Honda Jazz ('08)

Honda’s clever hatchback mixes supermini proportions with MPV-style practicality.

Auto Express Car Reviews

Rating:
Latest deal price: from £10,837 to £18,046
On the road price: £11,995 - £19,305
For : Practical cabin, excellent build quality
Against : Uninspiring looks, firm ride

Styling/Image
Honda enjoys tremendous customer loyalty and the evolutionary looks of the latest Jazz will do nothing to upset to existing owners. However, it has lost some of the original car’s cheeky appeal and its inoffensive styling is bland compared to some of the competition. A smidgeon of the flair that makes the Civic so distinctive wouldn’t have gone amiss.

Interior/Practicality
The first Jazz set new standards for practicality and versatility – and the current model follows the same mantra. Its spacious interior features rear seats that can tumble forwards or lift up depending on the size and shape of load you need to carry. There’s easily room for five adults inside while the dashboard is modern, attractive and feels solidly put together. To get more useable cabin space you’ll need a family estate or compact MPV.

Engine/Performance
Just two engines are available in the Jazz and there’s no diesel option. The 1.2 and 1.4-litre petrol powerplants are both suited to the practical supermini but even the larger unit can become tiresome at high cruising speeds, as you have to work the engine hard to get the best out of it. Fuel consumption of 52.3mpg does make the 1.4-litre model an economical choice.

Driving experience
Both engine options provide decent performance but the Jazz pays for its versatile dimensions on the road, where agility suffers. We’ve few complaints about the tidy handling, but there is more body roll in corners than you experience in rival models, and it doesn’t have the same sharpness as its predecessor. Honda has also failed fix the biggest complaint of the old car, because the Jazz still has firm suspension. It copes will with large potholes and humps but smaller bumps and ruts unsettle the Honda.

Ownership Costs
Competitive prices combine with strong residual values to make the Jazz a seriously appealing package. With its high equipment levels and good fuel economy the little Honda is a sensible choice for family buyers. The brand’s dealer network is also one of the best around, so the ownership experience shouldn’t disappoint.

Safety/Environment
With a choice of two economical petrol engines and an ultra-practical body the Jazz is a green supermini choice. Its 1.2 and 1.4-litre engines produce CO2 emissions of 125 and 128g/km respectively. And fuel economy is equally impressive. When it comes to safety, ESP is fitted to 1.4-litre models as standard. It’s not available on smaller-engined variants, but all cars come with six airbags.

Our Choice: 1.4 ES manual

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12 Comments

No diesel is the showstopper

Lack of a diesel has always totally ruled the Jazz out of consideration for me. Otherwise I really like the look of the car, but without a diesel option I just wouldn't even begin to consider it.

By ncollingridge on 21 October, 2009, 10:29am

No Diesel

Agreed - lack of a diesel engine will stop me buying another Jazz.
It's the only thing that spoils a near perfection package.

By username1001 on 30 October, 2009, 6:13pm

Who needs a Diesel

My wife bought a 1.4 EX last month and it returns 45 to 50 MPG without harming children with diesel fumes.
So why would you want a oil burner?

By SteveL on 8 November, 2009, 8:46pm

Who needs a Diesel

My wife bought a 1.4 EX last month and it returns 45 to 50 MPG without harming children with diesel fumes.
So why would you want a oil burner?

By SteveL on 8 November, 2009, 8:48pm

Jazz music

My daughter recently bought a new Jazz as her first car. She looked at a short list of 5 similar cars but the Jazz offered much more room, versatility and all round quality. I was so impressed with it myself that we have now bought another one for my wife. Fantastic vehicle - amazing space, beautifully built, 1.2 petrol engine is more than adequate and great economy - I see no need for the weight and extra expense of a diesel when the petrol engine is so good.

By robinanderson on 25 December, 2009, 10:15pm

S.J.leicestershire.

i have a honda jazz on a 04 plate. 1.4 s
in freezing conditions no petrol car will get book figurs
my jazz is lucky to get 30 mpg on short runs.

By leicester20 on 26 December, 2009, 1:10pm

How on Earth you doing that?

S.J.leicestershire.

i have a honda jazz on a 04 plate. 1.4 s
in freezing conditions no petrol car will get book figurs
my jazz is lucky to get 30 mpg on short runs.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

What are you doing ? Towing a Caravan with it ?

The lever at the side is the hand brake...Push it down!

By LegioIXHispana on 23 March, 2010, 10:44pm

It doesn't need a diesel!

I have owned both the previous model jazz and the new model 1.4.

On a run I could get 60mpg+ out of the new 1.4. It really baffles me why people complain about the lack of a diesel option.
95% of jazz owners do less than 12000 miles per year.

The only thing I didn't like about the New Jazz was the newly designed parcel shelf. I much prefered the previous models tonneau cover.

By ChrissehP on 22 April, 2010, 3:21pm

Honda Cars

I found the automated response from a little delay, jerky and preferred flexible box manual intervention. CO2 emissions, fuel economy and insurance groups were not available at time of publication. Criticism of society outweigh the outgoing model, was treated with increasing body size integrated extended wheelbase and greater distance between the front wheels.
http://www.carsbyownerinusa.com/browse_by_make_model.php?MID=Honda

By imhsar on 29 October, 2010, 7:21am

I have one.

I'm russian.

2004 year platform. CVT. petrol. 6,5 litres per 100 km in mixed mode.

I didn't know that people in UK drive left wheel Jazzes :)

Best,
Alex.

By astranaft on 11 November, 2010, 7:33am

STILL no 1.5l engine!

Great car, spoiled by Honda's obsession that no Jazz with anything other than the most pedestrian performance will be sold in the UK. The rest of the world gets 1.5l engines of up to 120ps that give the Jazz a real solid performance. Sorry Honda, you really will have to get off this eco shopping car kick or I'm going to have to switch brands after 12 years.

By yojimbo on 21 April, 2011, 11:15am

No excuses Honda!

We want THIS!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckh-o2J0l5g

By yojimbo on 21 April, 2011, 11:18am

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Pictures

Honda Jazz ('08)