Are you looking to stand out from the crowd with a car that not only reduces carbon emissions but also has a performance to rival other automobiles? Want to save yourself a considerable sum of money on tax and fuel while still experiencing great comfort on your daily travels? If this interests you then the new Honda Jazz Hybrid could be the perfect new car for you and your family.

With the considerable interest in recent years in global warming and the push to reduce our carbon footprint, many people have begun to look at other modes of transport to help reduce emissions and one these modes which has become especially popular is hybrid cars. Hybrid transportation has seemingly revolutionised travel with a bank of rechargeable batteries that prevents the vehicle from conking out due to a lack of fuel as the batteries are constantly recharged during the braking process to ensure that there is always considerable amounts of energy available to power the vehicle.

While there are seemingly numerous companies now specialising in enhancing and publicising hybrid technology, car manufacturer Honda has been at the forefront of hybrid technology since the launch of its first hybrid car, the Insight, in 1999. Following on from the undoubted success of the Insight, Honda has turned its focus towards the production of the Honda Civic Hybrid, a hybrid drivetrain version of the popular Honda Civic Sedan. Produced with either a five-speed manual transmission or variable automatic transmission along with power assisted steering, the Honda Civic Hybrid was seen by many to be one of the most innovative hybrid cars ever to be released on to the market.

This success is underpinned by the fact that the vehicle is currently the second highest selling electric vehicle of all time in the US with total sales exceeding 255,000. It is not just its commercial success that has brought the Honda Civic Hybrid wide recognition, however, as this success extends to the car’s design, being named International Engine of the Year for the class of one litre to 1.4-litre engine four years running, as well as winning the Best Fuel Economy in 2003 and again in 2004.

After great success in the hybrid market, Honda has seemingly taken its car production to the next level with the release of new Jazz Hybrid. Incorporating attributes which made both the Insight and the Civic hybrid successful with additions such as a 1.3-litre petrol engine combined with an electric motor and an Integrated Motor Assist System, the Jazz Hybrid has developed into a stand-alone production with extras such as a much large boot space and a re-designed exterior to help make the Jazz Hybrid accelerate much quicker from the start line. This extra space has come as a surprise to most as with the added Integrated Motor Assist System and power control unit it was believed that there would be much less room than previously seen in hybrid cars developed by Honda.

The manufacturers, however, have cleverly solved this problem by integrating the technology in the area underneath the boot floor. This enables the machinery to not only remain hidden within the car, but also caters for a 300-litre boot space while still allowing for the supermini’s trademark ‘magic seats’ to remain. By folding the rear seats into the floor of the vehicle, the car is able to considerably enhance its overall storage space from 300 litres to well over 800 litres, making the Jazz Hybrid one of the most spacious and comfortable hybrid rides on the market.

While the specifications of the car seem to suggest that it would be the perfect addition for any family looking for a comfortable, fuel-efficient drive which allows you to reduce your carbon emissions at the same time, the positives accrued from owning the Jazz don’t end there. Once you have purchased the vehicle, you will be exempt from road tax for the first year, meaning you will have to pay nothing towards it for 12 months and then a mere £20 a year after this period.

Furthermore, for those who live and work in the London area, you will also be exempt from the city’s Congestion Charge. These reductions, when combined with the considerable savings made in your total fuel consumption, highlight not only the great performance which the vehicle can achieve but also the great savings that can be accrued on a continual basis.

Honda is also currently looking to place hydrogen-powered vehicles on the market in years to come. Hydrogen vehicles work by converting the chemical energy of hydrogen into mechanical energy, which can be used to power a vehicle. Many people see this technology as the only way forward in automobile development, as the use of hydrogen means that no carbon emissions will be produced whatsoever but the energy source can also be found in abundance.

In 1999, Honda released its first fuel cell vehicle called the FCX which has now been followed by a second generation vehicle the FCX Clarity, widely believed to be able to go into mass production by 2020. While this technology could be some way off in terms of mass production, the release of the Honda Jazz Hybrid demonstrates the positive direction in which vehicle manufacturers are going in producing vehicles which can help reduce carbon emissions which are damaging the planet.

So, if you are looking to purchase a vehicle which can not only provide a great performance with a top speed of 100 mph but also give you and your family a comfortable ride then look to purchase the Honda Jazz Hybrid. With a price of around £13,000 the reductions in not only its carbon emissions, but also the costs which are accumulated in running the vehicle, make for a great long term investment not just for you and your family but for the planet.