Monthly Archives: March 2021

Crossover, Honda

All Jazzed up with Crosstar

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2020 Honda Jazz Crosstar

Honda Jazz Crosstar EX e:HEV

By Bill McCarthy

With crossovers all the rage, it seems even established models are getting the treatment Such is the case with the new Jazz, a supermini which has been around since 2001, and is now offering smart styling in two forms, the traditional best-selling hatch and the more SUV-like Crosstar driven here.

The result remains affordability and practicality, with this latest hybrid version, carrying Honda’s new e:HEV badge, delivering amazing fuel economy. 

Driving many cars over the years, despite what official mpg figures may say, experience gives an indication of what kind of economy is being delivered, not to mention the clear evidence of the fuel level indicator on the dash. While official figures are around the 60mpg mark, I was getting nearer 70mph with really trying too hard. This included town, country and motorway driving.

The new Crosstar variant is designed, says Honda, to target those with active lifestyles with a more rugged appearance which includes, increased ride height, new grille, black cladding to wheel arches, roof bars and silver and black alloys. It also has its own blue colour scheme with the option contrasting black roof.

‘On the road, the car feels nippy enough and is a very comfortable place to be’

|nside it features a very less-is-more set up. The firm says its ‘Yoo no bi’ philosophy offers a clean, minimalist interior, wrapping utility, practicality and functionality in a simple, uncluttered ergonomic cabin.

In other words it’s a fairly minimalist setup, with no-nonsense, durable plastics, offset by the occasional soft-touch areas and features wipe-clean seats. It has a central touchscreen, seven or nine-inch, depending on model, which controls navigation, smartphone connectivity with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and an uprated, eight-speaker sound system. Also included are WiFi hotspot capability, while ‘Honda Personal Assistant’ delivers voice-enabled features and My Honda+ app keeps owners connected when they are away from the car

Other rotary controls are simple to use and supplemented by a seven-inch full TFT instrument cluster and multi-function steering wheel.

It feels roomy for a smallish car with the upright driving position, loads of head and legroom both in the front, and, importantly for a family vehicle, class leading legroom to the rear. In addition a large glass windscreen, flanked by narrower A pillars, allows plenty of light into the cabin.

Stowage space is impressive with central bin and side pockets while the boot offers 298 litres, increasing to a maximum 1,199 litres to the roof with the rear seats down. Honda’s uprated ‘Magic Seat’ configuration offers both fold-flat or flip-up seat flexibility to accommodate cargo of various shapes and sizes and a wider tailgate opening and new flat floor eases loading and unloading. A rubber protective mat is also included in the boot space.

The power setup includes two electric motors connected to a 1.5-litre petrol engine and lithium-ion battery. The combination propels the car to 62mph in not-too-pedestrian 9.9 seconds and on to a maximum speed of 109mph. 

Drivers are offered three drive modes: EV Drive where the battery drives the electric motor directly, ideal for congestion charge zones and fuel saving; hybrid drive where the engine supplies power to the electric generator motor, which in turn supplies it to the electric  motor and full combustion engine drive.

In most cases it is a combination of EV  and Hybrid. Engine drive also kicks in where extra power is needed for greater acceleration.The power units are mated to a new e-CVT setup, not my favourite type transmission. There is no doubt it is fuel efficient, but the accelerating hard has your teeth on edge, until it settles down at the required speed.

On the road, the car feels nippy enough and is a comfortable place to be. The higher stance means there is some body roll, but occupants are well insulated from road and engine noise, apart from under heavy acceleration.

It is packed with safety kit, with a full complement of 10 airbags, including a new front centre airbag. Also new is  Honda SENSING technology, which includes new wider angle high-definition camera, collision mitigation braking, adaptive cruise control, lane assist system, road departure adjustment, blind spot and traffic sign system and speed limiter.

