Anybody got the Jazz Hybrid ? The latest one with IDCD
What's the FC like
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This i-DCD is essentially a 3 speed auto car during when it is on engine.
This happens during morning cold start / the first 1m30s before engine reaches 55°C and then it can enter pure EV mode.
Engine Only, also happens when the car runs out of batteries / charge.
Which brings me to my next point,
Con:
If you do not get stuck in jam often, ignore this paragraph.
If stuck in bumper to bumper jam* often, and blast aircon pretty often, the dual clutch gearbox prioritises charging over ride quality so you may feel abit sluggish or underpowered unless you press harder.
But if you press harder and it decides to shift into gear, be prepared to brake from the extra forward momentum when the gear engages.
When you are forced to only have ~20 cm space from the next car and run out of batteries, this car can be hell.
If you do not encounter this specific condition in your daily route... see the next paragraph.
* bumper to bumper jam referring to move 2km/h then stop, move 2km/h then stop, move 2km/h then stop. Not 10km/h slow but moving traffic. Slow but moving traffic is OK. No problem.
Aside from that,
Con:
There is also the case of residential area and corners.
If you press the pedal abit hard, like after a bump then accelerate, the engine will turn on which is fine.
But when the engine is turned on and you are reaching a corner at 30 km/h, when you fully release the accelerator pedal and want to brake, you will occasionally feel a loss of power (jerk) while the engine is still running.
This feels bad for the one driving but passengers will "Oh the car shake, then ¯\_(ツ)_/¯".
Pro Pro Pro !:
Thankfully, EV driving in traffic jam and city driving is super super nice and comfy. If you relax/chill driver / don't care about rushing to places, holy shit this car is good.
Hybrid assist and transition between EV <> Engine <> Both is barely noticeable.
Braking and regen from servo <> actual brake pads is barely noticeable.
City driving NVH is typically quiet. EV quietness is good.
Fuel consumption is good.
Highway driving free flow traffic, 28~30 km/l (3.5~3.3l/100km).
Highway driving with minor jam i.e. 35minute trip -> 45~50minute, 24~26 km/l (4.16~3.8l/100km)
Highway driving with shit jam i.e. 35minute trip -> 1h30m, ~18km/l (5.5l/100km)
City driving, others reported from 15~20km/l (6.6~5l/100km)
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Maybe Con:
Hybrid battery warranty does not cover wear and tear and exposure to hot weather. Probably only covers sudden failure. Put RM5k in bank deposit in advance if it fails.
Pure EV driving at low speed is very hard to do... but it does manage to do the claimed 2 km on full battery. (i.e. 1km to grocery shop/petrol station/shopping complex then 1km back to house)
Hope these gave you some Insight for Honda's current generation i-DCD Hybrid system.