Honda Hybrid and all that Jazz

The new Honda Jazz Hybrid is the smallest, cheapest hybrid on the market, if just under R145,000 could ever be considered cheap. Using the same powertrain as the Insight, pairing a 1.3-litre petrol engine with a 13bhp ?electric motor for a combined output of 114bhp. It works well. The extra 78Nm of torque from the nickel-hydride battery means the car pulls well in the mid-range, and this offsets the extra 70kg of weight stored in the boot. 

With its sleeker aerodynamics ?and low-rolling-resistance tyres, and the hybrid Jazz manages to return 62.8mpg and put out only 104g/km of CO2 – better than the standard petrol car, but some way short of class-leading small diesels such as VW’s Polo BlueMotion. 

Honda has succeeded in improving the overall package without alienating the Jazz’s ?loyal customer base, so there’s ?a sleeker front bumper and ?projector headlights, restyled rear lamps and new chrome trim on the tailgate.

Under the skin, the suspension has been updated to give a more comfortable ride, but the clever i-SHIFT automated manual box has been ditched in favour of a seven-speed CVT automatic. 

On the road, the Jazz does ?feel altogether more composed, but the ride is still a tad twitchy. The steering has been revised to provide a much more positive feedback at speed, ?but the wheel is still ever so slightly ?over-assisted. Mind you, that does make the Jazz easy to manoeuvre around town, and most customers will appreciate the feather-light controls.

Inside, the cabin is comfortable and familiar to Jazz lovers, why change something that really works and looks good.

Surprisingly spacious with the boot offering ?a capacity of 883 litres with ?the rear seats folded, and the seat bolsters can even be popped ?up for carrying tall objects. 

Perhaps it may be considered a little expensive compared to the non-hybrid version of the Jazz, but the frugality of the petrol consumption will certainly make savings in the long run.

A must have and not just for the greenies.