is there the kind of annoying 'lip' you find in some small cars over which heavy items must be lugged. Rear seat passengers have been carefully considered as well. Reaching or getting out of the rear seats can be a frustrating business in a three-door car but the Logo's large door openings ease the process, while the front passenger seat has the convenience of a 'walk-in' device.

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