Honda Jazz review: Trish Whelan, Irish Car

Honda’s 2025 Irish sales have already seen a 138 per cent increase over the whole of 2024, which augurs well for the rest of the year, especially with the approaching 252 registration plate on 1 July. While Honda’s HR-V is their biggest seller, it is closely followed by the fourth-generation Jazz small car. 

Jazz is a small five-door hatchback manufactured by Honda since 2001 over four generations of the model and marketed worldwide. This supermini is known for its practicality, spaciousness (Jazz defies its small size as it is almost a mini MPV), and very good fuel efficiency particularly its hybrid powertrain. 

Style-wise, the car is just over four metres long, has a clean profile with a lovely silhouette that’s aerodynamically efficient and looks very stylish. It is easy to get in and out of, which makes it practical for a family runabout and for senior citizens wishing to downsize. This was the Advance Sport version, which has a new grille design, front and rear bumper gloss black finishes, an aerodynamic rear spoiler, black door mirrors, and exclusively designed 16-inch alloy wheels. 

The cabin is inviting and well thought-out with lovely materials. Key features for me were the far-forward windscreen with ultra-thin A-pillars and huge triangular A-pillar windows that allowed excellent front-side visibility, especially when approaching a roundabout or negotiating corners with kerbs in housing estates. The cabin was flooded with light, giving a lovely sense of spaciousness with all the glass. 

Seats have anti-fatigue features that Honda says provide limousine-class levels of comfort, and indeed I found them to be extremely comfy. The front ones are manually adjusted and can be heated. 

The free-standing 9-inch touchscreen with a smartphone-like display works with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, has a Garmin navigation system, and built-in apps; Honda Personal Assistant allows you to check the weather, find your favourite radio station, or choose a restaurant along your route. There’s a volume button on the side of the central screen and big knobs for temperature control, air direction, and fan. Your current speed is shown top centre with enlarged white numbers on the instrument cluster. There are two USB ports, front and rear. 

Storage areas include a wide centre armrest, two gloveboxes, and decent door bins. Both Jazz and HR-V come with rear Magic Seats (pictured up) that can be configured in several ways to accommodate boot space, which is 304 litres with all seats in use; they can be folded flat for extra load space, allowing a huge area for bulky items as they utilise the car’s full height from floor to ceiling. Just flick up seat cushions and pull down the levers to secure them in the upright position, leaving you with a boot capacity of 1,205 litres, comparable to many larger cars. Below the floor is a separate waterproof area for wet or mucky items. A niggle was the clarity of the reversing camera, which was not as good as I would have expected. 

My car had regenerative braking and deceleration control paddles, sports pedals, Economy, Sport, and Normal drive modes. Trims are Auto Elegance, Auto Advance, Auto Advance Sport and Auto Crossbar Advance. The entry Elegance grade includes 15-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, front and rear parking sensors, climate control air conditioning, Honda CONNECT, rear view camera, front and rear parking sensors. Advance moves to 16-inch alloys, adds privacy glass, water-repellent fabric upholstery, Garmin Navigation, 2 rear USB ports, and a heated steering wheel. The top Crosstar Advance trim, for outdoor families, has a tough, muscular style, raised ride height offering easier access and a more commanding view of the road ahead, integrated roof rails, and LED front fog lights. 

My latest test drive was in the E-HEV petrol hybrid, only offered with a 122hp 1.5 engine matched to a CVT automatic transmission and a lithium-ion battery. This powertrain automatically selects from three drive modes: Electric, Hybrid, or Engine, to provide the best fuel return and low emissions. Jazz hybrid is an easy and fairly effortless car to drive, with plenty of oomph when needed. Torque is a big 253Nm to get you going. The car handles well like other Honda models. When appropriate, you can drive up to 80km/h in EV mode for fuel efficiency. Honda claims an impressive fuel economy of 4.6 L/100km. During my days with the car, I achieved 5.0 L/100km. 

Honda Sensing technology includes Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot alerts with cross-traffic monitor - when reversing it can detect approaching vehicles from either side and warns you on the central screen - Collision Mitigation Braking System, and Intelligent Speed Limiter. 

Jazz has achieved a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP. Honda Ireland says the model is one of the safest cars in its class. Prices are from €31,495. My Advance Sport €34,950. Prices exclude dealer delivery and related charges.

