3 minute read
MOTORING
Honda Jazz
ADAM TUDOR-LANE takes the fourth generation Honda Jazz out for a spin.
Imay be old before my time, but I do love a Honda Jazz. It gets a lot of stick, and yes, the majority of buyers are grey-haired with beige Velcro shoes, but they're one of, if not the most practical and frugal vehicles on our roads today. The latest iteration builds on the last generation, and I genuinely love it.
Prices start at £19,000 and go up to £22,000.
There's just one engine to choose from and the optional extras; well, they're bump strips, a grille insert and matching mirror caps in a choice of three colours.
Everything has gone very Japanese; the front looks like a little happy face, with bright eyes and a chirpy excited look. It's keen to get out in the world.
Side on there's that familiar swoopy profile, and the rear has an incredibly large boot lid… which is sometimes difficult to not hit yourself with when you open it as the handle is so high.
Probably the most impressive thing about the Jazz is just how frugal it is—powered by a new Intelligent Multi Mode Drive (i-MMD) 1.5-litre petrol engine coupled to two electric motors. This gives a combined power output of 108 BHP and 253 Nm of torque.
To make life easier that electric power is coupled to the engine through a new e-CVT gearbox, which is a darn sight quieter than the CVT of old. There's no manual option to be had and to be honest, it makes driving a breeze, especially for the type of around town work many Jazz owners are likely to put it through. 0-62 mph isn't breathtaking at 9.4 seconds for the base model, rising to 9.9 for the off-roady inspired Crosstar model. Thanks to the extra electric punch though, the Jazz never feels that slow. Off the mark up until, say, 30, it's pretty nippy. In terms of MPG, I saw 79.9 over a 50-mile drive. Now that was in ‘ECON’ mode, over a mixture of fast A and B roads, with a short motorway section. It bodes well for chugging around town though. Ride is on the softer side, which isn't bad as it soaks up a lot of the rougher terrain we have to cope with on UK roads. It does mean there's some body roll in corners, but take an S bend at a healthy pace and the Honda Jazz remains surefooted. Inside is as plucky and Japanese as the outside; it feels like it's taken some cues from the '90s with its sizeable central LCD for the dials, which is flanked by light-up bar charts. Think of an original Prius dashboard, but with more colour. A central infotainment screen measures 9 inches, the maps are Garmin powered, and the whole OS is similar to that found on the new Honda e, which is incredibly welcoming and slick to use.
Everything feels good in terms of quality, all the touchpoints are great, and there's little in the way of cheap plastic to be found.
Move to the rear, and the 'Magic Seats' are still in place. These fold flat with one pull, making the Jazz a cavernous tip trip lugger with ease. You can also store a decent amount of stuff under them when they're in their normal position.
We all know the Jazz suffers from an image problem in the UK, but the little Honda is simply a great car; this fourth generation is the most likeable yet, the frugality was downright impressive without me even trying. Couple that with emissions as low as 102 g/km, the incredible practicality and happy go lucky design ethos, I can honestly say the Jazz is one of the top cars of the moment for me.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
Top Speed: 108 MPH Performance: 0-62 in 9.4 secs Power: 108 BHP Economy: 63 MPG (Claimed)
