Skip advert
Advertisement

Does petrol-only range hold back class’s most flexible car?

The Jazz very nearly took the victory here – factor in its low list price and the cost saving of choosing petrol over diesel, and it’s the smartest financial choice. What lets it down is its sluggish pace.

Think of a word to describe the Honda Jazz, and ‘practical’ will be among the first into your head. The Japanese supermini has a huge cabin, and its clever rear seats can teach a Swiss Army knife a thing or two about versatility – but the little Honda is also more than deserving of a place in our economy test.

Advertisement - Article continues below

While there is no diesel version, the 1.2-litre petrol should be capable of 53.3mpg if the official figures are to be believed. And with unleaded around 10 per cent less than diesel, the Jazz could well cause an upset. A strong start saw the Honda return an impressive 50.2mpg on our trip, which is a lofty 94 per cent of the official economy – closer than all of its rivals managed. Despite this, the Jazz sipped its way through £24.40 of unleaded on our economy marathon, leaving it in fourth place at the pumps.

With relatively high official CO2 emissions of 125g/km, the case for the Honda looks a little sketchy – until you consider its remarkable price. At £10,990, the Jazz is cheaper than all our cars bar the Subaru. In fact, the Honda costs an incredible £1,955 less than the Ford, and undercuts the VW by a tempting £3,125 – offsetting the annual £120 road tax bill that results from its higher emissions. And the money left over will also buy plenty of petrol.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Stonic

2020 Kia

Stonic

72,117 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £8,675
View Stonic
Sportage

2023 Kia

Sportage

17,739 milesAutomaticPetrol1.6L

Cash £27,175
View Sportage
Mokka Electric

2021 Vauxhall

Mokka Electric

43,831 milesAutomaticElectric

Cash £11,217
View Mokka Electric
Model Y

2023 Tesla

Model Y

25,100 milesAutomaticElectric

Cash £25,086
View Model Y

So how has the firm managed to come up with such an attractive price? The Jazz must be completely spartan inside, right? Wrong. Choose this SE spec, and you get air-conditioning, alloys and four airbags. The stylish dash isn’t full of blanked-off switches to remind you of the bits you’re missing, and overall the cabin feels like a regular supermini – a spacious one at that – rather than a pared-down eco champion.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Life with the Honda isn’t completely without compromise, though, because its 1.2-litre engine is short on punch. While there’s not much wrong with the unit itself – it’s smooth, willing and refined – it struggles to shift the car’s 1,086kg bulk, so the Jazz has trouble keeping up with traffic. In a car the size of the Justy it would be a riot, but the 89bhp engine proved lethargic at the test track, where the Honda took 12.8 seconds to sprint from 0-60mph.

The petrol unit also lacks torque, so even slight motorway inclines will have you reaching for a lower gear ratio to maintain speed – and even that may not be enough to prevent you holding up lorries in the inside lane. The rest of the package provides a mixture of excellence (the slick gearshift) and mediocrity (ride comfort) – although what’s hardest to ignore is the limited pace.

Ultimately, the Jazz isn’t the most economical car we tested, but it got closer to the official figures than its rivals. It also offers the cabin practicality of a family car – all for a seriously attractive price tag.

Details

Chart position: 2
WHY: Super-efficient base petrol Jazz brings unbeatable practicality to economy ranks.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Dacia Spring

Dacia Spring

RRP £14,995Avg. savings £3,297 off RRP*
Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen Polo

RRP £14,575Avg. savings £1,864 off RRP*Used from £7,850
Renault Clio

Renault Clio

RRP £16,160Avg. savings £3,970 off RRP*Used from £8,795
Audi A3

Audi A3

RRP £26,295Avg. savings £3,576 off RRP*Used from £12,854
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New ‘baby’ Range Rover electric SUV: design, technology and full details
Range Rover Velar EV - front (watermarked)

New ‘baby’ Range Rover electric SUV: design, technology and full details

JLR is getting ready to unveil a mid-size electric Range Rover to end its four-year new model drought, and our exclusive images preview how it could l…
News
10 Sep 2025
New Honda Civic facelift 2025 review: subtle tweaks boost its appeal
Honda Civic facelift - front

New Honda Civic facelift 2025 review: subtle tweaks boost its appeal

The Honda Civic was already a great car, but updates for 2025 have elevated it even higher
Road tests
11 Sep 2025
New Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport 2025 review: an incredibly capable hot hatch but there's a catch
Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport - front tracking

New Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport 2025 review: an incredibly capable hot hatch but there's a catch

The hottest front-wheel-drive Golf has sharpened up its act in Mk8.5 form, but it's not as fun as we'd like it to be
Road tests
11 Sep 2025