Honda Jazz Hybrid

I tested a Honda Jazz back when I first started out as a motor journalist in 2009. In those days the B segment wasn’t all that hotly contested. Asian manufacturers were just beginning to find their feet, Ford and VW had their offerings, but there was nothing too exciting. So it was the Honda which was widely considered king of the hill, the pinnacle, top dog…I think you get the picture.

Much in the way Nokia became complacent with their mobile phone offerings, I think Honda fell into the same trap with the Jazz. It was so far ahead of the competition for so long, the Japanese seemed to focus more on other segments.

Now we see Honda scrambling to keep themselves relevant when every Tom, Dick and Ford can match the Jazz for all round competence.

Their solution? A hybrid powered Jazz. No other manufacturer offers a B segment hybrid, so if it was exclusivity Honda were after they sure hit the nail on the head. But is it actually a good idea?

Overall the 2011 shell remains unequivocally Jazz-like with nothing more than minor tweaks here and there. So it stands to reason that the Jazz Hybrid is, from a visual sense, nigh on identical to the standard petrol powered model – the only exceptions being the light blue tinge to the head and tail lights and the “Hybrid” badge stuck on the back.

The underpinnings of the Hybrid are used in Honda’s other petro-electric powered vehicle – the Insight. The range utilises Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (or IMA for short), which consists of a 65 kW 1.3 litre petrol engine and an ultra thin electric motor that’s good for 10kW when needed. The combination works quite well, with the 78Nm torque boost from the batteries helping the car pull well through the mid-range.

The combination of hybrid power, sleeker aerodynamics and low-rolling-resistance tyres return a claimed consumption figure of 4.4 litres per 100km and put out 104 grams of carbon dioxide – meaning it is easily bettered by some diesels, however does creep below the threshold for emissions tax.

The basic chassis of the Hybrid is identical to that of the standard Jazz, however, the suspension has been tweaked to account for the 70kg battery pack. The electrically assisted power steering has undergone some changes too in order to give the driver a more traditional sensation behind the wheel (in other words one where you actually feel connected to the front wheels).

On the road the Jazz does feel more composed and comfortable than before. You can sense the additional weight in the steering, especially at highway speeds, however there is unfortunately no substitute for good old fashioned power steering – especially in wet weather.

The return of Honda’s CVT automatic gearbox is well received and it works well at low speeds, however its sluggish response under hard acceleration still makes for an unacceptable level of noise inside the cabin.

Step inside and you’ll notice you do lose some of the Jazz’s traditional practicality. Part of the boot floor now houses the batteries that make the electric motor tick, which results in 114 litres of lost luggage space. It may not sound a lot, but trust me when you’re setting off on a trip to the coast you’ll be sorry it’s not there.

Otherwise the interior is starting to feel somewhat dated. The addition of the IMA related blue-lit dials, to show how frugally you are driving, do little to spice up what is effectively the same interior as was seen in the original Jazz. The plastics especially have seen little in the way of development and remain hard and scratchy.

At the end of the day I’m not entirely convinced this move from Honda will help their Jazz remain at the top of the pile. The hybrid technology feels more a public statement than viable, real world efficiency – a fact that leaves a bitter taste. Buyers will have to be completely sold on very modest gains, and the Hybrid badge, to justify the price. 

Price: R 244,698
Engine: 1.3 litre SOHC i-VTEC 4 cylinder with IMA
Power: 75 kW
Torque: 121 Nm
Acceleration (0-100 km/h): 12.2
Top speed (km/h): 174
Fuel consumption (l/100km): 4.4 (claimed)

Miles Downard