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Fuel economy is now the buzzword. With that in mind I have decided to look at a vehicle which is fast catching on sales in the small hatchback vehicle segment.
It’s not my personal favourite but believe me it does the work.
After going through this article, I am positive a few of you will be looking at buying one.
It’s practical, spacious, eco-friendly and is of great built — it’s the Honda Jazz.
The Jazz is one of the most practical and efficient small cars that money can buy, even though the latest model has gone up in price.
At a glance, it is the greenest and easy to use to run errands in town. With over a million cars sold globally, the Honda Jazz remains incredibly popular, even though it first went on sale in 2002.
This highly practical super mini offers efficient engines, loads of standard equipment and lots of passenger space, sticking to the previous models’ winning formula.
It has a strong reputation for reliability and its clever interior flexibility is second to none in the super mini sector, even challenging some MPVs for practicality, despite its smaller dimensions.
In fact, the improved exterior design actually houses an even bigger interior than its predecessors.
Even though the petrol engines lack power, it still gets the job done. Its upright driving position gives the Honda Jazz a great all-round visibility (it is like you are sitting on a high chair) and allows the driver to see the road ahead clearly.
The dashboard is oriented towards the driver, with all the controls within short reach of the steering wheel, making it easy to access the stereo and heater, and improving the driving experience.
While the suspension has been improved from the previous model, the Jazz still wrestles with poor road surfaces and transmits bumps and bangs into the interior of the car.
There are two engines on offer, the 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre petrol engines, neither of which feel particularly powerful and have to be worked quite hard, especially if you are carrying passengers and luggage.
The hybrid model’s battery-powered motor actually improves performance, so it feels like the quickest version of the Jazz on the road.
However, it does come with a CVT automatic gearbox that is very noisy and have been avoided in other models.
Refinement has improved with new version. Honda consciously tweaked the Jazz’s suspension to improve comfort and general drive ability when it last updated the car.
The current model does ride noticeably better than its predecessor, especially at higher speeds on the motorway.
The raised driving position gives excellent all-round visibility and the entire dashboard and centre-console controls are easy to reach and use.
You can order a luxurious full-leather interior as an option for an extra premium feel. The tall interior means leg and headroom are both more than ample, and the rear seats can recline to further increase passenger comfort.
The Jazz is the most reliable car in this class. Flexible seats and big boot boost practicality. IT has always been supremely practical and the current version is no exception — only the Toyota Verso can match it for space.
The rear seats fold completely flat at the touch of a button. The seat bases flip up like cinema seats to create space for carrying something tall across the back seats.
The 399-litre boot is big enough to rival most small family hatchbacks, and has a double-layered floor for storing loose items.
The high roof means even the tallest passengers will sit comfortably in the car.
The only negatives are that you lose the boot’s lower storage tray in the hybrid model, as this is where Honda stashes the batteries — but that hardly impacts on day-to-day practicality and that a spare wheel is only available as an optional extra.
All models do get an emergency repair kit, however. The Jazz does hold its value extremely well, so you should get your money back on the purchase price when you come to re-sell it.
It’s efficient but not class-leading. The rest of the ranges all emit below 130g/km and the 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre petrol engines can return fuel economy north of 80km per 4 litres — a figure that does drop dramatically if the car is loaded with people and luggage. All in all, these costs are decent. Check with Honda Centre for pricing and availability.
Like any vehicle, it has its shortfalls which includes the fact that there is no diesel option. The entry-level 1.2-litre is not well0-equipped, lacking air-con, alloy wheels and electronic stability control.
Another sad this is that it’s pricier than its rivals, though its ride is firm, I personally loathe the crackling engine when behind the wheel of this car. There is nothing as frustrating as having to listen to a noisy engine.
Till next week . . . God Bless you and enjoy the ride.
Fact Jeke is an auto enthusiast with over a decade experience. She has written for several regional publications, attended many auto trade shows around the globe. You can contact her on email: [email protected] or via Facebook: Torque with Fact Jeke.
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