It also evokes the classic lines of many hugely popular 70s/80s hatchbacks. Huge numbers of people have much affection for the hatchbacks of this era, especially the so called “hot hatches” that many European brands are famous for - cars like the 205 GTI etc.

I think Honda nailed the styling on this. Worth also pointing out that those camera wing mirrors, while legal in most European markets, still aren’t road legal in the US, I imagine the Department of Transport will have to relax the rule that all cars sold in the US have two physical wing mirrors pretty soon.

I personally find this attempt at modern reinterpretation of an old design far more successful than any of the Mini models BMW has done.

I know what it looks like. You can have your opinion on it, but the primary reason this vehicle is making noise is for how it looks. That's style.

It looks like a Golf 2, which was a very very popular car here in Europe.