JAZZ EX I-MMD CVT I-VTEC S

Hybrid engine gives great fuel economy

I bought this Honda Jazz hybrid as a replacement for my Ford Fiesta Vignale 1.0T automatic - a lovely high specification car with every factory fitted extra, but it 'drank' petrol and became a 'drain on my wallet'.

The Jazz had 920 miles on the odometer when I bought it - from my local Ford dealer. I did wonder why the owner parted with it after only 3 months ownership, but it was in my desired colour - a £950 option, with the alloy wheel upgrade - an £1,000 option, and the screen price was a lot lower than Honda dealerships.

I have dexterity issues, but don't recall them being problematic with any previous car I have owned - of which there have been many over my 42 years of driving.

Within a few weeks of ownership, I had unknowingly lowered all 4 windows. The first I knew about this was when neighbours alerted me - the next morning. I could find no reference to this feature of the 'key' fob in Honda literature. I don't think the car has an audible alarm system. An alarm has never sounded on any occasion when I have accidentally left a window, or windows, open.

Switches on the driver's door for the electric windows remain active for some seconds after the ignition has been turned off. I kept leaning on the switches and finding one or more windows lowered upon returning to the car. I now try to be more careful and check all the windows are closed after parking up.

The Cross Traffic Monitor - a very useful feature when reversing out of spaces in car parks - emits a loud beep at roundabouts every time a vehicle passes on my nearside, or is in very close proximity on approaching when I have the right of way. I still haven't got used to this and find it very unnerving.

I enjoy using the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) on motorway journeys, but this function uses the same switch as the speed limiter. Sometimes I try and try but simply cannot set the ACC, because I have accidentally and unknowingly done something with the switch, changing the function to speed limiter. This is really annoying.

The ACC can be preset which avoids the issue above from arising. On several occasions, however, I have accidentally and unknowingly activated it when driving on A roads and been shocked to discover the car is 'driving itself'.

When ACC is active and I am driving in lane 1 on a motorway, the system emits a beep almost every time a car passes me in lane 2 and moves back to lane 1 a safe distance ahead of me. A beep also sounds occasionally when there is no traffic anywhere near the car. This is unnecessary.

The hazard warning lights switch is directly below the touchscreen display. You can guess what I've done on a number of occasions - almost always when driving on motorways.

I try and avoid potholes. The Lane Departure Warning system 'goes into overdrive' when I drive in such manner. The display flashes up in orange and loud beeps sound,

The Deflation Warning System - more commonly known as Tyre Pressure Monitoring System - is basic and does not display which tyre is low on pressure.

The Hands Free Telephone is also basic. It does not sound an alert for incoming text messages, nor can it read texts out loud.

When operating in intermittent mode, the windscreen wipers sometimes 'go crazy' after operating correctly for a while, wiping the screen at the fastest speed when the level of rain doesn't warrant it.

In previous cars when driving at night on motorways and seeing a vehicle with no tail lights, I have been able to 'signal' to drivers by switching my lights off and on. The lights on this Honda Jazz cannot be switched off.

A couple of the features mentioned that 'give me grief' can be turned off, but only for the duration of one unbroken journey. It took me so long to work out how to do this, I don't bother.

My Ford cars have / had every one of the safety features my Jazz has, but in the main they operate(d) silently and unobtrusively. If Ford can do this why can't Honda?

One issue under warranty has arisen - a problem with the passenger side electrically operated mirror, making a groaning noise and not always fully retracting. My dealer said a number of cars have had this fault, but they could not order the new part before seeing the problem for themselves ...

Having read all these gripes you may be left wondering why I still own my Jazz. Picture an old pair of outdoor scales with metal weights. On the left scale is a large and very heavy weight. This represents fuel consumption, On the right scale are at least a dozen lighter weights which represent the things I don't like. The scales still tip in favour of fuel consumption.

Few other manufacturers currently produce a hybrid engine that returns such good fuel economy. Ford engines certainly don't. Renault's Clio might be a possible contender ...

Honda has an excellent reputation for build quality. The Jazz is easy to drive and is comfortable on 60-70 mile journeys.

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