Article as seen on Stuff's Motoring Section 27.02.2013
UNDER $30,000: The Honda Jazz hybrid's price should be sufficient to attract plenty of attention.
It doesn't seem that long ago - less than a year ago, in fact - that the motoring media was recording the fact that the price of hybrid cars had reduced to just above $30,000.
That price had been achieved by the Toyota Prius C, a small five-door hatch that entered the market for $30,990 for a steel-wheeled entry model through to $34,990 for a more highly specified s-Tech version.
Those prices were pretty impressive, the motoring media mused. They were certainly a lot less than the other hybrid fare available in this country, which ranged from $35,990 for a three-door Honda Insight through to $65,000 for a loaded Prius V wagon.
But now Honda New Zealand has gone one step better via introduction of a hybrid version of its Jazz hatch for under $30,000. Granted, it's only 10 bucks under at $29,990, but strategically it's all very significant because the car has broken through that magic mark.