2015 Honda Jazz Review & Road Test

An 88kW/145Nm compact hatchback which is fun to drive? Stay with us here, there’s more to the Honda Jazz that you may think.

The fact is some compact cars are dreary. They’re ‘get from A to B cars’ and nothing else. Built to a budget and buyers can take or leave ‘em.

That’s never been the Honda way. Honda has always managed to inject a spark, that little something extra. It’s there in every Honda model, but in some you have to look harder to find it…

Honda Jazz Overview

Honda launched the all-new Jazz compact hatchback a earlier in 2015. The launch event formula went down the usual path – new looks, improved fuel efficiency and better value.

Hardly ground-breaking stuff there and frankly we think the Jazz deserved more fanfare. In a segment where, let’s face it, there are some ordinary cars, we’re happy to include the Honda Jazz on the top shelf along with cars like the Mazda2,, Ford Fiesta, Nissan Micra and Toyota Yaris.

Sure there all-new Honda Jazz lineup saw no major changes under the bonnet which sent the bloggers into overdrive about ‘Earth Dreams’ engines offered in international markets. C’mon give Honda a break folks - the ‘Earth Dream’s engines are more expensive, the Australian compact car market is the world’s most competitive and buyers argue about cents…let alone dollars.

The fact is Honda has the Jazz pin-sharp in the pricing department, starting from just $14,990 for the entry-level VTi five-speed manual which is actually the variant tested by www.carshowroom.com.au. For example that’s a whopping $1,300 less than the entry-level Volkswagen Polo (sure the Polo is terrific).

And don’t think the Honda Jazz skimps on the equipment. Segment-first LED projector beam headlights, excellent three-mode reversing camera, cruise control and a colour seven-inch touchscreen underscore the Honda Jazz’ strong value-for-money equation.

So the all-new Honda Jazz looks the part, is comprehensively kitted-out, still has that practical interior thanks to the ‘Magic’ seats and is frugal in the fuel department…what’s not to like?

Honda Jazz Engine

Some were expecting major changes under the bonnet with the latest Honda Jazz. But the Japanese giant has stuck with the SOHC i-VTEC 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine.

OK it’s not as state-of-art engine technology, but with maximum power of 88kW at 6600rpm and peak torque of 145Nm at 4660rpm, Honda’s 1.5-litre actually outguns most in this segment. Same for fuel consumption with a combined cycle figure of 5.8l/100kms.

So the question for the critics is: taking those stats on-board and comparing the Jazz’s powerplant with rivals, why does Honda need to make changes under the bonnet?

Our only criticism of the Honda Jazz’ engine is that it can be a tad noisy when working extremely hard. But Honda being Honda, the tune is sporty and the exhaust note is rather racy in fact…and that’s a good thing.

Our VTi test car drove the front wheels via Honda’s light and slick five-speed manual transmission (a six-speed would have been nice) or you can equip the Jazz with a CVT automatic.

 

Honda Jazz The Interior

Honda is on a roll with interior design. The current contemporary look is similar across its entire range.

So the Jazz comes with the hallmark Honda three-spoke steering wheel (rake/reach adjustable), a very nice instrument cluster and straight-forward controls for the climate control and of course that excellent colour seven-inch touchscreen. Trim materials are good quality but like many of the cars emanating from the massive automotive assembly facilities outside Bangkok, Thailand we reckon some of the plastic trim/switchgear looks a bit down-market and doesn’t score well for ergonomics.

The driving position was good (a little high but some in this segment like that) and the front seats were mostly comfortable but some rapid going over our high-speed mountain roads test loop found them a smidge lacking in lateral support (compared to say segment-best seats in the Ford Fiesta and Mazda2).

Same for the rear seat although both front and rear space was very good for cars in this league.

But of course the headline act for the Honda Jazz is its versatile cargo area. The so-called ‘Magic Seats’ is not just advertising ‘puff’ as the Jazz’ rear seat folds both seat backs and seat bases to provide a tall and voluminous cargo area with a flat bottom which can accommodate up to 1492-litres (350-litres with the rear seat in its normal position).

