Fast facts
The Honda Jazz is one of the finest small hatches that money can buy.
Superbly practical and versatile, it boasts room for four adults to travel in comfort and is as good on the motorway as it is around town.
Boasting Tardis-like qualities, the Jazz is amazing for the amount of space it makes available in a neat package.
This third generation model is much more stylish than previous efforts in a bid to make it more appealing to younger and more image conscious drivers.
It certainly looks much sportier thanks to sharp panel creases, a high window line and a front end which is common with its larger siblings in the Honda range.
Under the bonnet you will find a 1.3-litre naturally aspirated engine which is not as lively as some of its
turbocharged rivals. Mated to a six speed manual gearbox (there is also the choice of a CVT automatic) the Jazz has a character of its own and thanks to its six gears it cruises quietly at motorway speeds.
The 1,318cc i-VTEC petrol engine delivers its power smoothly but it takes 11.5 seconds to reach 62mph and has a top speed of 118mph.
It may not have a diesel option but the Jazz is still a frugal choice with low road tax bills and excellent fuel consumption. The test car’s official combined fuel figure is 55.4mpg with emissions of 120g/km due in part to its larger alloy wheels. More basic cars are listed at 56.4mpg and I certainly averaged over 50mpg.
Road and wind noise have been reduced due to extra sound deadening and the revised suspension means there’s hardly any body roll in corners.
In town the ride is good enough to absorb all but the biggest bumps and the steering is sharp and offers bags of feedback. Visibility is good and the Jazz is easy to park in tight spaces.
No other car in its class can match the Jazz when it comes to space and packaging and the little Honda matches or beats many cars in the class above. There are loads of cubbies and storage ares as well as a glovebox, door bins and cupholders.
Boot space is a generous 354 litres - considerably more than a Ford Fiesta - then factor in the the Jazz’s brilliant ‘Magic’ rear seats, which fold completely flat in a single motion and you are left with 1,314 litres of space - much more than the opposition.
Good quality soft-touch materials give the cabin a premium feel and this top spec model is loaded with The Honda Jazz offers Tardis-like qualities in a stylish package equipment including the Honda Jazz Connect system which allows the use of apps and enables buyers to select their music from numerous sources and devices.
The Jazz also comes with numerous active safety systems and all models benefit from city braking, while mid and top-spec models come with collision warning, auto dimming headlights, lane departure warning and an intelligent speed limiter that adapts to speed limits using traffic sign recognition.
You also get a generous 3yr/90,000 mile warranty and solid residuals which help to soften the asking price.
The Jazz has always been one on the most versatile, reliable and cleverly designed small cars on the market and this new model is better than ever.
Over 5.5 million models have already been sold worldwide and the latest model is certain to add to that success. Honda Jazz 1.3 i-VTEC EX Navi manual Price: £16,605 Mechanical: 102bhp, 1,318cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via six- speed manual gearbox Max speed: 118mph 0-62mph: 11.5 seconds Combined mpg: 55.4 Insurance group: 13 CO2 emissions: 120g/km Warranty: 3yrs/90,000 miles