HONDA JAZZ
If you’re searching for the most practical supermini possible, the Honda Jazz is a great place to start.
Doctor Who probably wouldn’t need the Tardis if she owned a Honda Jazz. This little Japanese supermini pulls off quite the trick by being seemingly far larger inside than its exterior would have you think, and that’s made it popular with people who like a small car but need a good degree of practicality.
Though a car famous for its sensible space providing nature, the Jazz is a handsome little machine to look at and quite clearly takes some cues from sportier cars as well as Honda Civic’s of the 1980’s and 1990’s. Room in the rear seats is ample for a car of this size, with extra space for heads and knees and the boot is also impressive at 354-litres expanding to a class-leading 1,314-litres with the seating taken care of.
Unusually for a modern car, only naturally-aspirated engines are offered in the Jazz – a 1.3-litre, 100bhp or a 1.5-litre 128bhp petrol. These engines are badged ‘i-VTEC’ and deliver peak torque higher up in the rev range and need to be worked harder to deliver more power. Both are available with either a 6-speed automatic or a ‘CVT’ automatic gearbox. According to test cycles, the 1.3-litre is capable of over 55mpg, while the more powerful 1.5-litre should be able to achieve a touch over 47mpg, though that engine is only available in the top of the range ‘Sport’ trim level.
All but the entry level ‘S’ models get Honda’s ‘Connect’ infotainment system, but all cars get Bluetooth, automatic lights and wipers, cruise control with a speed limiter and Honda’s clever ‘magic seats’ system. Top-spec Sport models get items like parking sensors and a rear-view camera as extra luxuries, but all Jazz models are well equipped, which is just the way Honda likes to go about business.
While it can’t ever be accused of being exciting, the Honda Jazz fits in well with a lot of people’s lives offering its own philosophy on what a supermini should be. This highly practical and spacious little car is a favourite with many, even if it can be accused of being unconventional. The world would be a boring place if we all followed the crowd though…