Yes! We have finally taken delivery of an HS in storm silver. Here are some initial thoughts (sorry for the length!):
Fuel economy:
After 600 miles motoring the computer is holding a steady overall average of 52.3 to 53.4 mpg. That's mostly for a three-times-daily commute of 7 miles each way, hence a daily mileage of approx. 40 miles, of which more than half is in-town rush hour driving.
Also did a 250-mile round trip almost completely by motorway last week, for which the computer recorded 60+ mpg each way. Driving style was not particularly light-footed, keeping a steady 60 to 70 mph max. and using the cruise control most of the way there and back.
So I'd say that's very good for starters, and the consensus is that it should improve as the engine runs in. If it doesn't, I'd still be very happy.
Comfort and handling:
On good roads and motorways, I find it's a comfortable little car. But on average to poor surfaces it can get a bit jittery. On poorly maintained roads it can jostle quite a bit. Thankfully, our local roads aren't too bad in general. I'm no tyre expert, but I wonder if the OEM low-friction tyres are a bit on the hard side compared to standard rubber?
It corners very well, and although I haven't pushed it hard, it doesn't seem to leave you lacking in confidence when pressing on a bit down bendy country lanes. The steering is extremely light, and whether you like that or not will be personal: I prefer, and am used to, much heavier steering, though I get on fine with the Jazz.
But here's something I don't like: whilst the steering does quite well what it's supposed to do when cornering, it lacks stability in the straight-ahead position, and there is a vagueness which requires constant correction to maintain a straight line and counter a seemingly natural tendency of the car to wander. This is exaggerated in a strong wind (and we've had a few of those lately) to the point where it can be unnerving, requiring a considerable degree of concentration to stay straight. I found it particularly tiring on a long motorway journey on a dark, rainy and windy night, though it's less of an issue for shorter commutes. The previous generation Jazz suffered badly in this respect, a fact openly acknowledged by Honda who claim to have gone to some lengths to improve this aspect of the Jazz's handling in the current model; but I think they should have gone further with this, as it's the only thing that really spoils driver enjoyment.
In fact, a similar characteristic is increasingly being found in new cars, reportedly as a result of the move away from hydraulic power steering towards electrically-assisted steering which is said to perform less well by comparison; perhaps this is a new challenge for the manufacturers.
Obviously one of the really great things about this little car is that it's also very big. It is the veritable Tardis and, for such a small car on the outside, provides the most amazing ambience inside. A family of four on a long journey would never feel the slightest claustrophobic; indeed, our only long journey to date involved five of us, a boot full of luggage and oddments hidden away inside and under the seats, and not for one moment did any of us feel the slightest bit squashed. You'd need a Golf to get close to this sense of ambience, but the VW is a fair bit larger on the outside. The Jazz really is quite amazing in this respect, even if it does lose a little boot space to the non-hybrid versions due to the battery.
My family are all used to leather seats, but have made no complaints about the fabric seats in the Jazz thus far except to note that they're a bit furry and prone to catching lots of fluff (so avoid wearing a mohair jumper or similar!). Would have paid for leather given the option, but to get leather in the hybrid you also have to have the glass roof and I hate those things (potential safety risk, eats headroom, expensive to replace if chipped or cracked - I just don't like 'em).
Gripes and other observations:
No real complaints so far, other than the vague steering.
The CVT gearbox can grab sharply if you try to take off too quickly from a standing start after the auto-stop has cut in: if you're in a hurry, I find it's best to accelerate away gently from standstill at first and then give it the gas as soon as the gearbox has engaged.
A push-start button (rather than the traditional key) would have seemed more in keeping with the high-tec hybrid approach.
The constantly illuminated dashboard display takes you by surprise at first, though I find this soon grows on you.
A very minor gripe is that the wing mirrors can only be folded in or out with the ignition switched on, so if you switch off and remove the key then realise you forgot to fold in the mirrors, you have to re-insert the key and switch on again. Also it would be nice to have the exterior mirrors unfold automatically as you pull away, but I'm being picky here.
The door skins seem surprisingly thin and bendy, particularly along the bottom of each window where you'd normally expect much greater rigidity. But I guess you can't have economy without shaving down the weight at every opportunity. I just hope the windows don't leak in the rain.
The front passenger windscreen wiper is extraordinarily small...
... and the interior lights are a little gloomy!
But so far that's about it.
Cost, and possible alternatives:
The Jazz hybrid is perhaps expensive if all you're after is economy, and as most of the media reviews point out, you can buy many similar-sized diesel cars from the competition that are just as economical, if not more so, for a lot less money. But will they suffice in practice and in terms of reliability?
Well, if your daily commute involves shorter distances and frequent cold starts, diesel may not be the ideal option for two key reasons: first, the economies of a diesel are only achieved on a hot engine, not on frequent short journeys; and second, those same frequent short journeys can actually destroy the DPF if you have one, or require at least one good long blast a week to regenerate it, otherwise it's curtains and a considerably large bill to have it replaced. Also, if you're particularly looking for an automatic transmission, as my wife was, there's not much else to choose from at the price, and certainly nothing that comes close in terms of space and utility.
So far as the alternatives go, we spent months looking at every other make and model within £10k of the price of a Jazz hybrid. You'd think we'd have been spoilt for choice, but only one competitor came very close to making our final decision a difficult one: the much more expensive Qashqai 1.6 cvt, which has better space, comfort and handling, and a superb CVT transmission, though it's much less good on fuel economy and emissions. Then we read the reliability reports and owners' reviews. Enough said. The Jazz speaks for itself in terms of reliability, and for this reason, not to mention the fuel economy advantage, we were happy not to spend the extra £3.5k on a Qashqai.
So are we pleased with our purchase? I should say so. It will certainly meet our immediate needs, and if it really does turn out to be as reliable as the Jazz has been for so many years, then it will have been worth every penny, regardless of the niggles.
P.S A note on running costs:
The impressive fuel economy and emissions (zero road tax in year 1, £10 thereafter) are one thing, but Honda's current deal offering the carrot of 4 years free servicing + 4 years interest free finance + 4 years free European roadside assistance cover makes the first 3 to 4 years' ownership look immensely competitive. I haven't seen such a generous package elsewhere, and for anyone doing their sums on a Honda right now, this is well worth taking into account.
