Comments on: Hybrids vs. the Honda Jazz

By: Ian

Ian — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 15:50:32 +0000

It’s an interesting debate, especially as the Jazz is still much cheaper, even second hand e.g. http://www.priceanycar.com/Honda/Jazz/2004/ vs http://www.priceanycar.com/Toyota/Prius/2004/

By: Louis Des Rosiers

Louis Des Rosiers — Sun, 25 Jun 2006 00:33:02 +0000

Is the waiting period long on a current Fit in the U.S. as compared to Canada? I had to wait one month for delivery, initially. Then my dealer informed me I had to wait an additional 2 weeks, making it close to or after the July 1st/July 4th long weekends. Why such a wait? I have ordered the Sport Model of the Fit with Automatic transmission.

By: chupa

chupa — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 17:54:12 +0000

Im looking to pick up a Fit hopefully soon to help battle gas prices and my long commute. The Fit so far fits in price…styling isn’t bad, and I can deal with it.
Before learning about the Fit I was leaning towards a VW, but have since changed my views.
All you Jazz/Fit people can check us out at:
http://www.jazzfitforums.com

By: chupa

chupa — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 17:53:45 +0000

By: Abigail

Abigail — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 22:08:56 +0000

Carl(above)is significantly mistaken when he says Hybrids were introduced by automakers to “reduce emissions”. Hybrids ARE all about Fuel Economy. Emissions is not the goal. Proof? Honda SULEV Accord, Gasoline. Not hybrid, same tailpipe standard. This is well proven by the sheer number of other non-hybrid SULEV’s now out. The emission reduction from Hybridization is CO2, an important one, resulting DIRECTLY from fuel economy improvement. Of course Hybrids are also clean, it it expected. Good points by many recognizing how any Fuel Economy ICE gains will only benefit Hybrids too, keeping a gap. Remember though, only oil alternatives, not Hybrids, can push the oil dependence growth needle down.

By: cashbet@webtv.net

cashbet@webtv.net — Mon, 21 Nov 2005 21:17:07 +0000

Hi allhope the jazz comes to the us with the diesel i have a civic hx that gets about 39 combined milage great car but not a hatchback i also have a vw bug with a diesel gets 45 combined milage the vw is tons of touble hate to say junk but compaired to the honda it is junk and a LOT more money vw needs to get their act together no more vw

By: dan

dan — Thu, 27 Oct 2005 05:31:06 +0000

I guess it took $3 gallon to get high milage cars that are everywhere else to start coming to USA. Its maddening, a ongoing war for oil and all we can do is drag our feet!
On the topic of Hybrids..has anyone computed how much fuel is wasted in just LA freeway system by cars sitting nearly still, idling?? A hybrid that can run pure electric and self start wins a lot of milage and pollution points in LA traffic conditions.
Also there is a japanese made Hybrid car prototype I saw on the web , 660 cc motor & super light , claims it got over 140miles to the gallon. Try that with a standard ICE car.
dan

By: Angus Falconer

Angus Falconer — Thu, 20 Oct 2005 19:23:01 +0000

Talking of the Honda Jazz, I have bought a Mitsubishi Colt after selling my Ford Escape. The Milage is about 45mpg(UK). I always convert back from Liters. That is city driving I haven’t been on a long country trip yet, but I am sure I could easily get 50 MPG. The COLT has a 1.5 litre VVT engine coupled to a CVT(constant variable transmission). It won’t do wheelies, but it sure gets up and goes, plus it is a quiet car due to the sound deading. It is Mitsubishi’s answer to the Jazz. Same size car, comes from influences of Mercedes Benz’s A160. I enjoy the COLT and is about AU$4000 cheaper than the Jazz in Australia.

By: Ray Chuang

Ray Chuang — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 18:58:00 +0000

I think Honda has a potential huge hit on its hands with the 2007 Honda Fit (yes, that is the name the US market will use) that will arrive around March 2006.

