IF you want to amaze your children and show off your green credentials then look no further than the Honda Jazz Hybrid.

The wow factor for the kids comes from a speedomenter that changes colour from blue to green depending on how economically you are driving.

For my son and his mate this was the last word in cool firmly cementing the Jazz in their affections.

They heard me explain the green glow equated to excellent fuel consumption and extremely low carbon dioxide emissions and this was duly noted - but their gazes never left the dial during my monologue.

I could also have mentioned that at a fiver short of £18,000 the Jazz isn't cheap, but I think I would have been labelled a killjoy so left it alone.

Honda are not notorious for over-pricing their vehicles though so looking at what is included on the Jazz is revealing.

For a start there's a truckload of technology that helps the Hybrid earn those excellent environmental statistics.

Under the bonnet lurks a 1.3-litre i-VTEC engine linked to a CVT automatic gearbox with an electric motor sandwiched in between.

There's also a natty green button situated to the right of the steering wheel which activates ECON mode resulting in specific settings being adopted to improve fuel consumption.

The result is an ultra-efficient car which sips the juice at the miserly rate of 62.8mpg while producing rain forest-friendly emissions of just 104g/km.

This exempts this Jazz from road tax for the first 12 months rising to £10 per year thereafter.

There's paddle shifters on the rear of the steering wheel to give manual over-ride of the automatic transmission.

When operated in ‘D' mode the paddles in effect can be used for the ‘kickdown' effect when you want to overtake in a hurry. Used in ‘S' mode they give full manual control for acceleration or engine braking.

The cabin is spacious and modern featuring high quality materials including leather upholstery and chrome rings defining the air vents, instruments and climate control across the dashboard.

On the HX model I drove leather seats are fitted as standard.

A tilt and telescopic steering wheel - fitted with controls for the audio system - offers wide range of adjustment while a ratchet lever controls the height of the driver's seat ensuring a comfortable position for all.

The Jazz is an adaptable beast with double-folding rear seats - the cushions can be raised or the backrests lowered - which can be operated one-handed thanks to the retractable headrests.

The boot is similarly clever offering a multi-functional parcel shelf that can be stashed vertically or horizontally in four different ways to hold any load in place.

There are plenty of goodies fitted to the HX model including cruise control, automatic windscreen wipers and headlights, bluetooth connectivity, front and rear foglights, CD/radio, panoramic glass roof, plus powered, heated and retractable door mirrors.

The Jazz is also an incredibly safe place to be thanks to six airbags, active anti-whiplash head restraints, and Honda's Vehicle Stability Assist system.