Design
One single glance is enough to tell that the Jazz is looking younger than before. Honda’s designers have done a great job to give it a fresher, sleeker and more aggressive look. Roundish curves are gone to give place to sharp character lines, an all-new HR-V style grill, a sporty rear spoiler, streamlined headlights and vertical LED tail lights. This car is crying for a surfboard rather than shopping bags.
The interior has a futuristic cockpit-like modern design that offers a thrilling drive. Under the Man Maximum, Machine Minimum concept, the longer body and wider wheelbase enlarge the cabin for a more spacious rear passenger seating area. The wider wheelbase also provides driving stability.
The interior is fresh and futuristic featuring a cockpit-like modern design and surprisingly plenty of space for passengers and the driver alike. The third generation Jazz is bigger than its parents and you can really feel the difference once inside.
All seats, no exceptions, can be folded flat with one swift movement giving enough space for nearly everything one can think of loading. It’s time for our TV crew, still using a previous generation Jazz, to start biting their elbows.
Features
It would be no exaggeration to say that Honda engineers tried to stuff this car with all the cutting edge technology they had: a seven-inch touch screen, onepush ignition, Honda Smart Key system, automatic cruise control, rear-view camera, Siri Eye-Free Mode for iPhone owners and more.
The new Jazz comes in six trims, and the more you pay the more gadgets you get, but the engines for all six are identical. No more hybrids or diesels, just a 1,5-litre petrol i-VTEC as the only option. The engine develops up to 117hp and 146Nm at 4700rpm, so forget about winning drag races or showing off when traffic lights turn green. The new Jazz was created for something different.
Strictly speaking, calling it a petrol engine is not quite correct, because the unit is compatible with E85 fuel. And for those who want to save even more, the new Jazz comes equipped with an Eco Coaching feature and a fuel-saving driving display with ECON mode. Together with the new CVT it results in a nice consumption of less than five litres per 100km, while the transmission is also smooth enough to give a comfortable ride. Safety features include ABS, vehicle stability assist, electronic brake distribution and up to six airbags for top trims.
Driving impressions
Although designed as an urban car, the new Jazz also drives comfortable on a motorway. The car has enough power for a nice ride as long as you remember that you are not Lewis Hamilton and you are not fighting for a Grand Prix victory. It bears repeating that if you are looking for a powerful car, the Jazz is the wrong choice.
With some cars you concentrate on driving and enjoy the very process of it, but with the Jazz, you enjoy the invisibility of driving.The wider wheelbase provides extra driving stability; the shock absorbers are good enough to deal with even the biggest bumps on the road; noise is well suppressed and the overall impression is just good.
Being easy to drive, comfortable, compact and roomy, the latest-generation Jazz is nearly a perfect vehicle for everyday use. This car won’t test your driving skills, but instead help you drive it and prevent you from making mistakes. The only thing it lacks is a full-scale autopilot that would allow you to lay back and enjoy the landscapes.