Honda Jazz Hybrid HE-T 5dr Car Review - March 2012

REVIEW
List Price: £18,145
Tax Band: B
Insurance Group: 16
MPG: 62.8
CO2: 104
0-62 Mph: 12.1 secs
BHP: 87 BHP
Range: 553 miles
CarSite Verdict:  3/5
The Jazz Hybrid HE-T is a decent car but disappoints in a number of areas. It's no fun to drive, noisy at high speeds, bland to look at and not as economical as you'd expect. It's also way too expensive.

PROS:  The Jazz Hybrid is practical, economical and should be endlessly reliable.

CONS:  Disappointingly for a hybrid, the Jazz doesn't manage to crack the 100g/km barrier and is therefore not entitled to free road tax or congestion charge exemption. It's also very expensive and dull to drive.

Behind the Wheel

The Jaz Hybrid is fitted with a 1339cc engine which develops 87bhp and 89lb-ft of torque. This translates into a fairly pedestrian 0-62mph time of 12.1 seconds and a top speed of 109mph. These figures aren't helped by the Jazz's CVT auto 'box which is fitted as standard.

The Jazz is no fun to drive thanks to granny-friendly over-assisted steering. The ride is fine at low speed but can get a little jarring at higher speeds, and especially on rough roads.

However, it's unbelieavably noisy at high speeds. Wind and road noise both intrude into the cabin and that CVT gearbox sound like a wounded bison. Not pretty.

Looks & Equipment

It is impossible to have an opinion on the Jazz's styling. It's not ugly buy any means, just instantly forgettable. It's the traditional Japanese car story on the inside too - cheap plastics put together well.

You do get a decent of amount of equipment included as standard, however, with climate control, electric windows, sat-nav, Bluetooth and a CD player with MP3 connectivity. For an extra £440 you can get metallic paint.

Practicality, Safety & Reliability

The Jazz's hybrid technology robs some space from the boot and, as such, only 303-litres of boot space are on offer. The parcel shelf, however, is a brilliant design and can be positioned in four different ways to maximise interior practicality.

Reliability shouldn't be an issue and Hondas often outlive their drivers (this is not a cheap joke at the age of most Honda drivers). The Jazz finished top of its class in the 2011 J D Power Survey and comes as standard with a 3 year/90,000 mile warranty.

It should also be very safe and scored the full five stars in the Euro NCAP safety tests thanks to its six airbags.

Value for Money

At £17,305, the Jazz Hybrid HE-T is very expensive and, thanks to Honda's legendary reputation for quality, should also hold onto its value very well.

However, it's not as economical as you might expect. You'll manage 62.8mpg (combined) which is good but not out of the reach of a standard diesel engine. CO2 emissions of 104g/km are a big disappointment and mean that the Jazz is ineligible for free road tax or free congestion charge. Group 16 insurance is also fairly high for a small car like this.

Honda Jazz Hybrid HE-T 5dr Car Review - by 
All Honda Jazz Reviews
Honda Jazz 1.2 S 5dr - February 2012
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Honda Jazz 1.4 ES 5dr - March 2012
The Jazz 1.4 ES is a very good small car and offers excellent value for money thanks to a decent level of standard kit and Honda's famous build quality. It's not the most exciting car in the world ...
Honda Jazz 1.4 EX 5dr - February 2012
The Honda Jazz is a small hatchback that is designed to be in competition with the Volkswagen Polo and Ford Fiesta, and the fuel performance is quite good. The 1.4 litre engine delivers enough pow...
Honda Jazz 1.4 EX-T CVT 5dr - March 2012
The Honda Jazz 1.4 EX-T CVT is very dull and, with its CVT automatic gearbox, it's clearly a car for the blue rinse brigade. If you can get past that though, you'll find a very well built, practica...
Honda Jazz Hybrid HE 5dr - March 2012
The Honda Jazz is a very good car and the Hybrid HE 5dr is a superb example of it. Excellent fuel efficiency, superb build quality and good practicality make it one of the best cars in its class.
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