The Honda Jazz: A Versatile yet Frustrating Fuel-Efficient Option

The Honda Jazz has long been regarded as an old biddy bus, but this reputation is undeserved. In reality, it's a versatile car that could suit loads of other people, offering advantages over its competitors in certain areas. One of the key benefits of the Jazz is its spacious interior, which makes it taller and more roomy than many of its rivals. This extra space comes at a cost, however, as the base model starts at around £11,000 - similar to the Ford Fiesta, but with added height and capacity.

The Jazz Hybrid: A Promising yet Pricey Addition

But now Honda has introduced the Jazz Hybrid, the first hybrid super mini on sale. Priced from £16,000, it's also the cheapest hybrid option available, making it an attractive choice for those looking to reduce their fuel bills without breaking the bank. The Jazz Hybrid offers several advantages over its petrol-powered counterparts, including improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions. According to official figures, the Jazz Hybrid achieves an impressive 61 miles per gallon around town - a full 20 mpg more than the standard Jazz. However, this advantage is somewhat offset by the fact that the Jazz Hybrid is priced at around £2,500 more than a similarly spec'd normal Jazz.

Comparing the Jazz Hybrid to its Rivals

So how does the Jazz Hybrid stack up against its competitors? In terms of fuel efficiency, it's clear that it offers a significant improvement over the standard Jazz. But when compared to other hybrid options on sale, such as the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic, the Jazz Hybrid doesn't quite hold its own. Despite boasting lower emissions and better fuel economy, the Jazz Hybrid is actually no better than its diesel-powered rivals in terms of overall performance. This means that while it may appeal to those who value frugality above all else, it's not necessarily the best option for those seeking a balance between price and performance.

The Verdict: Is the Jazz Hybrid Worth It?

So what does this mean for potential buyers? If your top priority is low running costs, then the answer is yes - the Jazz Hybrid is an excellent choice. With its improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions, it offers significant savings over the standard Jazz. However, if you need a car that's more practical and offers better performance, then you may want to look elsewhere. The Jazz Hybrid's high price and limited power options make it difficult to justify, even for those who value fuel economy above all else.

The CVT Gearbox: A Compromise in the Name of Efficiency

One of the compromises that comes with the Jazz Hybrid is its use of a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) gearbox. While this may seem like a disadvantage at first, it's actually a trade-off for improved efficiency and reduced emissions. The CVT allows the engine to operate within its most efficient range, extracting power from the hybrid system in a way that's designed to minimize waste. However, this comes with a cost - the Jazz Hybrid's CVT gearbox can make the car feel slower and less responsive than some of its rivals. Additionally, when pushing the car hard, it can produce a strange, moose-like sound that may be off-putting for some drivers.

Conclusion: A Good Value, but at What Cost?

Ultimately, the Honda Jazz Hybrid is a good value option for those who prioritize fuel efficiency and lower emissions above all else. However, its high price and limited power options make it difficult to justify for many buyers. While it may offer significant savings over the standard Jazz, these benefits come with some compromises - including a CVT gearbox that can feel sluggish and unresponsive. If you're in the market for a fuel-efficient super mini, it's definitely worth considering the Jazz Hybrid - but be sure to weigh its pros and cons carefully before making a decision.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enthe Honda Jazz has a reputation for being a bit of an old biddy bus and that's a shame because actually it's a versatile thing that could suit loads of other people - from 11,000 pounds it costs about as much as a Fiesta but is taller and more spacious it's also got so-called magic seats which means it's as good at carrying mountain bikes cassity's buggies and now it could appeal to a whole new range of people to people who like it green this is the Jazz Hybrid the first hybrid super mini and priced from 16 grand also the cheapest hybrid on sale so well done Honda - big boxes tipped there surely then the Jazz Hybrid is the default choice for anyone who wants a frugal eco-friendly practical zucchini well not quite according to the official figures the Jazz Hybrid does 61 miles per gallon around town and that is about 20 mpg s better than a normal Jazz however normal jazz is only come with petrol engines and when you compare the hybrid to a diesel super mini like a Fiesta ECOnetic is actually no better at all and the hybrid argument unfolds further when you look at more sounds with emissions of 104 grams per kilometer this costs 10 pounds a year to tax and isn't exempt from the London congestion charge a Fiesta ECOnetic is free to tax and congestion charge exempt admittedly petrol hybrids do emit less soot particles and not just oxide than Diesel's but co2 is what matters for tax also this is 2 grand more expensive than a Fiesta ECOnetic so for frugal motoring the Ford wins hands down but if you need the jazzy's extra practicality is the hybrid we're going to go for if your priority is low running costs then the answer is yes as well as being better on fuel than a normal jazz it costs eighty five pounds a year less to tax but there are some compromises for a start the Jazz Hybrid only comes with a CVT gearbox apparently these are the most efficient way of extracting power from a hybrid powertrain and it is the easy to use you don't have to do anything the only trouble is that when you need to give it a little bit of fruit it makes the engine sound like a moose with toothache naught 60 takes 12 seconds but it feels slower because of the torture of the noise but again the main problem is its price it's about two and a half grand more than a normal jasmine similar spec and that's a cost that will take over 50,000 miles of driving to recover like a lot of hybrids the Jazz is a difficult car to justify because the extra fuel economy isn't enough to overcome the high asking price so the only conclusion has to be that the cheapest hybrid on sale is a very good value youthe Honda Jazz has a reputation for being a bit of an old biddy bus and that's a shame because actually it's a versatile thing that could suit loads of other people - from 11,000 pounds it costs about as much as a Fiesta but is taller and more spacious it's also got so-called magic seats which means it's as good at carrying mountain bikes cassity's buggies and now it could appeal to a whole new range of people to people who like it green this is the Jazz Hybrid the first hybrid super mini and priced from 16 grand also the cheapest hybrid on sale so well done Honda - big boxes tipped there surely then the Jazz Hybrid is the default choice for anyone who wants a frugal eco-friendly practical zucchini well not quite according to the official figures the Jazz Hybrid does 61 miles per gallon around town and that is about 20 mpg s better than a normal Jazz however normal jazz is only come with petrol engines and when you compare the hybrid to a diesel super mini like a Fiesta ECOnetic is actually no better at all and the hybrid argument unfolds further when you look at more sounds with emissions of 104 grams per kilometer this costs 10 pounds a year to tax and isn't exempt from the London congestion charge a Fiesta ECOnetic is free to tax and congestion charge exempt admittedly petrol hybrids do emit less soot particles and not just oxide than Diesel's but co2 is what matters for tax also this is 2 grand more expensive than a Fiesta ECOnetic so for frugal motoring the Ford wins hands down but if you need the jazzy's extra practicality is the hybrid we're going to go for if your priority is low running costs then the answer is yes as well as being better on fuel than a normal jazz it costs eighty five pounds a year less to tax but there are some compromises for a start the Jazz Hybrid only comes with a CVT gearbox apparently these are the most efficient way of extracting power from a hybrid powertrain and it is the easy to use you don't have to do anything the only trouble is that when you need to give it a little bit of fruit it makes the engine sound like a moose with toothache naught 60 takes 12 seconds but it feels slower because of the torture of the noise but again the main problem is its price it's about two and a half grand more than a normal jasmine similar spec and that's a cost that will take over 50,000 miles of driving to recover like a lot of hybrids the Jazz is a difficult car to justify because the extra fuel economy isn't enough to overcome the high asking price so the only conclusion has to be that the cheapest hybrid on sale is a very good value you\n"