Honda JazzIt’s not been Honda’s highest profile model, but the Jazz has won a lot of enthusiastic followers, and at the time of writing it’s in its ninth year of production; over 3.5 million have been sold worldwide, with 220,000 in the UK alone.Production of most Jazz models was moved to Honda’s manufacturing plant in Swindon in 2009, and the latest version has been designed, they say, to “take the Jazz onto the next stage, producing a car with greater flexibility, better looks, increased ride comfort and improved eco credentials”. Looking at that last point it’s probably the new hybrid version that’s doing most of the work, though there are improvements in CO2 emissions right across the range.The hybrid becomes the world’s first B-segment hybrid car, but it’s actually the third car currently on sale in the UK to use Honda’s IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) system, sitting in showrooms alongside the Insight and CR-Z. It’s been given the same powertrain as found in the Insight – the 1.3-litre i-VTEC petrol engine with IMA and automatic CVT gearbox, which results in CO2 emissions of 104g/km and consumption of 62.8mpg on the combined cycle; figures that for the time being mean free road tax for the first year and only £10 thereafter. Just as importantly for many hybrid owners this technology comes without compromising the versatility of the Jazz. It features all the practicality of the petrol-only variants, most notably the ‘Magic Seats’ and an impressive load space of up to 883 litres. That boot volume isn’t bought at the expense of lousy rear passenger space either; there’s plenty of head and leg room for grownups in those rear seats.If the term ‘Magic Seats’ means nothing to you, I should add some detail. Essentially they can be thought of as fully folding hatchback rear seats that do what all such seats should, but very few these days do. So yes, they’re split 60/40, and yes they’ll fold completely flat, which puts them ahead of most of the opposition, but add to that the fact that folding is a superbly easy one-handed operation, the seats when in use can be reclined, and there’s even a further option of folding the cushion up to meet the backrest (so creating a second tall load area between front and rear seats), and you can see that ‘magic’ is only mildly over-egging it.My drive of the hybrid on the crowded tarmac of Bucks and Berks revealed a car that’s easy to drive (the CVT will appeal to many), and though you’ll seldom think the electric motor is doing all the work, it does occasionally take over under low-speed cruising conditions, when combustion in the petrol motor is stopped. The hybrid is the most fuel-efficient of the Jazz range, but cynics might well say that’s because the range lacks any diesels.The Jazz ride seemed to me to vary noticeably from model to model. Those with normal powertrains, in other words the 1.2 and 1.4 petrol models, have very compliant suspensions that afford a fairly soft ride. The hybrid feels like it was going to be a hot hatch, and then had second thoughts about greenery; its suspension feels the thumps and bumps of the poor surfaces which characterise roads of the home counties, and there’s a noticeably bouncy feel to it. It’s all a result of the springs and anti-roll bars being uprated to cope with the hybrid’s extra weight (at least 115kg more than the 1.2), but I’d say that most owners will feel Honda have overdone it.Standard equipment on all models includes front, side and curtain airbags, active head restraints, Emergency Brake and Vehicle Stability Assists, remote keyless entry, deadlocks, electric mirrors/front windows, steering reach and rake adjustment, CD with MP3 compatibility and speed-sensitive volume, and an external temperature gauge, which I mention not only because it’s nice to know, but also because it’s very unusual to get it right across the range.The Jazz cabin is smart without being particularly clever, and though seats feel comfortable they do lack lateral support, not that this is a car which will be bought for tyre-screaming antics. Traditionally, Jazz buyers are not in the first flush of youth, indeed the average age is apparently 56. They’re after reliability and practicality, and they’ll get both here. Size: 3.90m x 2.03m (inc mirrors)Engines: Petrol: 1.2 & 1.3 litres – 90 & 99PSHybrid: 1.3 petrol 88PS + electric 14PSGearbox: 5-speed or CVT FWDBest Consumption: Hybrid – 62.8mpgPrice at May ’11: from £11,295Full details of the Jazz are available on the manufacturer’s website: www.honda.co.ukPeter Cracknell – May 2011
Honda Jazz
It’s not been Honda’s highest profile model, but the
Jazz has won a lot of enthusiastic followers, and at
the time of writing it’s in its ninth year of production;
over 3.5 million have been sold worldwide, with
220,000 in the UK alone.