 

Review: Nissan Qashqai - Trish Whelan, Irish Car

Nissan revealed its face-lifted Qashqai compact crossover SUV to Ireland in late October 2024 refreshed both inside and out. Qashqai has always been very popular with Irish families for its compact size and practicality. The model has been produced by the Japanese car manufacturer since 2006 with the second generation in 2014 while the third and latest generation was launched in 2021. Qashqai is positioned between the Juke and X-Trail SUV in Nissan’s crossover SUV line-up. This version keeps the same dimensions as its predecessor - an overall length of 4,425mm, wheelbase of 2,665mm which allows for good interior space front and back and boot capacity of 504 litres that can be expanded to 1,447 litres. 

The sharp new design is quite eye-catching, especially in the mid grey exterior colour of my review car. The restyle includes a new brand identity of logos and font, a reshaped front grille and LED-enhanced front and rear lamps, a new rear bumper and new alloy wheel designs - in this case very smart looking 19-inch diamond cut alloy wheels. 

The well-finished interior gets new seat designs and some nice new materials including soft-touch Alcantara upholstery across dash and doors. However, for me the interior needs a bit more relief from the black headliner and the dark PVC and burnt-umber inserts around the cabin. The huge sunroof stretches back to over the heads of the rear passengers and allows those in the rear to see the stars on a clear night. It can also tilt open. 

Seats proved extremely comfy; the driver’s has 8-way power adjustments with lumbar support and two seat memory settings; the passenger’s seat just has manual adjustments. Front seats can slide, recline and tilt. The main feature is the long 12.3-inch central touchscreen. The infotainment system has Google built-in services. However, you have to go through a few sub menus to access some settings - swiping across for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Google Assistant, and Nissan Connect Services. Alternatively, you can just use voice command saying ‘Hey Google’ to get the feature you want without fuss! There are knobs for volume control, air conditioning and for climate controls. The traditional large instrument cluster with two ‘busy’ dials shows all relevant information, but the big Head Up Display on the windscreen shows your current speed very clearly so you don’t have to take your eyes off the road. 

 

There’s a wireless phone charger on the dash and two small C-type USBs with two more in the back. Rear doors open wide to allow using child seats with ease. Adults here enjoy quite good head and legroom, the former despite the slope of the roof and the end of the sunroof. The middle seat back lowers as an armrest with a pair of cupholders inserted. The tailgate is power-operated and the boot has a variable floor to allow you maximise load space and full marks to Nissan for the temporary spare below the floor. 

Grades are SV, SV Premium, SV Tech (my review car), and SVE. Features on my car included Hill Start Assist and Auto Hold, Intelligent Front Emergency Braking with pedestrians, cyclist and junction assist, Forward Collision Warning, a dusk sensor, good blind spot monitors on side mirrors, rear parking sensors, and an excellent 3D Around View Monitor giving a 360deg view all around your car - you can split the screen for close ups of the front, rear and kerbside views when parking. Options were a Cold Pack at €600 of heated seats/windshield/steering wheel, a BOSE Premium sound system at €850, metallic paint €700 or two-tone paint at €1,000. Driving modes are Sport, Standard and Eco. 

The range includes this 1.3 138hp four-cylinder Mild Hybrid petrol version matched to a user-friendly 6-speed manual transmission, and a CVT automatic version which is €3,500 more expensive to buy. An e-Power variant uses a petrol engine to charge the battery that powers the electric motor to drive the wheels. It was easy to get a good driving position and I enjoyed driving the car on all types of roads, appreciating the quietness of the powertrain and the comfort onboard. While the claimed fuel consumption is circa 6.1 L/100kms, my average fuel consumption varied from 6.5 to 7.5 L/100kms depending on routes travelled, still good for such a small-engined motor. The car can go from 0-100km/h in 9.5 seconds. Annual road tax is €270. 

This third generation of the model was awarded a maximum five stars for safety by Euro NCAP when launched in 2021. Qashqai is named after the Qashqai people, a Turkic people who live in mountainous Central and Southwestern Iran. This car is priced from €46,300, the CVT automatic version is from €49,800. Prices exclude dealer delivery related charges.

 

Review: Lexus LBX - Trish Whelan, Irish Car

The smallest car in the Lexus line-up, the compact sized LBX crossover, went on sale here earlier this year. It is set to be a game changer and key model for the brand’s growth in Europe competing in a segment that Lexus has not previously catered for. 

This landmark vehicle opens up new market opportunities, aimed at younger style-conscious drivers seeking a small but premium car as their first step up the luxury car ladder at a price they can afford, and at existing Lexus customers who want a second but smaller car. It will also appeal to those who haven’t considered Lexus before but who are interested in this new crossover. So far this year, some 222 LBX units have been sold here in Ireland, just behind its NX stablemate with 262, so the car is already making an impact among buyers. 

