Honda Jazz (2008 – 2015) Review

October 2007

New Jazz revealed

In UK from late 2008. Much the same recipe. Choice of 100PS 1.3-litre or 120PS 1.5-litre VTEC engines. Manual or CVT autos. Should offer excellent pedestrian impact protection. Slightly longer and now with a 400 litre boot.

• Length: 3,900mm (12ft10)
• Width: 1,695mm (5ft7) + mirrors
• Height: 1,525mm (5ft0)

Much better looking. Windshield moved forward by 4.7 inches. Triangular windows in the side front doors to improve visibility, rather than having A pillar quarter windows. Wheelbase increased 2 inches to 98.4 inches, while overall length up 2.2 inches to 153.5 inches. New Jazz also 0.8 inch wider, while front track is 1.4 inches wider and rear track is 1.2 inches wider. Car is only 10 kilos heavier.

Inside has height and reach adjustable steering wheel. Chunky steering wheel, like Civic's. More rear legroom, increased 1.6 inches. No spare tire, so Tyrefit or Runflats. Cargo capacity up 1.5 cubic feet to a total of 14.2 cubic feet. Ridiculous 10 cupholders for American market (illegal for driver to use them on the move in the UK).

Japan has 1.3-litre or 1.5-litre petrol engines. US only gets an all-new 1.5. Thailand only gets the new 1.5. The incorporation of i-VTEC variable valve timing helps the 1.5-liter engine produce 120PS (118bhp) at 6,000 rpm (an improvement of 9 hp) and 107 pound-feet of torque at 4,800 rpm (a very useful increase of 21 lb-ft). 1.3 puts out 100PS.

March 2010

Sporty Si grade launched

Si grade tops 1.2-litre range, with features over and above SE. In 1.4-litre Jazz models, the Si sits mid range, with specification over and above ES models. The Si is only available with a manual transmission.

The Jazz Si has 16-inch Chronos alloys. A chrome sports front grille and rear spoiler add to the sporty look. Stylish embroidered carpet mats and Si branding on the boot lid and glove box highlight the car’s high specification.

January 0001

25-8-2010 i-Shift to be replaced by CVT

Same as gearbox that's used in Jazz hybrid from early 2011. Honda launched the hybrid version Jazz at Paris Motor Show in October, bringing lower emissions and improved fuel economy to the practical small hatchback. Went on sale in the UK in early 2011 and features same engine as Insight hybrid - a 1.3-litre i-VTEC combined with a CVT gearbox.

Between the two is an electric motor, creating a parallel hybrid system. The hybrid Jazz - like the Insight and Civic Hybrid models - is capable of running on the electric motor alone under some medium and low speed conditions. Much of the Jazz's practicality is derived from its height, but despite being taller than the current Honda Insight, the hybrid version of Jazz manages to maintain fuel consumption and CO2 emissions on comparable levels.

The cleaner Jazz can be distinguished from the current range by revised headlights with a blue surround, clear rear lights, a new grille, restyled bumpers and a chrome tailgate trim. The new hybrid will also be available in a range of existing colours plus a bespoke Lime Green metallic.

Inside, the cabin is also given a fresh look, with a darker coloured dashboard, which contrasts with the blue lighting of the dials and dashboard instruments. The new hybrid is also available with leather trim, the first time this has been available on a Jazz model in Europe.

November 2010

Prices announced for new 2011 Honda Jazz range

The Honda Jazz has been given a refresh, with a range of enhancements to both looks and driving dynamics. The revised Jazz range, which will include a hybrid model, went on sale in the UK on 1 February 2011, with prices starting from £11,295 for the 1.2 S model and £15,995 for the Hybrid in HE trim.

New front and rear bumpers are the main parts to have influenced the look of the car. These have also been designed to reduce drag as the airflow passes over the Jazz’s body and to avoid turbulence when the airflow detaches from the rear. These styling improvements aid aerodynamic efficiency on all Jazz models helping the Cd figure to fall from 0.336 to 0.330.

Continuously variable transmission, more commonly known as ‘CVT’, first appeared in the previous Jazz range and due to overwhelming customer demand Honda has brought it back along with a few clever improvements.

The CVT is an automatic transmission that keeps the engine in a rev range where the car is most efficient. As well as ensuring the whole power train of the Jazz is more efficient, it also offers the driver a smooth and effortless journey.

