The Honda Jazz was first released in 1982 as a small hatchback sporting large interior space and MPV-like proportions. But Honda only made a comeback with its supermini in 2000, fourteen years after the decline of the first Jazz. It was only in 2002 that the Jazz made a comeback in critical acclaim. In terms of design, the Jazz’s primary focus is on versatility and practicality. Nonetheless, Honda made sure to sharpen the style so it suits the younger set of consumers. Other additions to the newest Jazz include 1.4-litre and 1.2-litre petrol units plus a hybrid variation, both of which include two trim level options.

Pros

The Jazz draws its design changes around one main task: simple ideas with big results. The fuel tank positioned beneath the front seats allow for a bigger luggage storage area. The rest of the interior enjoys a larger interior thanks to the exterior’s larger dimensions: by 55mm in length, by 50mm for the wheelbase, and by 20mm for the width. Passengers will easily enjoy the comfort and space surrounding the multi-folding seats.

The interior is also quite flexible, allowing you to flip rear seatbases upwards so a bike can fit behind the front. You can also fold all the back seats downwards and turn the Jazz into a van. Boot space can be divided accordingly through the multi-position parchel shelf, or “double trunk” as Honda likes to call it.  Seats are not only moveable, but even the rears’ squabs can be locked vertically so that the seats themselves become another luggage compartment. Legroom is also generous when they’re used as seats. Luggage capacity has also been expanded to 399 litres, making it much larger than any other supermini in its class.

The Jazz has toned down the spacecraft style of other Honda cars, resulting in a design that’s both practical in terms of daily use and better on the eyes. This is steps ahead from the old model’s plastic and boring dash layout.

The 1.4-litre unit at 99bhp works respectably on the road but only displaces slightly more than the 1.3-litre unit. The 1.4-litre is able to at 60mph in just 10.7 seconds, while still spinning smoothly throughout the acceleration. The hybrid engine is equal in speed and performance, with the 1.2-litre only slower by a second and a half. But unlike the 1.4 unit, the 1.2 lacks that necessary mid-range punch.

Cons

The main limitation of a supermini is its inability to insulate noise. An idling Jazz is recorded to have 36 decibels emanating in the cabin—a measurement just slightly louder than ambient noise. Expect the engine to be audible for most of the journey, except along busy town streets.

Although the major controls are linear and easy-going, they don’t share the same precision and fluency as the previous model. The younger target market may not notice this feature but older drivers used to more accurate controls will notice the disparity. Expect an easy drive thanks to the snatch-free gearshift, but there’s still a slight damper in the automatic versions.

Honda has been one of the leading car manufacturers in Asia and the world for some considerable part of the 20^th century. Today in the 21^st Century Honda continues to be a leader by producing affordable but quiet and sleek vehicles for the public. Like much of the Japanese car industry, Honda produces vehicles that are usually of an affordable price but are clearly meant for the relatively tame roads of an urban location. The Honda Jazz line began in 2001; it was Honda’s answer to the growing number of middle class individuals in need of an affordable but sturdy vehicle. First released as the Honda Fit in Japan in 2001, the Honda Jazz was given a good reception because of its small size and “fashionable” look that echoed the arrival of the 21^st century, in a time where being stylish was becoming much more commonplace thanks to the internet, the Honda Jazz was definitely a result of that craze, with its “Fit” look and its small but sleek design, it did make a lot of waves in 2001. Because of its rather extreme popularity, the small size of the Honda Jazz led it to being marketed as one of its advantages.