Sure, it could be lighter, quicker or have better fuel economy... but overall, it's still a neat package that will attract some people.
Sure it will attract some people. The Pontiac Aztek attracted some people (more than the CR-Z ever will).
BUT IMO competition is heating up and cars like the new Focus will deliver a practical,refined car, that out performs, out handles, gets better highway MPG, and IMO even looks better.
At some point Honda will be forced to address the performance, but it will still be ugly with no rear windows to speak of, and they will likely maintain the hybrid so it will be even more expensive.
I predict slow sales the first year and dwindling after that.
@Sival: You are again comparing to 20 year old goal posts that have moved on significantly. A modern CRX SI performance today would match Miata/GTI just like it did 20 years ago. Today that 0-60 in under 7 seconds. A modern civic HF wannabe should be getting Prius like 50mpg.
Honda tried to do it all in one car and failed miserably at both tasks. What they should have done is what I previously suggested.
A K20/6spd right out of the Civic Si, and no hybrid. This is the SI and it would have been a blast getting well under 7 seconds to 60 (and be lighter and better handling).
A 1.3/CVT/IMA right out of the Insight. This is the HF and it would have done mid 40s MPG.
Both of these powertrains already existed and would have required no new engineering, to deliver two much better models than the weak MT/CVT with 1.5/IMA that we have now. They wasted time and money on a terribly compromised power train when they already had better in the parts bin.