Honda Jazz EX review

“For centuries, the biggest fear
seafarers had was of being becalmed.
Fast forward to today’s electric cars
and the biggest fear of landlubbers
is the same: of being ‘becalmed’ —
as in running out of charge.
But there’s a quick and easy fix:
hybrid petrol-electric power...”

HONDA'S JAZZ DELIVERS HYBRID POWER with zero risk of being electrically becalmed. In fact it absolutely guarantees you will never run out of electric 'juice' because its hybrid powertrain is self-charging. So you get the 'green' but without the range anxiety that can ruin longer journeys in any pure electric vehicle. And that's down to Honda sensibly blending electric with petrol in a way that benefits the environment but without putting you at risk of any inconvenience.

If you haven't already bitten the 'save the planet' bullet, then a hybrid powertrain is the easy path to go down — essentially, it's the lazy man's way to help spring clean the climate. The Jazz uses two electric motors in harness with a 1.5-litre petrol engine. Between them they generate 107bhp backed by 187lb ft of torque — an ample sufficiency of power for the supermini-sized Jazz, as confirmed by the figures: the benchmark zero to 62mph is done and dusted in an eager 9.5 seconds; the 108mph maximum speed is comfortably above the legal limit. And all accompanied by tailpipe emissions of just 104g/km.

“Drive a Jazz and smiles-
per-gallon come as
standard. And you will
certainly be smiling given
the laudable 61.4mpg
official figure for the
combined cycle. As good
as that is, we beat it and
without even trying.
Driving normally over
mixed roads and
conditions we recorded
a bountiful 64.6mpg.
And no, we never
pressed the Eco button
— had we done so, no
doubt we would have
even beaten ourselves!”

More important than the hard numbers, though, is how it goes on the road. Which is fine; you'll find plentiful and accessible power and sufficient urge for all your needs be you zipping around the houses or cruising from Land's End to John o' Groats.

More uplifting news comes from the Jazz's (s)miles-per-gallon readout. And you will certainly be smiling, given the laudable 61.4mpg official figure for the combined cycle. As good as that is, we beat it and without even trying; driving normally we recorded a bountiful 64.6mpg. And no, we never pressed the Eco button — had we done so, no doubt we would have even beaten ourselves!

While these numbers make for satisfying reading, this new-look Jazz clothes its hybrid tech in a smart suit. A few millimetres bigger than its predecessor, it's still a paid-up member of the supermini class. The first thing you notice is the 'widescreen' front screen with its über-slim A-pillars — it works brilliantly, providing an unobstructed view of the road ahead and makes placing the four-metre Jazz a breeze in the rush-hour traffic and the urban landscapes where many of these iconic city cars will spend much of their life.

Fronting the Jazz's space-maximising body is a two-level grille book-ended by large light units cut into the leading edges of the front wings and the short, angled bonnet that flows fluently into the raked screen and roofline; a rising waistline creates a sports estate-like rear-end and visually slims the generous glasshouse. The result is a minimalist restraint that's contemporary yet modish enough to appeal to a wide range of buyers, from young families with children to full-on empty-nesters.

Ensuring the hybrid powertrain is as efficient as it can be wherever you're driving is a suite of three driving modes that includes a driver-selected pure-electric drive setting. Thankfully, choosing the best mode for any given moment is automatically taken care of for you by the Jazz's Intelligent Multi-Mode Hybrid Drive system. So while it will use electric power for pull-aways and low speed motoring, in the upper speed bands it will directly engage the petrol engine to maximise cruising efficiency. Between times the principal electric motor provides the power, with extra punch from the engine when called for when accelerating or overtaking using both power sources working together in Hybrid Drive.

Driving is as satisfying as it is simple: press the Start button and squeeze your right foot and the Jazz initially moves off using battery power alone, so getting off the line is smooth and silent. In fact, the only choices you really need to make in this very-agreeable-to-drive two-pedal supermini are simply whether to run in Eco mode to obtain the absolute best miles per gallon or to slot the selector into either Drive or 'B' (normal Drive but with lift-off braking).

“Love space;
love my Jazz!
A generous wheelbase
ensures maximum
passenger space front
and rear. Getting in (and
out again) is graceful
thanks to the large
apertures and wide-
opening doors.
Sitting up front you
enjoy a fist-and-a-half of
headroom even with the
height-adjustable seat
set high.
The shapely seats sport
effective bolstering
and the smartly tailored,
light-coloured fabric/leather-combo
upholstery looks suitably
upmarket and feels
comfy both summer and
winter...”