FAST FACTS

Honda Jazz Crosstar EX e:HEV

Price: £23,585

Mechanical: 107bhp, 1,498cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving and electric motors, driving front wheels via CVT transmission

Max speed: 109mph

0-60mph: 9.9 seconds

Combined mpg: 58.9

Insurance group: 26

CO2 emissions: 110g/km

Warranty: 3yrs/90,000 miles

Motoring

Mazda goes electric with MX

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Mazda MX-30

By Bill McCarthy

The first thing to say is that the Mazda MX-30 doesn’t look like an electric car, having the look of the other SUVs in its stable, which are arguably the most stylish on the market.

Mazda’s first production electric car has many unique features, but the business end is the combination of the electric motor and a lightweight 35.5kWh lithium-ion battery with a claimed range of around 125 miles.

Not the greatest EV range, but Mazda is slightly ambivalent about the future of electrification and overall CO2 reduction savings being offset by battery production costs and remains firmly committed to cleaner, ever more efficient combustion engines like the high-tech SKYACTIV petrol compression combustion engine.

However, the firm describes this battery as ‘right-sized’ for most buyers, where average daily journeys are between 25 and 30 miles.

It comes with a Type 2 AC charging cable and a socket for DC rapid charging, which allows for charging from 20 to 80 per cent battery in around  36 minutes and with and has a competitive starting price of £25,545, inclusive of the government OLEV grant.

As with most electric cars it also delivers rapid acceleration for an engaging driving experience, zero tailpipe emissions and low running costs in the form of road tax and benefit in kind taxations bands.

 There are three trim levels, SE-L Lux, Sport Lux and GT Sport Tech with the entry level including 18-inch alloys wheels, black door mirrors and grille, single tone paint design with a choice of five colours, LED daytime running lights, cruise control, navigation, head-up display, an eight-speaker sound system and reversing camera.

The range-topper driven here adds front wiper de-icer and a power and tilt sunroof, while inside a heated steering wheel and 12-speaker Bose surround sound and a 360-degree view monitor.

“A fine car but will this new model be the starting gun for a full electric range?”

In common with SUVs it is also hugely practical and features spacious freestyle doors previously seen on the Mazda RX-8. The front doors open forward, while the rear doors open backwards, to offer what is supposed to be easier access both in and out of the vehicle, but I found it slightly awkward. Also, frustratingly, the rear door cannot be opened before the front doors.

However it does look good with the contrasting three-tone paintwork option on the tested model and with what the firm describes as its Kodo design language. It has a sleek, yet muscular look with SUV trim additions like wheel arch cladding, slim grille with LED headlights and a coupe-style profile tapering to the rear.

The interior has a premium feel, only offset by cork-lined centre console trays and inner side door handles which also incorporate fibres from recycled plastic bottles, which although admirable for their sustainability, cheapen the look somewhat. 

The features are a nod to the firm which was founded as a cork producer 100 years ago.

Otherwise it has a more familiar look a with large information screen behind the multi-function steering wheel, central screen which controls infotainment, navigation and connectivity and operated by a central rotary controller on the central console and separate climate control screen, just behind the gear drive selector.

On the road, it is an engaging drive. The lighter battery allows swifter acceleration and enhances the handling characteristics. On a challenging and twisting 50-mile circuit the car felt agile and sure-footed through bends with the nicely-weighted steering providing plenty of feedback.

Acceleration is brisk, in electric car style, racing away from a standing start on to a top speed of 86mph. The 140PS electric motor sends power to the front wheels while also delivering 199 lbft of torque.

Paddles behind the steering wheel, normally used for gear changes, increase or decrease the level of energy regeneration.

As an SUV it is practical with good boot space of 366 litres, which, with the rear seats folded increases to 1,171 litres.

 All Mazda are safe and the MX-30 is no exception with a raft of active and passive kit which earns it a new Euro N-cap five star safety rating.

A fine first EV for Mazda, but will it be the starting gun for a full electric charge?