Dec 07, 2016 12:23 AM
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Honda's compact Jazz has been something of a sleeper hit since its original launch. It might have lacked the'wow' factor of some rival but it easily compensated with its capacious cabin and modest footprint. Keen to maintain its sought-after status, this generation includes a raft of welcome improvements.
Most of the main manufacturers have an entry in this segment of the market, with some efforts being significantly better than others. And then there's the Jazz, a car that looks small but rivals its larger Civic brother for space and versatility.
The Jazz is well made, spacious on the inside, refined, comfortable, affordable, easy on the eye, reliable and classy. That it's been Honda's best selling car speaks volumes for its broad appeal. Whether it's your first car, the family's second car or just something for the commute into work, the Jazz oozes quality and performs admirably.
Recently, critics have commented on the car's firm ride and the lack of a CVT gearbox. The latter was replaced by an automated manual transmission in a bid to reduce emissions and fuel consumption, but subsequent owners weren't impressed. With CVT technology now much improved the continuously variable'box is back, along with subtle changes to ride and comfort plus a new hybrid model offering a similar experience to that of Honda's Insight.
In hybrid guise the Jazz borrows heavily from its Insight cousin. That said, in real terms it behaves every bit like the conventional petrol-powered models. For those interested, that is a very good thing. There are no quirks or compromises to be had here, although the hybrid's 104g/km CO2 rating might disappoint some. Honda's argument is that, if it was to chase that sub-100g/km goal, refinement might suffer and the car could lose its trademark(but bulky) folding rear seats.
