Honda Jazz Road Test (2011)

Equipment

We tested the Honda Jazz EXL with the CVT transmission which cost £ 17,685 at the time of our road test.

The Jazz is available in myriad of trims, ranging from the entry-level ‘S’ model, ‘SE’, ‘ES’,’ EX’, ‘EXL’ - through to the range topping ‘EXL-T’.

The entry-level 1.2 Jazz ‘S’ comes with the following equipment as standard:

Safety - front, side and curtain supplemental restraint system (SRS) airbags, front seatbelt pre-tensioners, active front headrests, 3 x rear seat headrests, anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), emergency brake assist (EBA) and passenger airbag deactivation lock.

Equipment - 2 x ISOFix child seat restraint mechanism, ECU engine immobiliser, 5-speed manual transmission, electric front windows, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, remote keyless entry, height adjustable driver seat, magic seat flexibility system, multi-information display, 15" steel wheels, speed adjusting audio volume, stereo CD tuner with RDS and MP3 connectivity, auxiliary socket (MP3 connection), map light, vehicle stability assist (VSA).

The Jazz 1.2 ‘SE’ adds to the ‘S’ model

Automatic climate control with air conditioning, idle stop, body coloured door handles and door mirrors, intermittent rear wiper and a passenger vanity mirror.

The Jazz 1.4 ‘ES’ adds to the ‘SE’ model

A 1.4 litre 99ps petrol engine over the 1.2 unit  - 15" alloy wheels, auto climate control air conditioning, electric rear windows, body coloured door mirrors, electric retractable mirrors with integrated indicators, USB socket, steering wheel audio controls, 2 tier boot, cooled glove box and you can add CVT transmission.

The Jazz 1.4 ‘EX’ adds to the ‘ES’ model

16" alloy wheels, panoramic glass roof, cruise control, leather steering wheel, privacy glass, front fog lights, Bluetooth hands free telephone, auto lights, auto wipers and a driver’s seat armrest.

The Jazz 1.4 ‘EXL’ adds to the ‘EX’ model

Adds Leather upholstery with heated front seats to the EX specification car.

The A/C’ versions add manual air conditioning. And the ‘T’ versions add a Solid State Drive (SSD) integrated satellite navigation with Traffic Message Channel (TMC), Integrated Bluetooth and Hands Free Telephone (HFT) system.

Safety and Security

The new Honda Jazz has yet to be tested by Euro NCAP (safety rating); its predecessor was tested in 2009 and scored five stars - so we would expect this model to exceed the previous score.

All Jazz models are fitted with Honda’s Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA / commonly known as ESP) system as standard.

Dual front and side airbags are standard on all models, as are full length side curtain airbags and three-point seatbelts in all five seating positions (those in the front have dual-stage pre-tensioners).

The outer two rear seats are fitted with child seat ISOFIX fittings (which you should use if you have child seats, we always recommend you seek out ISOFIX child seats, far more secure). You can also disable the front seat passenger airbag should you wish to place a child seat in the front.

Infotainment

All Honda Jazz’s are equipped with a single CD/audio system and auxiliary jack with MP3/WMA playback capability, and volume control which automatically adjusts according to vehicle speed.

We tested the 1.4 EX which is also fitted with a USB adapter located in the front centre console storage box which enables iPods, plus a variety of other digital audio players, to be played through the Jazz's audio system. iPods can also be operated using the audio system and, depending on type, will charge once connected. The connector cable is located in the upper glove box compartment. Additionally there are rear door speakers and steering wheel audio controls.

The audio quality is perfectly acceptable - what we would add is that some owners may find the controls on the system a little fiddly; we could not easily find the on/off switch to start with. The audio controls are also steering wheel mounted and you can also control the handsfree Bluetooth telephone system from the wheel.

Rivals

• Ford Fiesta
• Mazda2
• Nissan Note
• Skoda Fabia
• Toyota Yaris
• Vauxhall Corsa
• Volkswagen Polo

What We Liked

• City Life - it is very good drive around town, you could say effortless and very easy to park.
• Easy to get in and out of – with excellent all round vision
• Flexible seating, cargo options and boot size
• Relative comfort for four
• Honda’s renowned customer service and most importantly reliability.

What We Disliked

• The over assisted power steering – of course this is subjective
• Front seats a little hard but are supportive
• Lever recline on driver’s seat – difficult to adjust the back rest – we would prefer a dial recline
• Some plastics felt a little fragile
• Not cheap to buy

What We Would Like To See

• A Type-R and S version to appeal to a younger more performance orientated audience

Conclusion

The Honda Jazz has won a number of awards and deservedly so!

It has topped the supermini position of the JD Power satisfaction survey for many years. Since its original launch in 2002 the Honda Jazz has won over 30 major industry awards for reliability and owner satisfaction.

If you are looking for an effortless city car then the Jazz should fit the bill perfectly. It has a flexible approach to life offering a great use of internal space. We liked the Jazz (a lot) and would even consider buying one – but it needs better driving dynamics to make it perfect.

14 October 2011 Melanie Carter

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