Honda Jazz Hybrid - The food cracker in everyday tests

The current Honda Jazz model came onto the German market in 2008, so we won't have to wait long until there is a successor here. For the USA, the new FIT (the local sales name) is already planned for summer 2014. The European variant should therefore come in 2015. So there is still time to devote another test to the current Honda small car.

King of savings in everyday life? - The Jazz Hybrid in everyday tests

While most of the sold Honda jazz in Germany should be equipped with the 90 hp 1.2 liter petrol engine - I wanted to know how pronounced the savings of the Hybrid jazz at a hunt.

2011 launched the Jazz Hybrid

When the small space wonder came on the market in April 2011 as a hybrid, I had already spent a few days with him and a first ride on this Jazz with gasoline and electric motor written. Even then, jazz had massively surprised me. And that's only positive. Because at Honda you have with that Jazz a small car in the program, which offers more space in the interior than many a compact model of competitors.

Thank you Magic Seats

The tank will be at the Honda models Jazz and also Civic accommodated under the front seats, so much space remains under the rear seat. To make clever use of this space advantage, the seats in Jazz (but also in the Civic) can be folded up. Almost like in the cinema, only better, because even steeper and above all, they can be locked there.

Now, thanks to the doors that open at almost a 90 ° angle, even large and largest packages can be easily loaded. For example, a new LED TV in 46 ″ - packed behind the front seats. No problem. The other customers in the parking lot stand there with their mouths open. Potted plants can also be easily transported. If you need more space, you fold down the back seat. When the rear seat backrest (60/40 split) is folded down, the seats slide down a bit, resulting in a level loading area.

1.320 liters of cargo volume

Now that jazz is the pragmatist among small cars, fits perfectly into the everyday life of families and doesn't give up when the “permanent student” generation moves for the first time, the question arises - how many liters does the engine swallow?

Honda offers the Jazz with a 90 PS 1.2 liter four cylinder, a 1.4 liter with 100 PS and the 88 PS strong gasoline engine of the Jazz hybridCombined with a 14 PS powerful electric motor.

Appearance of the parallel hybrids

Unlike serial hybrids, E-motor and gasoline engine combine their performance in the parallel hybrid. So they act together on the drive axle. For power split systems (for example Prius of Toyota) can, depending on the driving condition and battery charge level, either the electric motor or the combustion engine, or both, provide propulsion. If the power of the electric motor is below 14 kW and the hybrid is not able to start up purely electrically, one speaks of “mild hybrids”.

Honda Jazz mild hybrid

With the 10 kW of the electric motor and the structure as a parallel hybrid, the Jazz is the showpiece of a mild hybrid. Honda is also doing this with other in-house models. Honda Insight and the Honda CR-Z are also “mild hybrids” (Both models were discontinued on the German market in autumn '13). Above all, this form of drive hybridization has cost advantages. Smaller electric motors work together with smaller batteries. The entire drive train is extremely compact - so the electric motor of the HONDA IMA system hybrids (IMA = Integrated Motor Assist) is hidden in a somewhat widened clutch housing. At the same time, the electric motor replaces the starter and the alternator. In 2004, Honda received the “Engine of the Year Award” for this combination of gasoline engine and electric drive.

Even more engine technology

On the one hand, this “mild hybrid technology” is very cost-effective. A “simple” naturally aspirated engine with a small displacement, an electric motor with low power and a rather small battery. The hybrid drive is ready. The electric motor acts as a “booster”, as a torque aid and the small petrol engine works with low internal engine losses. To increase efficiency, the Honda Hybrid can also drive purely electrically. Due to the small electric motor and the manageable performance of the battery, however, only in the speed range between 30 and 60 km / h. And not for long, and above all not uphill. The motor continues to turn - because the electric motor and combustion engine sit on a common shaft. However, thanks to i-VTEC, the valves of the engine close and the injection of fuel is stopped. With i-DSI, Honda also uses double ignition with the help of two spark plugs in order to increase the efficiency of the combustion - with “electric driving” the ignition is of course also set. The entire process of switching the gasoline engine on and off is so smooth that you have to keep an eye on the corresponding display in the multifunction display if you want to witness “electric driving”. And success in everyday life?