The CVT transmission is a standard feature on the Hybrid while it is available as an option on 1.4 litre petrol models, where, thanks to the improvements, it now matches the economy and emissions of the outgoing Jazz i-SHIFT, with a CO2 value starting at just 125g/km.

Leather upholstery makes a welcome appearance for the first time in the Jazz range. Along with the addition of chrome rings defining the air vents, instruments and climate controls across the dashboard, the leather trim gives a whole new premium feeling to the interior of the car and is an important option for customers downsizing from larger vehicles from other sectors. Leather seats are standard on the Jazz Hybrid in HX trim and available as a £1,250 option on the 1.4-litre petrol EX model.

Another change across the range is a new darker dashboard material which contrasts strongly with the orange and blue back lighting of the dials, gauges and displays across the dashboard. The orange backlighting colour is unique to the petrol powered variants, while the Hybrid version uses the blue lighting to differentiate the model from the rest of the range.

The Magic Seats, famed for their flexibility and multiple seating and cargo-carrying configurations – are now even better with the addition of a reclining rear seat. The rear seats can now recline 73mms to increase rear passenger comfort.

The established 1.2-litre and best-selling 1.4-litre i-VTEC petrol engines remain in the Jazz range and to compliment the launch of the Hybrid variant, these two petrol engines have benefited from some small reductions in CO2 values and improved fuel economy. The 1.4-litre with manual transmission has emissions starting at 126g/km down from 128g/km and uses 51.4mpg on the combined cycle. The 1.2 litre engine uses 53.3mpg and also drops two grams of CO2 to 123g/km, yet still over the 120g/km limit for £30 tax.

The Jazz Hybrid is an ultra-efficient car with a combined fuel consumption figure of 62.8 mpg – and with the same super-smooth electric system as the Insight, even more fuel is saved around town. While a CO2 output of 104g/km made the Jazz Hybrid the lowest of any automatic car in the B-segment (prior to the arrival of the Yaris hybrid in July 2012). That means £20 VED, reduced by the £10 alternative fuel discount to just £10.

The suspension on the 2011 Jazz features revised settings to increase ride comfort and improve handling. Already well respected for its lightness and manoeuvrability around town, the Jazz benefits from improvements to steering feel at higher speeds. Thanks to this continuous improvement the revised model has a much firmer, positive steering feel as speeds increase to inspire a confident driving experience.

All Jazz models, including the Hybrid version, share new sleek, projector style headlights adding to the sportier look. There are four new colours available across the petrol range – Azure Blue, Polished Metal, Urban Titanium and Ionized Bronze. The Hybrid version also benefits from Azure Blue plus two new colours – a vibrant Lime Green Metallic and Taffeta White.

June 2012

Idle Stop made standard on Jazz 1.2 i-VTEC SE, reducing emissions to 120g/km and tax from £100pa to £30pa. ECDC combined economy now 54.3mpg. Has auto climate control and is priced at £12,870.

July 2012

Honda launches Jazz Si

This special new variant combines the space, versatility and frugal running costs of the Jazz range with sporty looks, revised suspension and additional racy features.

Built in Honda’s manufacturing facility in Swindon alongside the rest of the Jazz range, the Si is based on the 1.4 ES manual variant, but with additional sports-inspired features. The exterior has been given front and rear sport bumpers and side skirts, as well as 16-inch alloys. The Si also has the addition of privacy glass, front fog lights and Si branding on the boot, to highlight the car’s sportier specification.

To ensure the Jazz Si has substance as well as style, revised suspension settings have been adopted. New dampers are combined with a larger front anti-roll bar to improve straight-line stability and body control. The electric power-steering system has also been modified for improved feel and response.

Along with greater dynamism, the Jazz Si retains the easy-to-drive character, smooth controls, comfortable ride and long-distance refinement of the standard Jazz. The Jazz Si therefore offers the best of all worlds – a small car that can effortlessly cover long distances and is also fun to drive.

The interior has been given the Si treatment too, with a leather-trimmed steering wheel, black and silver supportive seats and the benefit of cruise control. The Jazz Si is available in four colours, to highlight the cars more youthful look; Milano Red, Crystal Black, White Orchid and Azure Blue.

A Si-T version is also available for £15,545 (OTR) and benefits from the addition of SD navigation and integrated Bluetooth.

December 2014

Honda Jazz voted 'Womens World Budget Car of the Year' by panel of female judges from 15 different countries.