• Page 1 – Introduction, what to look for
• Page 2 – Honda Jazz
• Page 3 – Suzuki Swift Sport
• Page 4 – Volkswagen Polo
• Page 5 – Also consider: Nissan Note e-Power

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Honda Jazz

Our pick: Honda Jazz 1.5 E:HEV Luxe from S$104,999 with COE (July 2021)
Read our review of the Honda Jazz here

The new fourth-generation Honda Jazz is now here in Singapore, and once again Honda has knocked it out of the park with an extremely well-rounded package. Like its predecessors, the new Jazz brings innovation to the segment that puts it a class above once more. You can read all about the new Jazz in our launch story, and watch our walkthrough video below.

For the first time, the hybrid version is available for sale through official channels, and it is the one to go for we reckon. The availability of the Jazz Hybrid is significant, as Singapore moves towards encouraging greener cars. Going the hybrid route will, in the long run, become the more financially sound option, thanks to tax breaks and of course, the eventual savings from your fuel bills.

Officially, Honda says that the Jazz Hybrid will deliver 3.8L/100km, which is a pretty impressive figure. 4.0L/100km is actually achievable for the average driver in Singapore, which isn’t too bad either, and it puts the Jazz Hybrid streets ahead of the non-hybrid variant in terms of overall efficiency.

The other benefit of having a hybrid drivetrain is that it adds an extra pep to the drive, with the Jazz Hybrid’s energetic nature complemented by the torque boost of the electric motor on acceleration. Add to that the usual Jazz traits of being fun and easy to manoeuvre, and you get a car that’s genuinely entertaining to drive despite its humble origins.

The rest of the car remains immensely practical as usual. The car’s tall stance and clever ‘Ultra’ seats, in which the seat bases can be folded up, has been a hallmark since the first Jazz was released, and proves to be extremely useful indeed, allowing the Jazz to accommodate larger and awkwardly-sized items that would normally struggle to fit in other cars of a similar size.

Locally, the Jazz Hybrid is only available in top-spec Luxe trim from official distributor Kah Motor, and while the price tag is slightly on the high side (S$104,999 inclusive of COE), you do get a lot of stuff for the money, with wireless Apple CarPlay, six airbags and LED lights all round.

If you want a slightly more affordable Jazz, there is the non-hybrid Jazz that’s available in Base trim (S$98,999 with COE) that has manual everything, or the Luxe non-hybrid Jazz that goes for S$100,999 with COE.

But as we mentioned, it’s probably worth stretching for the hybrid version, because it will deliver better value over the long term. The Jazz’s tremendous practicality and decent drivability has now been boosted by excellent frugality, and that only helps strengthen its hold as the king of the compact hatchback segment.

Continue to page 3 for another Japanese hatch that has been updated with mild hybrid tech

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