Honda Jazz Exterior & Styling

During our week with the Honda Jazz VTi, we actually parked alongside an early model Jazz in the golf club car-park. Wow – how things have changed!

The current generation is all sophisticated, contemporary and stylish with the currently hip sloping bonnet and side character lines to stamp its modernity. And the look of the Jazz’s front-end has some clues to larger model Hondas…some synergy about Honda styling is finally happening.

Side view is very ‘Japanese’ with the currently ‘on-trend’ look for compact cars in that market being a high, sloping waistline and four side windows.

Same at the rear where the Jazz has some cues from the CR-V with its tail-lights and a nice shape for the rear glass.

Honda Jazz On The Road

A compact hatchback offering such startlingly good luggage space, it’s no surprise Honda Jazz rides on the space-efficient torsion beam rear suspension design. As you’d expect Honda has both it and the MacPherson strut front end nicely calibrated for a smooth, comfortable ride in both city and rural environments.

As we mentioned, Honda’s 88kW/145Nm 1.5-litre engine sees-off most rivals. The 1.5-litre engines in Ford Fiesta (82kW/140Nm) and all-new Mazda 2 (81kW/141Nm) come closest.

And it must be said the ‘giddy-up’ of Honda’s 1.5-litre i-VTEC was handily exploited by the five-speed manual transmission in our test car – rapid and slick gear-changes helped keep things on-song over our high-speed mountain roads test loop. But a six-speeder would be better.

Naturally the entry-level Honda Jazz we tested doesn’t come equipped with massive wheels and wide, sticky rubber but all things considered, over our high-speed mountain roads test loop, the experience was safe and predictable. Of course understeer is there at the limit but it’s well-communicated and easily balanced with throttle adjustments creating the desired ‘tuck-in’ from the front-end.

In fact, blending the nice revving 1.5-litre with that slick-shifting five-speeder and well-balanced predictable chassis, the Honda Jazz was actually great fun to hustle along and refined and smooth in the city. A great little all-rounder then.

 

Honda Jazz Issues

Good as the Honda Jazz is to drive, a six-speed manual transmission would enhance both the driving dynamics and fuel consumption. And we’d like more supportive seats front and rear.

 

Honda Jazz Verdict

Value-for-money is king in compact cars. And there’s no doubt the Honda Jazz VTi comes up trumps on that score.

Then there’s that versatile interior. Chalk-up that practicality advantage to clever design.

And nice driving dynamics punctuated by that powerful 1.5-litre engine and well-sorted chassis.

But over-riding all of this is Honda’s fixation with quality. The Japanese giant doesn’t do second-best in production standards and all Hondas – regardless of their country of manufacture – just look and feel solid.

 

Honda Jazz The Competition

With competition for sales so intense - with compact cars perhaps more so than any other segment -  you simply must check standard and optional features for specific models to ascertain the true value-for-money position. In this league that picture may change when you move up the model range.

That said, the www.carshowroom.com.au favourite compact car is the all-new Mazda2. Priced from $14,990 and boasting all of Mazda’s SkyActiv technology (including the six-speed manual transmission), the Mazda2 is brilliant.

Our other favourite compact is the Ford Fiesta. German origins are obvious in Fiesta’s interior and exterior design and its top-notch refinement and driving dynamics. Entry-level Ford Fiesta Ambiente (1.5-litre, five-speed manual) is stickered at $15,825.

Toyota Yaris benefits from its recent model upgrade with a much meatier appearance. You’ll need $17,390 for the Toyota Yaris YRS five-door 1.5-litre (or $15,690 for the 1.3-litre). Both have five-speed manual transmissions and exude Toyota’s world’s-best manufacturing quality but the Yaris doesn’t quite match the Jazz for driving dynamics.

Your list should also include Hyundai i20, Kia Rio and Nissan Micra.