This is the first Lexus model based on the GA-B platform which is shared with its Toyota Yaris Cross cousin, so it shares the same underpinnings of that model. The two cars differ in construction and in size with the LBX measuring 4,190mm long, 1,825mm wide and 1,545mm high and with a 2,580mm wheelbase so it is longer, wider but not higher than the Yaris Cross. But the biggest difference is in price with the Toyota costing over €8,000 less than the LBX. 

The handsome exterior design is both muscular and powerful. The new frontal arrangement features a trapezoid shape while front pillars have been pulled back to make the cabin seem small and the bonnet even longer for a sporty look. Flared wings accentuate the large 18-inch wheels. At the rear, the Lexus lettering is prominent on the tailgate and the new signature blade light with an L-shaped lighting design gives the car presence; a blacked-out rear pillar adds to the car’s strong look. 

The interior gives a warm welcome and a feeling of being nicely cocooned. The beautifully finished cabin is of premium quality; great attention to detail is evident in the upholstery and trims including sand coloured leather upholstery and contrasting black floor mats. A low scuttle line aids visibility as do the front side windows that stretch far forward and the small A-Pillar windows. The latest Lexus Link Connect system is operated via a 9.8-inch touchscreen located down low on the dash and tilted back to integrate with it. It includes cloud-based navigation. Smartphone integration is enabled using wireless or wired connections for Apple CarPlay, or a wired link for Android Auto users. The system’s My Setting allows you customise preferences for the multimedia, vehicle driving position and Blind Spot Monitors. The deeply recessed 7-ins multi-information instrument cluster can be customised to suit individual preferences. You get a volume control knob on the dash and up and down switches for the climate control, a small C type USB and a charging one. 

As this is not a high car, it doesn’t offer a high seating position. Front sports seats were really comfy with good support but I was surprised to find manual adjustments, not power ones. However, there was a lumbar support on my driver’s seat and both front seats could be heated. Rear seats are set slightly higher than those in the front and can divide and fold 60:40. While there’s reasonably good headroom, leg room can be a bit tight for an adult seated behind a tall person in front and the middle seat back doesn’t come down to provide cupholders. There are no USB ports. With all seats up, there’s 402 litres of luggage space and space below for a tyre repair kit and other items. The tailgate is power operated and can be set to a height you require to avoid hitting a low garage ceiling or wall. The auto gear shifter is on the flat of the central console which makes it easy to use. A ‘B’ gear is for use on steep downward slopes, while you can drive up to 50pc of the time in EV drive mode and drive quietly in residential areas late at night without waking the neighbours. 

The Lexus uses a 134bhp 1.5 3-cylinder self charging petrol hybrid powertrain matched to an e-CVT automatic transmission and with 120Nm torque. It has a 0-100km/h time of 9.2 seconds, the official fuel return is 4.5 L/100kms WLTP and road tax €140. The Elegance trim boasts a huge amount of standard equipment and top safety features. They include a rear view camera, Radar Cruise Control, Adaptive Speed Limiter, front cyclist/pedestrian detection, anti-theft immobiliser and alarm, Parking Assist Sensors front and rear, and a dusk sensor. I found the car handled well and was well balanced. I enjoyed driving it on all types of roads as well as in urban areas where it was a joy to park with its compact size. 

After a week’s test drive, while I’m still unsure if the LBX is worthy of carrying the prestigious Lexus badge, it could well turn out to be the best-selling Lexus, ever. Priced from €39,440 plus delivery and related charges.

 

Revised Mercedes-Benz CLA detailed

Full details of revisions to the CLA Coupe and Shooting Brake variants have been detailed by Mercedes-Benz, writes Brian Byrne.

The exterior changes include modifications to the front apron and radiator grille, and to the rear diffuser. There are also changed graphics in the LED headlamps, now standard across the range. New paint colours and wheel designs have also been introduced.

Inside the MBUX infotainment system has 7-inch and 10.25-inch screens as standard, with the option of two 10.25-inch available. There are new trim elements, and seats in part-leather and 100pc recycled fabric are also standard.

All petrol engines are electrified, power outputs between 136hp-224hp, with mild-hybrid and PHEV options, the latter with faster charging and more powerful electric motors. Rated electric range is between 68-82km. There are diesels with outputs from 116hp-190hp.

