Honda Jazz doesn’t miss a beat as a versatile city hatch

Seats that can be configured 18 ways and decent space for four adults helps offset the absence of active driving aids in Honda’s five-door hatch.

 

VALUE

If you’re prepared to buy a 2017 Honda Jazz, the top-spec VTi-L can be yours for about $26,560 on the road. The features list includes leather-trimmed seats with heaters in the front pair, a seven-inch touchscreen with satnav and Bluetooth connectivity (though no Android/Apple mirroring), cruise control and keyless start.

 

Honda has sweetened the deal with a seven-year/unlimited km warranty and seven years of roadside assist. Servicing intervals are ordinary — every six months/10,000km — and the first six visits will cost $1668.

COMFORT

 

Versatility is the Jazz’s signature and the VTi-L does it with more style than its cheaper siblings. The five-door hatch’s interior easily takes four adults with a huge (for the class) 354L of cargo space. The rear seats fold 60-40 and effectively disappear into the floor to expand the boot volume to an apartment-shifting 1314L. The downside: the quality of materials isn’t reflected in the price. The plastics largely don’t look and feel “mainstream premium”, as in some rivals.

SAFETY

The Jazz is a five-star vehicle based on ANCAP’s 2015 assessment. Active driving aids are not available on the baby Honda, so you have to rely on six airbags and a strong structure — the Jazz earned a crash rating of 36.58/37.

DRIVING

 

The Honda holds its own around town but lacks the sporty feel you’ll find in a Mazda2, largely due to steering that is too lightly weighted to give much feedback and suspension that jolts over mid-corner lumps. Vision is ordinary past the double-braced windscreen pillars. The continuously variable transmission is pretty inoffensive and only drones when you’re pushing hard on the accelerator. You notice it more because light hatches tend to use little insulation in the wheel arches to save weight.

ALTERNATIVES

MAZDA2 GT

 

A drive-away price of $24,890 makes Mazda’s top-spec hatch an obvious rival. The GT packs autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, along with a head-up display. Boot space is 250L. The warranty is three years and service intervals are 12 months/10,000km, with the first four visits costing $1200.

TOYOTA YARIS ZR

 

The bargain buy at $23,690 on the road. Active driving aids include autonomous emergency braking and lane-departure alert. Default gear includes a 6.1-inch infotainment screen with satnav and Bluetooth streaming, LED headlamps and seven airbags. Boot space is 286L. Services are six months/10,000km and the first six cost $1040.

RENAULT CLIO INTENS

 

Can be had for $27,490 on the road and comes with a five-year warranty. Standard gear includes LED headlamps, parking assist, a 3D Arkamys audio, tablet-style infotainment screen, velvet and fake leather trim, rear privacy glass and 300L of boot space. Service intervals are 12 months/30,000km and the first three visits come to $1047.

VERDICT

The go-to choice for those wanting big things from a small car, the Jazz doesn’t lead the pack as a fun drive but is simply the sensible option. Cheaper versions are just as versatile as the VTi-L.

HONDA JAZZ VTi-L

PRICE$26,563 drive-away

SAFETY5 stars, 6 airbags

ENGINE1.5-litre 4-cyl, 88kW/145Nm

TRANSMISSIONCVT; FWD

THIRST5.9L/100km