• Hybrid for performance, not mpg
• Servicing package included
• But there’s only one UK service centre

The Honda NSX may be a hybrid but it clearly isn’t going to offer Toyota Prius-rivalling running costs. While the WLTP-tested 26.4mpg fuel economy is reasonable (though not outstanding) for a car with such sensational performance, realistically you’ll be lucky to get into the 20s if you choose to use the huge performance potential.

Similarly the 242g/km CO2 rating is pretty hefty, and means your tax bills won’t be pretty at all. The BMW i8 is still the go-to eco-conscious supercar, which also uses petrol-electric power. But then, it is considerably slower and you have to plug it in to recharge.

Servicing the Honda NSX

The servicing situation is quite interesting. The NSX uses a system called Honda SvRS, which means the car dictates when it requires attention from the dealership – drive it gently and you can expect to go 12 months or 12,000 miles between services; drive it hard, however, and it’ll be calling itself in for fresh oil and a check-up far more regularly.

The awkward thing about this is that if you can never be exactly sure when a service will be required, it makes it difficult to plan and budget accordingly. What’s more, there are only two Honda dealers in the UK authorised to sell and service the NSX (Crown Honda in Hendon and Chiswick Honda in London) – this is unusual, even for a supercar.

On the plus side, you get three free services when you buy the car and this package includes delivery to and collection from the service centre. This could potentially cover the first three years of ownership.

Reliability

• Strong reliability reputation
• Quite a complicated car
• Two issues fixed by recall so far

Honda’s reputation for reliability is among the best in the business. But there is an awful lot of cutting-edge technology in the NSX, which means there is much more to go wrong than in a regular car. Compounding this is the fact that it is designed to be driven hard – so it will be interesting to see how well everything lasts.

At this point it’s still a bit too early to make a judgement, although there have been two recalls since the car was launched – one to fix some welding between the two fuel tanks and another to fix the circuitry in the high level brake light.

This does at least show Honda is on top of potential issues and willing to rectify them without charging the owner.