Mercedes-AMG variants have their own revisions, including engines up to 421hp. 

Review: Suzuki S-Cross - Brian Byrne, Irish Car

Might as well be clear from the start, writes Brian Byrne. This is a competent, comfortable, and quality compact SUV. It’s the third generation of what used to be known just as the SX4, and has connections to the old Baleno saloon and even a Fiat once sold as the Sedici.

Targeting the competition of a range of cars available here, the key ones in the SX4 S-Cross's sights are Renault’s Captur, Skoda’s Kamiq, and Peugeot’s 2008. Visually it looks rather more car than any of those, a trick of the very strongly-designed new front. Sheetmetal changes on the profile and rear are also significant in successful modernising of the previous car introduced in 2016. Bigger it may look, but the key dimensions remain the same as on the outgone model.

The biggest difference inside is a new dashboard design, executed in high quality materials and including a neatly sized high definition centre screen that isn’t overly cluttered with information. What it does display is a credit to good graphics design. There’s a disappointment in the primary instruments cluster carryover that the choice of light colour on light colour for the speedometer and tachometer makes them unreadable in any level of daytime brightness. Fortunately a digital speed readout is one of the options in the between dials information cluster.

There’s good room inside, with enough headroom to make the SX4 S-Cross a good family car option. For me, not needing to stoop painfully low getting in was a welcome bonus.

I was pleasantly surprised by the ride comfort, and the quietness of the SX4 S-Cross. Maybe it’s an imagination by-product from the definitely better look of the car, but it certainly felt that it soaked up well the all too common road irregularities around some areas of where I live.

The badge on the back says ‘hybrid’, but it needs to be stressed that this is ‘mild’ hybrid, where the starter-generator system simply recuperates power on the over-run and braking and stores it in a small rechargeable battery to boost acceleration without bumping fuel consumption. This allows a better overall fuel performance than a petrol engine on its own, but the system does not make for EV driving at any point.

The engine is peppy, with 127hp available from the main unit and 13hp more when the battery power boost comes in. A full hybrid version of the SX4 S-Cross is an imminent option, using the 1.5 ‘strong’ hybrid power unit already available in the Vitara.

The six-speed manual is an easy and precise operation, though there is an automatic which can be specified. I have to admit disappointment that the review car wasn’t the expected auto version, but the manual was no hardship at all.

The equipment levels are good, in safety terms there’s blind spot warning, weaving alert if you get sleepy, and lane departure warning if you drift out of line. There’s a good reversing camera, heated front seats, and the entertainment-navigation system integrates nicely with smartphones. In short, pretty well all you require and few unneeded gizmos. 

Bottom line, when you unroll the big picture, the latest SX4 S-Cross has kept all the good that its predecessor had. And then looks better.

PRICE: €29,740. WHAT I LIKED: Free of fanciness and a solid family car. 

Review of Ford Fiesta MH by Brian Byrne, Irish Car

Though the Ford Fiesta nameplate has been around since 1976, it is by no means the oldest car model name in the world, writes Brian Byrne. That title belongs to the Chevrolet Suburban, a name that goes back to 1934 and is today a large SUV.

But Fiesta is a staple of Ford's European cars portfolio, where it is once again the smallest of the blue oval's current offerings now that the Ka has been discontinued. In its seventh generation since 2018, a total of some 16 million Fiestas have been rolled out of assembly plants, in this part of the world as well as in south and central American countries, China, India, Asia and South Africa. Now, though, it is only produced in Europe.

It had been a while since I drove one until a recent stint in the car which in some ways surprised me how well it is managing in a segment that's arguably the most competitive. A refresh is due in a few months, but in true Ford fashion the essentials including the powertrain will roll on through.

My review car was a 4-door hatch, which is styled both smart and strong, and is unmistakably a current Ford with its family grille and badging. In the ST-Line grade it has sharper shaping to the front, larger alloys, and a rear spoiler and other unique body styling details. Those ST-line details also upgraded the interior in a number of ways, including appropriate red stitching and a flat-bottomed steering wheel. The centre screen incorporates Ford's Sync 3 connectivity and navigation. The main instruments are very traditional but with good extra information management in the panel between them. Ford controls are always straightforward and well-labelled, so Fiesta is immediately a comfortable space for driver and passengers to be.

The car has all the usual driving assistance features, including a rear parking camera as well as active cruise control and speed limiter. A full set of safety systems are standard.

