Honda Jazz hybrid and face-lift

• New 104g/km hybrid costs £15,995
• Range starts from £11,295
• Ride, refinement and handling improved, says Honda

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Honda has face-lifted its Jazz supermini, improved the ride and handling, and introduced a new hybrid model.

It's on sale now and costs from £11,295 for the entry-level 1.2 S model. The car has new front- and rear bumpers that give it a new look and a more aerodynamic shape for slightly better fuel consumption and emissions. Honda says it has also worked to improve the ride and handling of the Jazz.

The new £15,995 hybrid uses the same 87bhp 1.3-litre petrol engine, 14bhp electric motor and continuously variable automatic gearbox as the Insight and Civic IMA. The Jazz hybrid averages 62.8mpg and has CO2 emissions of 104g/km.

While that's low enough for the cheapest company car tax band, it's not sub-100g/km, so the Jazz won't be exempt from the London Congestion Charge.

The 1.2-litre engine gives the Jazz an average of 53.3mpg and CO2 output of 123g/km, while the 1.4-litre does 51.4mpg and emits 126g/km.

The continuously variable transmission used in the hybrid makes its way back into the rest of the range as an option on the 1.4-litre. Leather upholstery is available for the first time as standard in the £17,995 Hybrid HX and as £1250 option in the £14,995 1.4 EX.

The rear seats have always been clever in the Jazz, the squabs folding up against the backs to provide a great loadspace, but they're now even better and can be reclined by up to 73mm.