I've tested the new Jazz Hybrid yesterday, when the car just arrived for test drive. I've tested both Prius C and Honda Jazz Hybrid, and now I understand why alot of people cancelled the booking on the Honda Jazz (If that's what I read correctly in a few earlier posts ).

Honda really dont have the true hybrid yet and with that Honda Jazz price, I would rather (definitely soooo much rather) save RM3k+ more for the Prius C because of its technology.

Interior
Jazz doesn't seem to impress me with the interior at all, although their chairs only look solid to me. The reason being is because the panel seems to be still quite conventional and no Bluetooth! The dashboard also looks fancy to me which I don't like it - the dashboard meters have this feature that could change colour depending how you are driving - it's just irritating to me. Even their LCD panel is crap - looks like 8bit pixel graphic which makes it look quite old to me

Prius C have very futuristic interior - Too futuristic until I find the aqua strips (Near the side passenger glove box and the front car doors inside) quite irritating. Too bad that they do not have the option to change those strips to black As for their LCD screens, looks a little too fancy and game-ish as well, but the clarity and colours are good.

Comfort
As mentioned, Jazz has pretty solid chairs but Prius C seems to have better comfort when you sit in - Prius C chairs kinda hug your body and makes you feel comfortable, for both front and back seats. The Jazz doesn't feel like that when I test drove and tried sitting behind.

Cabin Size
Nothing much to say on this - both seems to be quite the same for me for the front and back. Just that Jazz got this feature where you can fold the back chair kao kao lol.

Power
Well, in terms of power, I couldn't say much of this as well, as I didn't really trash the car. If I were to talk about its responsiveness, both are responsive. (Please don't compare this with Polo TSI )

Sound proofing and system
I didn't test the sound proofing on the highway with high speed, and it's just test drives But from what I drove at about 60-80kmh, it was really well sound-proofed. Not too much noise at all and I guess the tyres they use are quite premium, which reduced road noise I believe as you drive.

The sound system, for some reason the Jazz produces quite "plastic" sound. It doesn't bring out the clarity of the music compared to the Prius C. Hence, Prius C has much better sound quality IMO, as I'm very very sensitive and concern about music sound.

Technology
Ah hah! This is the main part of the whole comparison. As some of you might know, Toyota's hybrid technology is (way much) better than Honda's hybrid.

Although Jazz Hybrid is a new launch, they are still using their current generation hybrid technology. What does this mean? Well, I'm sure you heard of it that the air-conditioning stops when you stop the car and fan will only be blowing. YES, IT IS CONFIRMED, but only if you are on Eco (Hybrid) mode. If you off the Eco mode, the engine keeps on running to get the air-conditioning running as well. Hence, waste more petrol~

Not only that, somehow Jazz hybrid technology isn't smart enough to allow the main engine to kick in smoothly. It feels kinda... I don't know how to say this, but it is just not that smooth after I've drove the Prius C. Plus, you're using the conventional way of starting a car - cucuk key in and turn to start the engine.

As for the Prius C, their technology itself is truly remarkably awesome I just love their Start button for the engine. Totally smooth - No engine sound starting unlike the Jazz. Hence, even though you already start your car, you will not hear the main engine sound at all. Until you move your car, then you can feel the main engine kicks in. But trust me, you won't quite feel the kick in and it is just really really smooth.

On top of that, they have this pretty cool lock/unlock sensor on the car handle outside. I think this is quite similar to the Passat CC... Not sure of any other car that implements this smart sensor thing. To me it is the first time I see it. Kinda jakun when the salesperson showed it to me

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Your verdict, sir?
If you are a die-hard Honda fan and just love the Honda Jazz design (I used to love it sooooo much and thought it would be my dream car 5 years ago), then Honda Jazz hybrid would be the one for you because it is just so much affordable now for a fully imported Japanese car, just because of the hybrid tag And you could get it within 1-2 months

If we are comparing with hybrid cars (FC, CO2 emission, technology, etc etc.), the Prius C wins flat! Even if we were to compare Prius C with Insight, the new Insight is no way as well because it's using the same exact engine as Jazz. But if you want it, the waiting list is approximately 5-8 months! depending on the colour due to its hot-ness

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This review is solely based on my opinion after test driving both Prius C and Jazz Hybrid. Feel free to bash this review with your opinion so that not only I will learn, but everyone in here will be able to compare it well with various opinions

This post has been edited by cloud3z: Mar 17 2012, 11:31 AM

You're welcome. Hope it helps

Nope, the interior got only one same standard colour, with the aqua strip. it's quite sad that they dont have leather option

But I believe there will be more stuff in their next prius release.

I think I saw that it was only 3 years or 100,000km, whichever comes first. For Honda the salesperson told me it's 5 years or 140,000km.

But from what I read so far on the news and reviews that the old Prius doesn't seem to have any major problems so far on the batteries. Don't know how true is that

This post has been edited by cloud3z: Mar 17 2012, 04:53 PM

Congrats! When did you make the booking?

Mine is in the loooong waiting list

Ehk, seriously? I thought the sound proofing and the dashboard are pretty good to me when I was test driving. As for the cabin, I would say it's just nice for a compact car - not too small, not too big.

Your bro in law comparing with Merz or something big ah? Or I guess different people have different opinion about it

What da.... so fast the car got WWW 8888 already?! the salesperson told me WWW will only open for tender in early April lol

Ah

Yep, Myvi would do, but nothing beats the Prius C technology

Honestly speaking, Prius C is the idle choice if you are looking for real Hybrid cars.

Jazz would be nice for those who really love Honda's power engine technology and its design - You do save alot of money from buying the non-hybrid Jazz. So you're really fortunate to save ALOT of money just because of the hybrid tag. Other than that, they're hybrid technology cannot compare with Prius C at all.

Again, I still don't know why ppl think Jazz looks nicer. I somehow prefer Prius C design:

http://www.carbebs.com/wp-content/uploads/...allpaper_02.jpg

Gaya kan! Or I guess that's just my preference

This post has been edited by cloud3z: Mar 22 2012, 10:32 AM

Woops sorry, the front looks pretty similar

Nah, here here

If you need more review to compare both Prius C and Jazz, you can get my opinion here

http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...post&p=49804997

Yep. Made a booking on Prius C

I'm the guy that goes into technology kinda things, hence Prius C was a match for me when I test drove it I've yet to do another test drive in another showroom here in Subang as the area there got one nice loooong road for 80-100kmh testing. Hopefully the SA allows it keke

Jazz Hybrid was a disappointment to me.

Mine still need donkey months. Yours what colour bro?

Mine have to wait July - August, which is white - not-famous colour.

For famous colours like Aqua and Blue have to wait +2 months - about Sept/Oct only can get.

Crazy But still not as crazy as the Polo GTI lol.

Praying for that to happen

Wah, why your stocks so fast one

Ah finally you saw it Have fun with the test drive soon! Do help me to check out on a 80-100kmh if can and see how the soundproofing goes

Yeap! the Prius (Luxury specifically) is really well built as well, but it's irritating sometimes on the Head-Up Display because the salesperson told me that you cannot off it. So sometimes it kinda bothers you when you are driving.