The Honda Jazz has always been a car you buy with your head, rather than your heart. Its tall, slightly blobby stance doesn’t exactly make it the most attractive small car on the market, and its driving experience, which aims for ease-of-use rather than excitement, does little to set the pulse racing.
But there are good reasons for choosing a Jazz. That boxy silhouette, for example, means there’s lots of space, and combined with clever seating, that makes the Jazz a very practical choice. Then there’s its ease-of-use, and the Jazz has a cracking reputation for reliability, too.
All of this has always meant that the Jazz is a very tempting choice for sensible buyers looking for a hassle-free new car or used car that won’t let them down. No wonder, then, that it’s proven popular among older buyers and young families alike. Yet today, the Jazz is at the cutting edge of engine technology – it’s a full hybrid, with no petrol or diesel alternative available. Not quite so staid after all, then.
Generations: 5
- Honda Jazz mk4 (2020-)
- Honda Jazz mk3 (2015-2020)
- Honda Jazz mk2 (2008-2015)
- Honda Jazz mk1 2002-2008
- Honda Jazz (original) 1983-1986
Honda Jazz mk4 (2020-)
Bodystyles:
- Five-door MPV
Notable features and facelifts of the Honda Jazz mk4:
- All change as fourth-generation Jazz was only made available as a hybrid
- New Honda Jazz Crosstar featured jacked-up suspension, ruggedised bodywork and water-repellant interior
- eCVT automatic transmission now standard
With the fourth-generation Jazz came some of the biggest changes we’d seen since the nameplate was reintroduced to Britain back in 2002.
For starters, not only had Honda re-introduced the hybrid Jazz to the UK market, but it had ditched the pure petrol alternative – in other words, the Jazz had gone hybrid-only.
But this system - confusingly branded both i-MMD and e:HEV, and which would later go on to power the larger HR-V SUV - was a much more advanced hybrid powerplant than the one in the Mk2 Jazz. For starters, it used a 1.5-litre petrol engine as its base, for more power; this could drive the wheels directly, with assistance from an electric motor, or act as a generator, with the electric motor providing drive, the car switching between the two modes as it saw fit.
The result was one of the more efficient small cars on the market, beating the MPG of all of its petrol alternatives, though newer hybrid rivals like the Toyota Yaris and Mazda 2 Hybrid (which is mechanically identical to the Toyota) boasted even better fuel economy. And as a by-product, even the entry-level model came with Honda's clever 'eCVT' gearbox as standard. This all kept running costs impressively low, both in terms of fuel and VED/road tax.
That was also true if you opted for the Jazz Crosstar. This new version took inspiration from SUVs in its jacked-up stance, roof rails and rougher, tougher styling. But it wasn’t a case of all style and no substance; Honda softened off the suspension to make the ride more pliant on rutted lanes, while the water-repellent upholstery meant mud and muck were easy to clean.
Whichever Jazz you chose, inside you’d find a much more upmarket interior than before, with excellent visibility thanks to the slender pillars and huge glass area.
Standard equipment across the range included climate control, rain-sensing wipers, automatic high-beam headlights, adaptive cruise control, and a touchscreen infotainment system. However, entry-level SE cars only got Bluetooth, so you’d need the SR trim level as a minimum if you want Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity. SR trim was also where alloy wheels and parking sensors joined the range.
Yes, the hybrid powertrain could get a bit thrashy when it was pushed hard, but you could run around for short bursts on electric power alone. And while the Jazz wasn’t as much fun as its best rivals to drive, this Jazz was still a huge improvement on those that had come before.
Honda Jazz Mk4 Review
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Honda Jazz mk3 (2015-2020)
Bodystyles:
- Five-door MPV
Notable features and facelifts of the Honda Jazz mk3:
- Hybrid option axed, leaving (at first) only a 1.3-litre petrol engine available
- Mild facelift in 2018 brought a new Sport model, with 1.5-litre engine
- Automated manual gearbox switched back to CVT automatic
The lukewarm reception of the second-generation Jazz Hybrid left Honda questioning whether to bring the third-generation model to the UK; right at the last minute, it decided not to, leaving us with only a single 1.3-litre petrol engine on offer.
This left the Jazz with a slight problem, because while other manufacturers were offering punchy turbocharged engines in their small cars, the Jazz was stuck with a slightly wheezy naturally aspirated powerplant that needed working hard to get the best from it, and fell behind on emissions and fuel economy.
Reviewers also criticised the ride quality, which wasn’t all that comfortable. They also weren't fond of the handling, which wasn’t all that sharp at the steering wheel, or the touchscreen infotainment system, which was downright frustrating. But the third-generation Jazz was certainly not without merit; its versatile seating remained, and this time the passenger seat could be reclined fully, to turn it into a bed. Should you need that sort of thing.
What was more, there was more space than ever before thanks to a longer wheelbase, and the Jazz now boasted one of the biggest boots in the class. Indeed, at the time of its launch, there was more boot space with the rear seats up than you'd have found in the much bigger Ford Focus.
As a result, despite the car’s so-so press coverage, it still proved reasonably popular, with buyers still valuing its practicality, space and dependability, just as they always had done.
