Although it’s hardly what you would call an enthusiasts car, the Jazz has still managed
to congregate a battalion of loyal fans since its release in the early millennium, thanks
in part to its reputation of offering brilliant reliability.
And in fact, the Jazz has been the UK’s most reliable car for ten years.
So, what is new with this model?
Well, as reliable as the previous one was, it was in need of a little refurbishment – and
that is what the third-generation model is all about, as its front-end has now been brought
up to date with the rest of the Honda range and there have been a host of interior changes,
which make it more practical and Honda hopes, makes it more appealing to a younger crowd.
You might not be able to tell from the outside, but the new Jazz is actually 95mm longer than
the previous model.
This does however become more apparent on the inside, as there is an additional 30mm
of shoulder room in the front and plenty of other improvements in the back, which I will
come to in a second.
Now, the dashboard layout is unrecognisable from the last model, for the better of course,
with a clean-cut Honda CONNECT touchscreen design which really helps minimalize what
used to be a flood of buttons.
And with a quick glance of this new set-up, you could easily think you were sat in the
Honda Civic hatchback or the HR-V SUV.
Kit wise, the Jazz has everything you could need and more, with DAB digital radio, air-con,
Bluetooth and even an autonomous City Brake Active system all thrown in as standard.
My only slight niggle with the interior is the sheer amount of cheap-feeling plastics
dotted about – which when you consider the quality of standard kit, is a bit disappointing.
So, what’s it like to sit in the back of a Jazz, well, leg room wise – according
to Honda - it’s better than sitting in a luxury saloon, as it claims there is more
knee room in here than there is in a Mercedes S-Class – and that’s thanks to an increase
of 65mm.
There’s a decent amount of headroom as well, thanks to the Jazz’s boxy shape.
But where the Jazz really shows off is with its flexible Magic Seats, which can be folded
up like cinema seats to give you masses of space, or you can just utilise the space underneath
them for storage.
And, when it comes to the front seats, they can actually recline all the way back to give
you a makeshift mattress.
The wide opening doors are a nice touch as well.
Oh yeah, if that wasn’t practical enough, there’s even a boot.
And with 354 litres it’s not as big as some rivals, but when you consider how versatile
those seats are, the Jazz is definitely leader of the pack.
Even the way the seats shimmy forward when you fold them down and allow for a flat loading
surface is brilliant.
It’s no secret that the Jazz evokes thoughts of “older drivers” due to its sensible
character – and let’s be honest, supermini-styled MPVs in general can be a bit dull to drive.
But that’s not entirely the case with the Jazz.
Although it’s not going to have you rushing out to buy racing gloves, the nicely weighted
and responsive steering means it has a bit more about it when compared to something like
the Nissan Note.
There is even a new Agile Handling Assist system to help with cornering.
And on top of that, the ride is nice and comfortable and will handle most bumps with ease.
There is just one engine on offer which is a 101bhp 1.3-litre petrol and – not to be
totally cliché – but this will do everything you need it to, be it pottering about town
or, if you drop a few gears, pulling off overtaking manoeuvres.
This engine can be quite noisy when the revs are high though.
Although there’s just one engine, you will get to choose between a six-speed manual or
a CVT automatic – and although the CVT is the most efficient, emitting 106g and claiming
an average of over 60mpg, we would recommend going for the manual as it just gives you
a bit more control over the revs, which is needed at times.
Just a quick one about the touchscreen.
When you are on the move, it can be quite tough to operate due to the numerous screens
you have to sift through and the volume control is fiddly.
So when you weigh it up, the Jazz seems like a no brainer – but as is usually the case,
it is going to cost you, as the Jazz starts from £13,500 – that’s £3,500 more than
the Nissan Note.
So, small, supermini-sized MPV’s are rooted in offering practicality in a compact package
– the Jazz clearly does that.
But it also goes above and beyond by offering a cool-looking interior, modernised exterior
and a drive that, okay, it’s not sporty, but it’s certainly not boring.
Yes there could be more engines to choose from – but apart from that, the Jazz retains
the same ideals as ever – and in our opinion, it’s the best supermini/small MPV on the
market.
But what do you think of the new Jazz?
Let us know in the comments section below and don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube
channel.
Click on the enquire button to find out more details about this car or for any other models,
visit Carkeys.co.uk.
And to watch more reviews, click one of the links on screen now.