For the US version, the engine it might use may not be the 1.3-liter i-DSI dual-spark plug economy or 1.5-liter VTEC performance engines now available for the Fit/Jazz models sold around the world. If you look at the 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid, it has a new 1.3-liter engine featuring an all-new single overhead-cam (SOHC) variable valve timing system akin to that used on the larger 1.8-liter engine found on the regular 2006 Civics. Rated at 95 bhp in 1.3-liter form, this will likely become the base engine for the US-market Fit; I can see a larger displacement version at 1.5 liters rated a 112-115 bhp for the more sporting versions of the new car.

The Fit's greatest strength is the fact the car is physically very small externally (great for parking and urban driving!), while the interior offers as much space for four passengers as the 2001-2005 Civic sedans, thanks to careful overall design of the car that increases interior space with such tricks as low-profile torsion-beam suspension in the rear and locating the fuel tank below the front passenger area. Also, the Fit is a smartly designed cargo carrier, with rear seat tops that fold flat for a large open cargo area and rear seat bottoms that fold up for roomy "middle of car" cargo area (perfect for holding grocery bags).

Indeed, I am seriously looking at buying one to replace my current Honda Civic HX CVT coupé, mostly because I now have more passenger and cargo-carrying needs than my current car.

By: Mikhail Capone

Mikhail Capone — Mon, 03 Oct 2005 19:19:16 +0000

The Prius’ ICE uses the Atkinson cycle, which gives you less power but a much cleaner burn and better fuel economy. The Ford Escape hybrid also uses it.

By: Carl

Carl — Sat, 01 Oct 2005 11:56:23 +0000

Odograph,
I hadn’t heard of the ‘Battery Bounty’. Brilliant idea. Bound to get results.
Nick,
I’m not an engineer or nuthin’ but, ICE engines in cars (not trucks) have emissions controls that greatly reduce pollution while the car is moving, but when you stop and idle, the emissions equipment shuts off, to help prevent the engine from stalling. So your car makes the most pollution just sitting at a red light.
Hybrids eliminate that whole scenario by intentionally shutting off the engine when you stop, so that period of raw pollution when you idle simply never happens. Also, a car needs the most energy just getting moving from a stop, so it’s pumping lots more exhaust between 0 – 10mph than between, say, 10 – 50mph. Hybrids generally use the electric motor to get going from a stop. Plus, they have much smaller engines, and stronger emissions controls, thus even less pollution.
I also hear there’s a vile of pixie-dust in the fuel injector, but I haven’t confirmed that yet.

By: odograph

odograph — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 15:35:03 +0000

Nick
“Is there a recycling plan in place for nickel-metal hydride batteries?
Toyota has a comprehensive battery recycling program in place and has been recycling nickel-metal hydride batteries since the RAV4 Electric Vehicle was introduced in 1998. Every part of the battery, from the precious metals to the plastic, plates, steel case and the wiring, is recycled. To ensure that batteries come back to Toyota, each battery has a phone number on it to call for recycling information and dealers are paid a $200 “bounty” for each battery.”
http://pressroom.toyota.com/photo_library/display_release.html?id=20040623

By: Nick Aster

Nick Aster — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 14:52:27 +0000

Excellent discussion. I hadn’t thought about the reduction in emissions to meet CAFE standards. I’m curious about how Hybrids reduce emissions – is it simply that the ICE is not used as much, or is there something different about the way the ICE is used that reduces emissions?
Also – an interesting topic no one’s brought up is the issue of battery toxicity and the ultimate disposal of the batteries. I know very little about it, but it’s not trivial, is it?

By: Neal Dikeman

Neal Dikeman — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 13:51:31 +0000

I posted on my blog not too long ago a comment I’d read about why Toyota is winning the hybrid war.
That article suggested it was because of design decisions as much as technology.
Anybody have a comment?
http://www.cleantechblog.com/2005/09/is-toyota-clean-tech-automotive.html