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What is it?
The Honda Jazz is a wonderfully practical small hatchback which has been around since 2002 and garnered a strong following in Ireland in that time. Now in its third generation, the newly restyled 2016 Jazz is a strong proposition for buyers seeking a supermini with more space than the rest in class. Although it is pricier than cars such as the Ford Fiesta and Peugeot 2008, the Jazz offers a touch of extra build quality, and thanks to Honda’s strong reputation for reliability, it is sure to carry strong residual values.
What is it like?
If there’s one thing that the Jazz does exceptionally well, it’s carrying five adults in comfort. The interior is unassumingly spacious and it’s easy to get in and out of thanks to the wide doors, while the seats are quite supportive. From the driver’s seat there’s a great view of the road, and infotainment is controlled through a seven-inch touch screen monitor in the centre of the dashboard which lends the centre console a clean look, but it can take some getting used to. There are plenty of USB points available to charge your phone and connect it to stream music, along with lots of storage cubby holes and holders to stow items away.
The Jazz is available with just one engine, a revvy 1.3-litre petrol that makes reasonable power and comes with a six speed manual gearbox as standard or an optional CVT automatic. The manual version that we drove is peppy around town and comfortable on the motorway, while running costs are kept low with 4.5 litres per 100 kilometres of fuel economy and a low €200 road tax rating. The Jazz is not available in diesel guise which may dissuade some Irish buyers however.
The Jazz is certainly one of the best equipped small hatchback cars on sale at the moment and there are three different specifications to choose from in Ireland; SE, ES and a range-topping EX version. The EX model we drove features 16-inch alloy wheels, a reversing camera and smart entry and start, which are all worthwhile additions. Honda’s excellent City Brake Active System is also now standard on all models and helps to prevent low speed accidents by giving audio and visual warnings to the driver and even automatically applies the brakes when a collision is imminent. We got to try out the Jazz’s City Brake system in the safe surrounds of Mondello Park recently and were thoroughly impressed by it, a must for safety conscious buyers.
Carzone verdict: 3.5/5
The Jazz has traditionally been more popular with mature buyers in Ireland, but its sharp new looks and improved spec list are sure to appeal to younger buyers. Also. when it comes to running costs and refinement, the Jazz does not disappoint like so many other small hatchbacks on the market do. It’s more expensive than alternatives such as the Ford Fiesta and Toyota Yaris though, which will be hard to overlook for those shopping at this budget. It’s worth considering the optional Dynamic safety pack, which adds features like road sign recognition, lane departure warning and an intelligent speed limiter. You can view a range of Honda Jazz cars for sale on Carzone right now by clicking on this link.
Test Car Details:
Model driven: Honda Jazz 1.3i-VTEC EX
Prices from: €17,640
Price as tested: €21,095
Annual Road Tax: €200
Engine: 1318cc four-cylinder petrol
Transmission: Six speed manual
Body style: 5-Door Hatchback
Top Speed: 190 km/h
0-100km/h: 10.9 seconds