Nudging the selector lever back from Drive to 'B' (or vice-versa) can be done at any time on the move. In B you get the same effect when you lift off the power as dropping down a gear or two in a car with a manual gearbox. In the Jazz this 'engine braking' is noticeable but not as severe as some (which is good) but is nevertheless strong enough to slow the car while simultaneously boosting the battery pack whenever you ease off the accelerator. It's especially handy (and fun!) to use when nipping along twisty country roads where it adds some extra dynamic control and sharpness to the driving experience.

Love space; love my Jazz! A generous wheelbase ensures maximum passenger space front and rear. Getting in (and out again) is graceful thanks to the large apertures and wide-opening doors as well as the body's height. Sitting up front you enjoy a fist-and-a-half of headroom even with the height-adjustable seat set high.

The shapely seats sport effective bolstering that but doesn't hamper entry or exit, and the smartly tailored, light-coloured fabric/leather-combo upholstery looks suitably upmarket and feels comfy both summer and winter. Your back and shoulders are well supported and there's plenty of personal space surrounding each chair and yes, three-stage seat heating is standard.

Settle back in the driver's seat and you'll immediately feel very much at home and in command in the swish and airy two-tone cabin. The driving position is first-rate and the large glasshouse ensures excellent all-round visibility. Honda's designers have done an excellent job making the tech-packed dash both ergonomic and intuitive; the attention to detail is particularly noticeable on the smart two-spoke, two-tone multifunction steering wheel whose controls (including those for the heated leather-wrapped rim, cruise, and voice commands) are all clearly labelled and, crucially, straightforward to use on the go.

At a time when even large SUVs often stint on cabin storage the Jazz has plenty: not just one but two gloveboxes, large dual-use cupholders (one built into each end of the dash — they also come in very handy for storing all sorts of oddments including keys, smartphones and compact digital cameras). There's also a third cupholder in the central console plus an armrest-capped bin between the front seats, a big open tray ahead of the selector lever served by twin USB ports (one fast charging), and practical bottle-holding door bins.

Honda hasn't stinted on the equipment in the top trim EX model. In addition to items mentioned elsewhere in the review all the 'must haves' are present including keyless Smart Entry and Start, climate control (it does a mean chill), rear-view camera (with on-screen active grid plus three different views along with a brilliantly useful bird's eye overview), heated steering wheel (cosy, not hot), parking sensors (front and rear), a distinctive set of alloy wheels, 'magic' rear seats, electric parking brake with autohold, heated powerfolding door mirrors (on-demand and automatic on locking and leaving), four fast one-shot up/down windows, drive-off auto door locking, traffic sign recognition, auto wipes and lights, auto dip/main beam switching, rear privacy glass and, as you'd expect, a comprehensive comms package.

“This all-new Jazz rides
fluently and while you
may think ‘city car’ when
you first see it, once
behind the wheel you’ll
definitely be impressed
because the Jazz is
not only nippy to drive,
but wieldy too thanks to
a well-mannered
suspension and direct-
feeling steering that
keeps it honest when
pressing on.
The hybrid’s battery
pack lives under the floor
where it helps keep the
Jazz ‘planted’ and totally
stable when cruising at
the legal limit — which it
does serenely...”

Honda's Connect infotainment and Garmin SatNav system is accompanied by a 9-inch touchscreen that 'floats' in the centre of the fascia; graphics are crisp and colours attractive and the crystal-clear and timely spoken directions ensure you reach your inputted destination (full postcode entry and the on-screen keyboard is especially nice to use) without any hitches.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto provide foolproof smartphone mirroring and you get some useful built-in apps. DAB, Bluetooth hands-free connectivity, and an eCall SOS button are all part of the package, as too is a 180W sound system. Also very well presented is the digital driver's instrument panel with clear info, all of it easily taken in at a glance. Appreciated touches include the large digital road speed posted alongside the official speed limit.

Safety tech is comprehensive too, particularly for a city car. First up is Forward Collision Warning (slows the Jazz if it suspects a potential collision while also recognising cyclists and pedestrians), ten airbags including one for the driver's knees and another between the driver and passenger that inflates to keep them safely apart in a major side crash.

