Kentish Express Ashford & District
A bit Jazzier...
Honda has put a new take on a hugely successful idea, as discovered
Honda has shifted more than 300,000 Jazz models in the UK since 2001 and it’s still a favourite with older buyers. This one, with its more aggressive styling and faster steering, improves its incredibly clever space but adds a little more verve from behind the wheel. The new Jazz is longer, with a longer wheelbase and more interior space. You could argue it has a humble readiness about it, especially on 15-in wheels; the smaller of the two fitments. Honda UK thinks around 48% of Jazz sales will be automatics, and the newly-tuned CVT does bring tangible advantages for practicality. It sometimes simulates a seven-speed conventional automatic and at other times is completely variable, but it certainly makes life easier in traffic. It’s like a little robot friend who’s always ready to help and it comes in some interesting colours like this burnt orange and a flattering metallic blue. This is the real reason to buy a Jazz. There’s an improbable amount of space. Honda claims more rear knee room than you get in a Mercedes S-Class, improved shoulder room for everyone, a boot that’s larger than a Ford Focus’s (and almost as large as a Golf’s), and the so-called Magic Seats. Lift the bases lift up to leave a yawning space behind the front seats, or pull a lever to fold them down flat in one motion. Fold the front passenger seat down as well and you can fit loads of almost 2.5m. Let’s make one thing absolutely clear: the Jazz is not a fast car. It’s a real struggle to get it up to A-road speeds, which defies its fuel-saving point. The manual gearbox makes better use of the new 1.3-litre engine and benefits from a 10% shorter throw and a 25% lighter action than the old one. It rides well for a car on such small wheels , absorbing bumps with composure. And it’s comfortable. The average age of a new Jazz buyer is 61, but Honda hopes the new features will help to bring that down a little. Impressive safety features are a selling point for everyone and people in need of maximum load space in a sub-four-metre car should walk this way.