Yes. When I climb in mine, in daylight hours, but in the darker garage, as soon as I powerup the dipped beam and tail lights come on due to the dash top sensor deciding I need front and rear lights.
I can then use the spring loaded twist switch to turn them fully off. But, as soon as I select drive they come on again.
Scenario 2 is the dipped lights come on as before but I don't turn them off and electrically open the garage door. As soon as the brighter light is detected the dipped beam changes to DRL.
Hope that makes sense.
That’s exactly what I’ve been saying, ie in auto mode the headlights & position lights come on when the sensor detects they need to be on (and they’ll be turned off when not needed), and that’s exactly the same as the Mk3. But yet there seems to be a belief in some quarters that they are on all the time.
Back to this question:
Double checking: On the MK4 Jazz, is it possible to be driving in poor visibility conditions with only the Daytime Driving, (front) Lights on?
The answer is yes, it is possible if the wipers aren’t operating (or if you’ve turned off that linkage) and if the light level is strong enough not to trigger the sensor (as it might be in mist or fog). I suspect that’s no different on other marques, so reliance on “the computer always turns the lights on” is likely to be a reason you see modern cars with only DRLs in poor conditions. Older cars without the automation will still rely on the driver having his/her brain switched on, which is not always the case.
Regarding this:
... many modern cars had front driving lights on only. ... I'm pretty sure that most drivers had no idea they had no rearlight when the little telltale in the dashboard is lit.
The dashboard telltale will come on when the headlights &/or position lights, and taillights, are on, not when the car is only showing DRLs.