Production of most Jazz models was moved to
Honda’s manufacturing plant in Swindon in 2009, and
the latest version has been designed, they say, to
“take the Jazz onto the next stage, producing a car
with greater flexibility, better looks, increased ride
comfort and improved eco credentials”. Looking at
that last point it’s probably the new hybrid version
that’s doing most of the work, though there are
improvements in CO2 emissions right across the
range.
The hybrid becomes the world’s first B-segment
hybrid car, but it’s actually the third car currently on
sale in the UK to
use Honda’s IMA
(Integrated Motor
Assist) system,
sitting in
showrooms
alongside the
Insight and CR-Z.
It’s been given the
same powertrain as
found in the Insight
– the 1.3-litre i-
VTEC petrol engine
with IMA and
automatic CVT
gearbox, which
results in CO2
emissions of
104g/km and
consumption of
62.8mpg on the
combined cycle; figures that for the time being mean
free road tax for the first year and only £10 thereafter.
Just as importantly for many hybrid owners this
technology comes without compromising the
versatility of the Jazz. It features all the practicality of
the petrol-only variants, most notably the ‘Magic
Seats’ and an impressive load space of up to 883
litres. That boot volume isn’t bought at the expense of
lousy rear passenger space either; there’s plenty of
head and leg room for grownups in those rear seats.
If the term ‘Magic Seats’ means nothing to you, I
should add some detail. Essentially they can be
thought of as fully folding hatchback rear seats that do
what all such seats should, but very few these days
do. So yes, they’re split 60/40, and yes they’ll fold
completely flat, which puts them ahead of most of the
opposition, but add to that the fact that folding is a
superbly easy one-handed operation, the seats when
in use can be reclined, and there’s even a further
option of folding the cushion up to meet the backrest
(so creating a second tall load area between front and
rear seats), and you can see that ‘magic’ is only mildly
over-egging it.
My drive of the hybrid on the crowded tarmac of
Bucks and Berks revealed a car that’s easy to drive
(the CVT will appeal to many), and though you’ll
seldom think the electric motor is doing all the work, it
does occasionally take over under low-speed cruising
conditions, when combustion in the petrol motor is
stopped. The hybrid is the most fuel-efficient of the Jazz
range, but cynics might well say that’s because the range
lacks any diesels.
The Jazz ride seemed to me to vary noticeably from
model to model. Those with normal powertrains, in other
words the 1.2 and 1.4 petrol models, have very compliant
suspensions that afford a fairly soft ride. The hybrid feels
like it was going to be a hot hatch, and then had second
thoughts about greenery; its suspension feels the thumps
and bumps of the poor surfaces which characterise roads
of the home counties, and there’s a noticeably bouncy
feel to it. It’s all a result of the springs and anti-roll bars
being uprated to cope with the hybrid’s extra weight (at
least 115kg more than the 1.2), but I’d say that most
owners will feel Honda have overdone it.
Standard equipment on all models includes front, side
and curtain airbags,
active head restraints,
Emergency Brake and
Vehicle Stability
Assists, remote
keyless entry,
deadlocks, electric
mirrors/front windows,
steering reach and
rake adjustment, CD
with MP3 compatibility
and speed-sensitive
volume, and an
external temperature
gauge, which I
mention not only
because it’s nice to
know, but also
because it’s very
unusual to get it right
across the range.
The Jazz cabin is smart without being particularly clever,
and though seats feel comfortable they do lack lateral
support, not that this is a car which will be bought for
tyre-screaming antics. Traditionally, Jazz buyers are not
in the first flush of youth, indeed the average age is
apparently 56. They’re after reliability and practicality,
and they’ll get both here.
Size:
3.90m x 2.03m (inc mirrors)
Engines:
Petrol: 1.2 & 1.3 litres – 90 & 99PS
Hybrid: 1.3 petrol 88PS + electric 14PS
Gearbox:
5-speed or CVT FWD
Best Consumption: Hybrid – 62.8mpg
Price at May ’11:
from £11,295
Full details of the Jazz are available on the manufacturer’s
website: www.honda.co.uk
Peter Cracknell – May 2011
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