Honda Jazz 1.4i Car Review

Facts At A Glance
Car: Honda Jazz 1.4i
Prices: £12,758-£13,363 – on the road
Insurance Group: 5
Emissions: 128g/km
Performance: 0-60mph 11.8s / Top Speed 112mph
Fuel Consumption: (urban) 42.8mpg/ (extra urban) 58.9mpg / (combined) 51.4mpg
Safety: Twin front, side and curtain airbags, 5 3-point seatbelts.
Dimensions: length/width/height 3900/1695/1525mm

Everything in One Package

Our Rating: No Rating Available

Honda has always been the leader of the pack when it comes to all things cars. Their innovations are always mimicked by other car brands, but rarely are they matched. Honda once again has turned the pages of history by releasing the Honda Jazz as a car that breaks all the rules of the supermini class. While most other carmakers are trying to create supermini coupes that look like sports cars Honda has gone in the complete opposite direction. The Jazz line of cars is a supermini that has everything one expects in a car of this class. It is small, easy to handle, but it also adds some very MPV type qualities that many looking for a city car will be very happy to take.

The Honda Jazz 1.4i is the top of the line when it comes to engine choices. It delivers decent power with 99bhp of power and is available with either a 5-gear manual gearbox or the i-Shift automatic gearbox. Drivers opting to the manual gear box can get the car from 0-60mph in about 11.8 seconds while those going for the auto shifter will be able to get from 0-60mph in about 13.9 seconds. These are not blazing numbers by any standard, but the best of the engine comes when at higher speeds. The pick-up rate is fair and will allow for easy long distance drives.

The thing that makes the Jazz interesting is the MPV-like features. Take for example the fact that the rear seats can be folded down, with head rests in place, all in one motion from the back of the car. The driver won't have to run all around the car moving the front seats around and then scurry into the back to move the rear seats. One movement takes care of them all. No wonder Honda has called this system ?The Honda Magic Seating System?. Putting the rear seats away makes for a very nice sized boot. Better still is the fact that if the front passenger seats are put into a reclining position long items such as a pair of skis or a small tree can be laid down inside the Jazz.

The exterior isn't much to write home about. It is basically a shrunken looking van, but Honda designed it in such a way that the front window is huge which allows for serious visibility that is essential for city driving. With very little in the way of blind spots there will be no more surprises popping into view. Also the short bonnet makes for very easy turn a-rounds and parking into tight spots.

Honda is offering the 1.4i engine in the top trim levels they call ES, Si and EX. The difference in cost between the three lines is about £1,300. All of them come with a decent amount of standard equipment. The Si ends some sportiness while the EX gives much more in the gadgetry department. No matter which version is bought it is sure to please.

While the other car lines are busy making a bunch of different lines of cars to please all sectors of the supermini market Honda has focused their energy on one car that will fill the needs of all superminis combined. With the Jazz a buyer covers the range of needs all at once.