Hybrid supermini impresses with big-car economy and practicality

Interestingly, the Civic also had a similar image at one point, particularly the versions without the high-performance features that Honda became known for. Meanwhile, the R versions were so fast, they were practically a religious experience.

My mother, may she rest in peace, owned several Civics, mostly automatics, and valued their reliability and practicality. Many of her friends felt the same way, with those who didn’t own Civics often opting for the smaller Honda, the Jazz.

It’s something of a mystery how Honda gained such a strong foothold in this demographic, especially since they never intended to specifically target it. While all customers were welcome, older buyers weren’t exactly the intended market.

Despite steady sales since its introduction in 1982 (originally called the Honda City, and later the Honda Fit in some markets), it never truly competed with the likes of the Ford Fiesta, the VW Polo, the Opel Corsa, the Toyota Yaris, the Nissan Micra, the Renault Clio, or other prominent supermini sellers.

While it had a dedicated following, it wasn’t as large as Honda might have hoped. Still, it remained a consistent performer over the years, typically powered by small petrol engines.

However, times have changed. Driven by customer demand and environmental concerns, Honda introduced an exclusively hybrid powertrain for the Jazz a few years ago. It’s a clever, self-charging system.

Now, it’s only available as an e-HEV and only comes as an automatic, even though there’s no actual gearbox. It does have a 1.5-liter petrol engine, but it functions solely as a generator, providing battery charge for a powerful electric motor.

I’m not aware of any similar system currently available. It reminded me most of the BMW i3 with a small range extender engine. It drives like a regular EV much of the time (an EV light illuminates on the instrument panel when it’s operating in that mode), producing zero emissions.

When you need more power, or when the battery needs charging, the petrol engine kicks in (very quietly, I must add) to keep things moving. At higher speeds, a clutch engages between the wheels and the engine, and the ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) powers the front wheels.

It’s a technologically complex system, but it works seamlessly and remarkably efficiently. Once you adapt to it and understand its nuances, you’ll achieve impressive fuel consumption figures.

While the engineering beneath the surface is impressive, the exterior isn’t particularly striking. It’s not an especially attractive car; in fact, it’s rather plain looking.

With a stubby front end and a design that, from the A-pillar back, resembles a Chinese knock-off, it’s not beautiful – functional, yes, but not pretty. Even that functionality is compromised by a boot space reduced by 50 liters to accommodate the mechanical components.

However, cleverly designed rear seats that flip upwards can be folded flat at the push of a button, creating a large cargo area in what is a small car. Rear passenger legroom is also surprisingly generous.

It’s often said that most hybrids aren’t much fun to drive, but this one is an exception. Responsive steering, controlled body roll, and excellent handling all contribute to its position as a small car with big aspirations in the supermini segment.

And that’s very Honda. A great deal of thought has gone into making this little car practical, economical, and far from boring to drive.

With around 108 bhp on tap, it’s not exceptionally powerful, reflected in its 9.4-second 0-100km/h time and 175km/h top speed. However, it has ample pulling power when needed, largely due to the impressive 253 Nm of torque it produces.

The car will truly astound you with its fuel efficiency. If you’re not seeing a figure of 4.5 l/100 km (62.2 mpg), something is seriously wrong. Even for drivers with a heavier foot, the Jazz is remarkably frugal.

Another positive is the interior layout. The dashboard is reminiscent of the Honda e, that wonderful EV Honda made a few years ago. Although production has ceased, the Honda e remains one of the coolest little cars we’ve ever encountered.

The two-spoke steering wheel mirrors the EVs, as does the horizontal dashboard design, with its neat 9-inch central touchscreen that’s simple to use and navigate, and the 7-inch instrument screen providing a range of useful information.

The decor isn’t particularly exciting, but it feels durable and capable of handling the daily wear and tear of life, like a comfortable pair of shoes. The equipment levels are impressive, and even the entry-level Elegance model we tested – the one dealers expect to be the best-seller – includes features like a rearview camera, front and rear parking sensors, all-around electric windows, and climate control air conditioning. It doesn’t feel like an “entry-level” model at all.

That said, it’s not exactly cheap by supermini standards, but it’s worth noting that this car is historically known for its slow depreciation.

In conclusion, it’s a truly enjoyable small car with many big-car ideas, that scores high on economy and practicality. It’s not often you find hybrids that are this engaging to drive, but this one is definitely an exception. While it might not be the prettiest car on the road, it’s a thoroughly impressive piece of engineering.