The main reason to get into the Fiesta again was the mild hybrid EcoBoost engine, primarily the multi-award winning 1.0 turbocharged three-pot upgraded with a 48-volt battery system that regains power from braking and gives it back in a boost on acceleration. Ford claim a 5pc improvement in fuel consumption from their MHEV setup.

The 125hp unit is peppy and pleasing, and the 6-speed manual gearbox quite a joy to use, as I have grown to expect from all Fords these days. The ST-Line comes with a sport-firmed suspension, which did feel as it sounds, but didn't overdo the firmness, a blessing on some of the less-well topped roads in my area. Room in the rear was a little tight for anyone behind me, though my grandsons, eight and ten, were quite happy there for the duration of a number of trips. Boot space of 311L is adequate.

Fiesta as a hatchback may not be on trend in this time of crossover preferences — the related Puma does that business for the brand — but it remains an important option for a number of demographics, at both younger and older spaces. As I said earlier, the nameplate is wearing well.

PRICE: Fiesta starts at €19,152, review car €24,805. WHAT I LIKED: The car continues to garner loyal affection, deservedly.

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Review of Ford Focus MH by Brian Byrne, Irish Car

Although crossover-style cars have more or less taken over the market at all levels, the compact family hatch is still a significant format, writes Brian Byrne. Ford's Focus remains one of the firm favourites here, even if it has just been pipped in sales by arch-rival VW Golf for this year. It is also one of those cars which retain customer loyalty really well.

After a slew of very technologically advanced cars for review over recent months, it was nice to get back into something that equates with the normal in family car motoring. The Focus EcoBoost Hybrid has been around now for a year or so, but the fourth generation body is familiar for most of four years — it still looks well, particularly in the ST Line dress of my review car. The body and detailing have a nice sporty character. A hint of Coke-bottle profile, good character to the front end, and a neat rear. Even though a revised version is coming next year, this one holds its age very well. The spoiler over the rear window is nicely integrated into the tailgate hatch, and adds some stretch to the look.

Inside, this generation Focus has plenty of room front and rear, with especially good legroom for those in the back seats. There's decent luggage space too. In the driver's space there's a tidy and main traditional instruments setup, with good colour and bright graphics. The centre touch-screen seems quite small by the standards of many competitors now, but I liked it for that (the revised version will have something much wider). I mention the straightforward rotary knobs for the climate control because they are as they should be from all makes, though aren't. The high quality trim we always get from Ford is set off in this grade with some nice red stitching.

The main reason for being invited back into a car launched four years ago was the powertrain. Ford hasn't been the fastest carmaker off the electrification blocks — indeed it could be said the company is taking it all at a fairly leisurely walk rather than running, though the Mustang Mach-E I wrote about last week is going gangbusters for them, selling everything they can produce. This Focus had the 125hp 1.0 3-cylinder familiar, with a mild-hybrid 48-volt electrical system that recoups energy from coasting and braking, and uses it to help the engine under acceleration. There's no electric drive involved, but the extra torque from the MH system gives some better pickup and improved fuel consumption.

The 3-pot engine I like anyhow. And with the electrification there's a noticeable uptick in refinement, a bit of extra verve when pushed. The engine has a whirr at the high revs it likes, but no trace of harshness. There's no automatic option with this one, but the 6-speed manual is as sweet a shift as anything in the business. Handling and ride are still the bench-marker Focus established with this version.

I wouldn't feel left behind at all with this one in my driveway. Halfway through its generational life, there's an awful lot more than half left.

PRICE: Entry level €24,997; Review car inc extras €28,521. WHAT I LIKED: I got what I expected, even when the expectation was high.

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New intelligent manual transmission from Kia

A new automated 'declutch and coast' system coming for manual gearboxes in Kia cars will both save fuel and decrease the number of clutch operations a driver makes, writes Brian Byrne.

The iMT intelligent manual transmission works in conjunction with the mild hybrid starter-generator and an electronically-operated clutch. When the driver lifts off to slow to an intersection or corner, the system senses it and automatically disengages the clutch and switched off the engine, allowing the car to coast. If the driver accelerates again, the engine is restarted and the clutch re-engages in whatever gear has been selected, or none if the driver has selected neutral.

The system will also restart if the car goes below the optimum speed for the selected gear, to avoid labouring the engine.

Kia says the new technology will make a 3pc improvement over current CO2 emissions in equivalent cars.

It will be available first in the EcoDynamics+ variant of the Ceed with the 1.6 diesel, and in a Rio with a new 1.0 gasoline direct engine. In Ireland from early next year.

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