Honda Jazz mk3 Review
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Honda Jazz mk2 (2008-2015)
Bodystyles:
- Five-door MPV
Notable features and facelifts of the Honda Jazz mk2:
- First Jazz to feature a hybrid engine
- CVT automatic replaced by automated manual
- New, sleeker styling, but same Jazz versatility remained
It was a case of more of the same with the second-generation Jazz, and in more ways than one, because the 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre engines were carried over from the old car.
Mind you, the Jazz had grown a little; while its height remained the same, it was now longer and wider, and as a consequence, passengers got more leg room and shoulder room than before. Honda also slimmed down the metalwork around the windows to improve visibility.
More importantly, the versatile rear seats, known as Magic Seats, remained, so the Jazz retained its key selling point. It had a new trick up its sleeve, too: an extra floor in the boot that could turn it into a double-decker load-space, almost doubling the room available for smaller bags.
The most important Jazz innovation, however, came in 2010, when Honda revealed the first Jazz Hybrid. Powered by the same 1.3-litre hybrid powertrain as the Insight, Honda’s hybrid family car, it was capable of 63mpg, which set it head-to-head with diesel superminis from rival manufacturers.
The Jazz Hybrid didn’t prove enormously popular, partly because it didn’t get the clever split-level boot arrangement, but mainly because of its noisy engine and gearbox combination. Nevertheless, it was a portent of things to come.
In 2012, the mildly sporty Si and Si-T limited editions were revealed, with lowered, stiffened suspension, sportier styling and tweaked power steering. Both came with the 1.4-litre engine, though with no extra power than as standard, which meant they couldn’t quite cut it up against full-blown hot hatches like the Ford Fiesta ST.
Honda Jazz mk2 Review
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Honda Jazz mk1 2002-2008
Bodystyles:
- Five-door MPV
Notable features and facelifts of the Honda Jazz mk1:
- First-generation Jazz brought MPV-style design to the small car class
- Raised driving position, good visibility and easy-going controls made it a hassle-free ownership proposition
- “Magic seats” and plenty of interior space made it one of the most versatile small cars out there
- Choice of 1.2 and 1.4 petrol engines, with manual or CVT automatic
When the Jazz nameplate reappeared in the UK, it wasn’t until memories of the old, original model had largely faded. That’s why the new Jazz became known by most people as the mk1 – so that’s what we’ll call it here, even though it wasn’t the first car to bear that name.
The Jazz we know and love arrived at the height of the MPV boom. Buyers were going mad for the idea of these cars that added space by raising the roof, and versatility with clever seating options inside.
Honda was one of the first to apply these principles to a small, Fiesta-sized car, and the Jazz was the result. It was larger than its 1980s namesake, but still compact on the outside, and much more spacious inside.
Reviewers of the time praised its peppy 'i-VTEC' petrol engines and handling that was surprisingly taut for such a high-sided car, though the payoff was suspension that some felt was too firm over bumps.
But the Jazz’s biggest party trick was its clever seating. Known by Honda as Magic Seats, this system consisted of a pair of a rear bench seats, with a base that could split in two and fold upward, like cinema seats, as well as the backrests folding down, like in most other cars. The front seat could fold forward onto its base, too.
The result was a car into which you could fit tall loads in the rear seat well, long loads by folding all the seats down, and even vary the configuration so that you could choose to carry awkward items at the same time as passengers. No wonder it became sought-after by buyers looking for a compact, versatile family car.
Its raised driving position, combined with those big windows, meant the Jazz was easy to climb aboard and to see out of, too, and Honda also worked hard to make sure the accelerator, brake and clutch pedals all worked smoothly with lots of feel, and that the steering was light and precise.
That meant that the Jazz was one of the easiest small cars to use, and that lead to soaring popularity among older buyers, who also appreciated its reliability – the Jazz twice took top spot in the JD Power customer satisfaction survey at the time.
Honda Jazz (original) 1983-1986
Bodystyles:
- Three-door hatchback
Notable features and facelifts of the Honda Jazz:
- Four-seat city car offered cute styling and diminutive dimensions
- 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine was available with either manual or “Hondamatic” gearboxes
- High prices meant it was short-lived
It’s oft-forgotten now, but the first generation was arguably the most quirky of all the Jazz models. It was entirely unrelated to the cars most people know the Jazz nameplate for these days; indeed, it went out of production more than 15 years before the Jazz we know and love came into being.
This Jazz was entirely different beast. It was tiny on the outside; equivalent in size to an original Mini – today, we’d call it a city car. Inside, thanks to clever packaging, it was surprisingly spacious. It was only a four-seater, mind you, and while nowhere near as practical as its modern-day equivalent – the boot was tiny – you did at least get a folding rear bench seat.
Journalists loved its nippy handling and zingy little engine, but they weren’t so keen on the price, which pitched the Jazz over and above much larger, more spacious rivals at the time. It came as no surprise, therefore, that the Jazz didn’t prove too popular, and was removed from sale in Europe after only a few years of relatively slow sales.
That means it’s rare - but not unheard of - in the UK today. A handful of examples remain on the road, while enthusiasts have paid to import examples of the City, the Jazz’s Japanese-market alter-ago. Especially popular are the City Turbo, a mad performance version, and the Cabriolet, a dinky drop-top.