Honda Jazz (2002-2008) Review

Overview

• Next: Reliability and Quality

A new Honda Jazz has already hit the road in Japan, where it's called the Fit, but the current Jazz will still be sold in the UK for many months to come - and it's still got a lot of life in it.

There are currently five models, permed from two engines, two gearboxes and two trim levels. Both engines feature i-DSI, short for intelligent Dual and Sequential Ignition, Honda's system for maximising the efficiency of the combustion process, using twin spark plugs with ignition timing optimised according to engine load and speed to ensure as much of the fuel as possible is burnt to create energy.

The 1.2 is available only in S trim and with the manual gearbox, priced at £9,067. The 1.4 is available as an SE and a Sport, and with a choice of manual or CVT gearbox. The SE costs £10,967 (manual) or £11,967 (CVT); the Sport is £11,697 or £12,697.

Whichever version you look at, it's crisply designed inside and out, but the real attraction of the Jazz - the aspect that has made it a big seller ever since its launch in 2002 - is the packaging. It's a modestly sized car, but the interior is so well thought out that there's a good amount of room for four adults, or five at a pinch, and their luggage, and there's sufficient flexibility to cope with oddly sized and shaped loads.

It uses what Honda calls 'Magic' seating - cinema-style rear seats that fold flat and low onto the floor, or whose cushions can stack vertically next to the backrests to create a large cargo space. The forward location of the fuel tank and the compact design of the suspension help make space to allow all this.

The Jazz has barely changed since its introduction, but it's been joined by the Vauxhall Meriva, which arrived in 2003, followed by the Renault Modus a year later, and the current generation of superminis have followed the lead of semi-MPVs like the Jazz in being taller, roomier and smarter inside. It's now competing in a busier section of the market than when it was launched, but it still stands out as an exceptionally good town car.