Used Honda Jazz buyer’s guide
Clever supermini can be yours from as little as £7k
A NEW Jazz has just hit UK roads, the fourth generation of a car that was first seen all the way back in 2001. From that first edition the Honda has been rare in its sector, with its high roof and ‘monobox’ silhouette that houses the pièce de résistance: cinema-style rear seats.
Called Magic Seats, they offer a level of flexibility that none of the car’s rivals can match – even now, nearly two decades after it was first seen. They let you carry items behind the front seats while retaining a separate boot, allowing you to transport tall items that might need to remain upright. The Jazz is renowned for its dependability and low running costs; it’s one of those cars that’s really easy to recommend, although it’s not perfect.
History
THE Jazz Mk3 reached UK showrooms in September 2015. It had a 1.3-litre petrol engine and three trim levels, each of which could be specified with a six-speed manual gearbox or a CVT automatic – the latter at a £1,100 premium. The Jazz brought a raft of new driver-assistance technologies plus a new infotainment system with internetbrowsing capabilities.
In February 2018 a facelifted version hit the road. Alongside updates to the exterior styling there was now a new 1.5-litre engine option, although this was available only in Sport form; the model line-up otherwise continued as before. The Sport was based on the SE, but added a rear spoiler and side skirts, LED headlights, gloss-black alloys, pinstriped fabric for the seats plus a leathertrimmed steering wheel and gearknob.
“From that very first edition in 2001 the Honda Jazz has been unique in its sector”
Interior
THOSE ingenious rear seats and the spacious boot are the Jazz’s headline acts when it comes to the cabin. With the back seats in place a useful 384 litres can be accommodated. But fold down the seats (and unlike most rivals, they fold completely flat, at the pull of a lever), and the capacity jumps to an extremely impressive 1,314 litres. This capacity is complemented by the Jazz’s low load lip, which makes getting large or heavy items in and out as easy as possible.
Cubbyhole space could be better, however, and while the dashboard design is clear and the cabin build quality very good throughout, the dash and infotainment both look a bit dated. The latter, meanwhile, isn’t quite as slick as the systems found on some rivals.