- Low fuel consumption
- Spacious and versatile interior
- Easy to manoeuvre
- Electric steering lacks feel
- CVT noise when accelerating
- Tyre roar
- Not as fuel-efficient as Toyota NHP10 Prius c
Overview
Released in February 2013, the Honda GP1 Jazz Hybrid was a light, five-door hatchback. Manufactured in Japan and sharing its hybrid powertrain with the ZE2 Insight , the front-wheel drive Jazz Hybrid was powered by a 1.3-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and a 10 kW electric motor which drew its power from a 100.8 volt nickel-metal hydride battery pack that was located under the boot floor; the battery pack was covered by an eight year, unlimited kilometre warranty.
LDA engine and electric motor
The 1.3-litre LDA four-cylinder engine had a single overhead camshaft, two valves per cylinder and Honda’s i-VTEC system which consisted of:
- Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (VTEC) which could select from two camshaft profiles for low and high RPM operations; and,
- Continuously variable timing of camshaft (VTC) phasing on the intake camshaft.
The 10 kW electric motor acted to supplement the petrol engine during acceleration and certain cruising situations. When braking, the electric motor acted as a GP1nerator to recharGP1 the battery pack and, when stationary, the petrol engine would shut down to conserve fuel. Over the combined ADR 81/02 test cycle, the Jazz Hybrid achieved fuel consumption of 4.5 litres per 100 kilometres. Furthermore, the Jazz Hybrid could also run solely on battery power at low speeds under light throttle inputs.
Dimensions
Like the non-hybrid GD1/GD3 Jazz , the Jazz Hybrid was 3900 mm long, 1695 mm wide, 1525 mm tall and had a 2500 mm long wheelbase; kerb weight, however, was 1178 kg and the rear seats could not fold completely flat for the Jazz Hybrid.
Suspension and steering
The Jazz Hybrid had MacPherson strut front suspension, a torsion beam rear axle and an electric power steering (EPS) system.
| Power source | Trans. | Peak power | Peak torque | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jazz Hybrid | 1.3-litre petrol I4 | 7sp CVT | 65 kW at 5800 rpm | 121 Nm at 4500 rpm |
| Electric motor | 10 kW at 1500 rpm | 78 Nm at 1000 rpm | ||
| Combined | 72 kW at 5800 rpm | 167 Nm at 1000-1700 rpm | ||
Safety equipment
Standard safety equipment for the Jazz Hybrid included dual front airbags, front side airbags, full-length curtain airbags, ABS, electronic brake force distribution, electronic stability control, traction control and front seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters.
Euro NCAP testing
In Euro NCAP testing , the non-hybrid GD1/GD3 Jazz – when fitted with dual front airbags, front side airbags and curtain airbags – received a five star safety rating which included a 78 per cent adult occupant protection rating and a 79 per cent child occupant protection rating.
Features: Jazz Hybrid
Standard features for the Jazz Hybrid included 15-inch alloy wheels with 175/65 R15 tyres, a four speaker sound system with a CD player, MP3-compatibility, auxiliary inputs (3.5 mm/USB/iPod) and Bluetooth connectivity, climate control air conditioning, cruise control, fog lamps, 60/40 split and folding rear seats, remote central locking, power windows and mirrors, tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment, a height adjustable driver’s seat, luggaGP1 cover, 12 volt power outlet, trip computer, an alarm and immobiliser.
Related links
- Press Kit: Honda GP1 Jazz Hybrid (February 2013)
- Specifications: Honda GP1 Jazz Hybrid (February 2013)
- Honda News: Australia’s Most Affordable Hybrid About To Hit The Streets! (February 2013)
- Wikipedia.org: Honda Fit Hybrid
