Honda Jazz facelift prices announced

The Honda Jazz has been given a mid-life refresh, with subtle changes made to both the handling and styling. The revised range, which includes a brand new petrol-electric hybrid model, goes on sale in the UK on 1 February 2011.

Prices for the conventionally powered models start at £11,295 for the 1.2-litre S, but because of its expensive Lithium-ion batteries, the hybrid starts at £15,995, making it the cheapest hybrid vehicle in Honda's eco-friendly line-up.

On the outside, there are new projector headlights, and sleeker new front and rear bumpers have been added to improve aerodynamics, helping the drag coefficient (how much air a car displaces as it moves along the road) figure to fall from 0.336 to 0.330. There are four new colours to choose from, plus striking blue, white or green options for the hybrid model.

On the inside, the interior trim has been upgraded too, and leather seats are now fitted as standard on high-spec cars.

Minor tweaks to the existing 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre petrol engine range mean the former uses 53.3mpg and drops two grams worth of CO2 emissions, down to 123g/km, while the larger engine returns 51.4mpg, and also drops two grams of CO2 to 126g/km. The Jazz Hybrid manages 62.8mpg and a CO2 output of 104g/km, meaning that unlike the two-cylinder Fiat 500 TwinAir, it won't be congestion charge exempt in major cities.

Honda has reintroduced the option of a CVT semi-automatic transmission on cars with the larger 1.4-litre petrol engine, as well as being the only gearbox option on the hybrid.

Finally, Honda has tweaked the suspension to increase ride comfort and improve handling, while the steering has been revised to give a more positive feel at higher speeds, making it feel more stable when travelling on the motorway.