Nippy little city slicker hits the high notes
The Honda Jazz is a light hatch I'd imagine is aimed firmly at female drivers. Well it's worked, because my wife absolutely loves it.
And, to be honest, within five minutes of stepping into the test vehicle, I was hooked too.
You see, the Jazz is a micro mobile that's thinks big when it comes to style, equipment and internal space.
I was in the middle-ranking VTi-S automatic, which is $19,790 plus on-road costs. The entry-level VTi manual is an excellent $14,990 - that's cheaper than a Hyundai i20 or Kia Rio - and doesn't lose a great deal of gadgetry. These two also share a 1.5-litre iVTEC four- cylinder petrol engine with the range-topping VTi-L, which is $22,490.
For this reasonable price range you have something that feels like the Tardis. Maybe it was because I had just been driving a Mini but the hatch seemed to have acres of width and head height, backed up by sofa-like fabric seats.
It wasn't an illusion, though. Within a minute of walking through the door my wife asked if she could borrow it because she was driving three of her friends to a school meeting. She came home raving about how good it was.
This is helped by a plush- looking dash housing a more-than- decent array of tech, including a seven-inch touch screen which has a reversing camera and Siri eyes-free mode. There's also full connectivity, a central bin between the front seats, six drink holders, all the steering-wheel-mounted buttons you'll need, climate control and a separate Multi Information Display next to the speedo.
That last one is worth noting, as it shows how far light cars have come in recent years. One of my wife's big bugbears about her Toyota Yaris is that it doesn't have a temperature gauge. You have this in the Jazz, along with the likes of fuel economy, distance left in the tank and average speed.
The only things missing are push-button start, keyless entry and electric seat adjusters - and I can live without those. It's even got wheel-mounted paddle shifters, for goodness sake.
Start driving and the Jazz impresses further. It's a nippy little city slicker and, once you're up to cruising speed, it really is a dream. It simply glides along the road, much like its big, big brother the Odyssey did when I took it for a spin down south in April.
Fuel economy, too, is pretty decent, giving you a combined figure of 5.8L/100km, helped by the option of an Eco button. And if you're in any doubt about how your driving is affecting the Jazz's thirst, the speedo and rev counter glow green when you're taking it easy and blue when giving the engine a bit of stick.
On the outside, the third- generation Jazz looks sharper thanks to 16-inch alloys, long tail lights, sophisticated styling and a front end that has a touch of the Civic about it.
Then there's the storage. You have an excellent 337 litres in the boot, plus "magic" seats that can be flipped about into 18 combinations. One of these is the intriguing Refresh mode, that lets you sit in the back seat and stretch out your legs on the front seat, which reclines flat.
Another surprise in a little car that's full of them.
VERDICT
The Jazz is pretty much note-perfect. It's an excellent car for a younger woman or elderly couple, or as a second vehicle for any family.
HONDA JAZZ
Model: VTi-S
Price: $19,790
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol
Outputs: 88kW/145Nm
Transmission: CVT automatic
Thirst: 5.8L/100km
COMPETITORS
TOYOTA YARIS
Model: YRX hatch
Price: $21,390
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol
Outputs: 80kW/141Nm
Transmission: Four-speed automatic
Thirst: 6.3L/100km
FORD FIESTA
Model: Sport
Price: $22,525
Engine: 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol
Outputs: 92kW/170Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Thirst: 5.3L/100km
VOLKSWAGEN POLO
Model: TSI Comfortline
Price: $20,790
Engine: 1.2-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol
Outputs: 81kW/175Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Thirst: 4.9L/100km
