I have yet to meet any colleague who has driven the Honda Jazz that doesn't think it's a really superb motor, writes Brian Byrne. That's a thought that's being shared by an increasing number of Irish motorists, as it's the second biggest seller for the brand here. Now in the second half of its fourth generation, the Jazz's unique cab-forward style makes it stand out in a flurry of other B-segment cars with their own distinctive personalities. It's a small car that thinks it's bigger, and in several respects, the Japanese company has made it actually so.
We're in a time when the SUV theme is dominant, and even small cars have to offer crossover characteristics. Honda has done this with a Crosstar variant of the standard car. They haven't gone all out on suggesting that the Crosstar Jazz is going to take us over the mountain instead of around it, but it does have some extra practical elements as well as nice cosmetic touches.
Those latter include some black detailing and extra silver finishes. There's a different grille, while an increased ride height and integrated roof rails are both useful, as well as looking good. The car gets its own distinctive alloy wheels, finished in black. Hints of skid plates are added to the front and rear bumpers, which are styled differently from the standard car. The whole feel of the original mini-MPV shape is upshifted to something with extra presence, and the changes also make it a bit longer and wider.
The Crosstar is developed on the top grade of the basic Jazz, so the specification level is already high. But this variant also gets a water-repellent finish on the fabric-and-leather upholstery, ideal if the feeling of SUV and the extra ride height has taken you to places that are less than pristine. It doesn't have the blind spot monitor system, which will upset some people, but doesn't particularly bother me.
The overall dashboard and screen layout is what I expect from Honda: clear, bright, and ergonomically good. Honda is deliberately keeping its centre screens to a relatively small size, which I like, and there are proper knobs and switches for climate and other key controls. The driver information screen is clutter-free, with the main metrics instantly intelligible. A matched set of press buttons on either side is for the drive mode and start-stop. Overall, things are very classic, and the better for that.
A high level of fit and finish has long been a Honda hallmark, and this is the case with the Jazz. Contrast stitching is tastefully evident in the trim and seat material, nothing brash. The passenger space in the back row is good for the segment, with more rear headroom than many. Those seats also have the ability to fold the seat part against the back to make room for any unusually tall cargo, which Honda calls its 'magic' attribute. They're comfortable for even a longish person when in the normal position. The boot space is about par for the segment, and when the passenger seats are folded in the normal way, it's a good flat area with a capacity of more than 1,200 litres.
The powertrain in the Crosstar Jazz is the same as throughout the range: a hybrid petrol with up to 122hp available. This offers a sub-10-second 0-100km/h, peppy enough for the class. The transitions between the various combinations of drive are seamless. There's a real-world fuel consumption below 5L/100km, while for its size and positioning, the Jazz is surprisingly fun and engaging in the handling department.
We're in the middle of transitioning from combustion powertrains to electric, which will still take some time. Honda was, along with Toyota, a forerunner of the start of that transition, with the offer of hybrid technology. Even where other brands have moved more aggressively to EVs, there's a place for this level of technology for some time to come. The Jazz is in just that space.
PRICE: €34,950. WHAT I LIKED: How Honda adds stuff without going overboard.