Also included is Lane Keep Assist (now with reassuring road-edge sensing), Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Information including cross traffic monitoring, a stability assist programme, Collision Mitigation Braking, Road Departure Mitigation, adaptive cruise control, intelligent speed limiter, tyre deflation warning, and LED daytime running lights. That's a lot of safety kit working to keep you out of harm's way.

While travelling in the front is especially pleasant, so too is relaxing in the rear cabin. The accommodating back seats are supportive and well-cushioned and while three adults side-by-side is no hardship, most drivers are likely be travelling just two-up or carrying young children or teenagers behind them. The legroom is substantial (especially good for a city car) and adults seated in the back also enjoy plenty of foot- and knee-room; they'll also enjoy a fist of headroom and backrests set at restful angles. All of it reached easily thanks to doors that open to a full ninety degrees.

Also much appreciated by back-seat passengers is the visibility out, courtesy of tapering front seatbacks which maximise clear views forward, as well as deep, long side windows (fresh-air fans — and the family pooch! — will be glad of windows that drop fully into the doors). Other thoughtful features include 'patch pockets' at the top edges of the front seatbacks that make perfect pouches for mobile phones. At the base of the front seatbacks you'll find large storage pouches plus there's a pair of fast charge USB slots and bottle-holding door pockets. The rear headrests slide up easily when needed and don't restrict the driver's views when not in use and there are ISOFIX child seat fixings fitted to both outer rear seats.

“The Jazz swallows not
just people but their
luggage too: with the rear
seats in use it will carry
a practical 304 litres; fold
the seatbacks down and
this creates a 1,205-litre
loadbay made better by a
seamless cargo bay floor.
When the backrests are
dropped the seat bases
also sink fully into the
footwells to optimise the
height available for
cargo so whatever you’re
carrying there’s room
and to spare.
Another ‘like’ is the
protective fitted boot
liner; after your four-
legged friend returns
from a walk on the wild
side, it can easily be
removed for a swift
hose-down...”

The Jazz's fabled 'magic' seats are magically easy to use thanks to a fold-up design like a cinema seat (remember them!); either seat base (or both) can be flipped up then locked in a single move. Do this and you can use the rear passenger compartment to carry tall items as wide as the cabin. Brilliant!

Getting cargo in or out is a doddle courtesy of the minimal central floor tunnel, low side sills and those wide-opening doors. Even when the seats are occupied the open space below makes an ideal spot to stow squashy bags or kids' backpacks.

This all-new Jazz rides fluently and while you may think 'city car' when you first see it, once behind the wheel you'll definitely be impressed because the Jazz is not only nippy to drive but wieldy too thanks to a well-mannered suspension and direct-feeling steering that keeps it honest when pressing on.

The hybrid's battery pack lives under the floor where it helps keep the Jazz 'planted' and totally stable when cruising at the legal limit — which it does serenely. Often the Achilles' heel of hybrid cars (due to having to provide conventional stopping as well as capturing regenerative energy to top up the battery pack), the Jazz's brakes feel spot-on: you can anchor-up progressively and without drama at any speed.

The Jazz's tallish bodyshape swallows not only people but their luggage too: with the rear seats in use it will carry a practical 304 litres; folding both rear seatbacks down creates a 1,205-litre loadbay made better by a seamless cargo bay floor. And there's more good news: when the backrests are dropped forward the seat bases also sink fully into the footwells to optimise the height available for cargo, so whatever you're carrying there's room and to spare. Talking of which, yet another liked feature is the protective boot liner; after your four-legged friend returns from a walk on the wild side, it can be removed in seconds for a swift hose-down.

Getting luggage aboard is straightforward, made easier by a low boot sill and high-rising tailgate; the load cover is a no-hassle lift-up parcel shelf. Taken along with the 'magic' rear seats there's an unbelievable amount of room for cargo in such a compact car and confirms the Jazz's interior as the most versatile of any supermini. An easily-accessed large storage compartment fitted under the boot floor also comes in very handy.

The hybrid Jazz has a lot going for it. It's snazzy to look at, a breeze to drive, and practical and versatile. For many, its most appealing feature will be its super-simple to use hybrid drivetrain that guarantees none of the range anxiety you're forced to live with in an all-electric car. Passengers and owners will also like the Jazz's modish charm and premium, well-stocked cabin but while those along for the ride will savour the space, the one paying the running costs will love the Jazz's real-world 64mpg. ~ MotorBar

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