Honda Jazz

“Still clearly the best used supermini in the business, the Jazz is one of those cars you’d recommend to anyone without a second thought, and wouldn’t mind owning yourself.” Ross Pinnock

The Jazz continues to hit all the right notes in the supermini category. It has now won four consecutive titles in this
sector, and our judges couldn’t look beyond last year’s overall winner because the model simply gets better with age.

You can now snap up the practical five-door with average miles from around £4,500, and as every year passes, there are more cars to pick from. Better still, the solid build quality, hard-wearing cabin and excellent reliability we’ve come to expect from the brand haven’t diminished.

Compact dimensions and great visibility combine to make this a fine car around town, while the Tardis-like interior and tall roofline mean it’s ideal as a family runaround. The smart rear seats can also take large loads without having to be folded flat. And while the Jazz’s chunky good looks aren’t the most exciting on the forecourts, they’ve barely changed since its introduction in 2001 and haven’t dated at all.

Critics will argue there’s no diesel option, but the original 1.4-litre petrol unit can hit 48mpg, while the 1.2-litre engine – which arrived in 2004 – can touch 51mpg, so the need for an oil-burner is questionable. With three trim levels (S, SE and Sport) and only two engines, it’s hard to buy the wrong Jazz, because they’re all good. There’s even a CVT automatic if you prefer, although there’s nothing wrong with the snappy five-speed manual that comes as standard. The self-shifter commands a healthy premium of around £500 second-hand. However, watch out on entry-level S models, as they’ll only have air-con if it was specified as an extra.

Compared with rival superminis, the Honda Jazz can appear expensive, but you can bet the Japanese car will be worth more when you come to part with it. Factor in an excellent dealer network, and you’ll understand precisely why our judges’ decision to pick the Jazz was one of the quickest and easiest of the entire awards.

Commended: Ford Fiesta

2002 to present

Amid fierce competition in the supemini sector, the five-year-old Fiesta still cuts the mustard as a new car, never mind a second-hand one. It continues to drive rings around its younger rivals, yet you can pick up one of the earliest models for only £4,000. A huge selection of used examples, broad dealer network and wide model line-up make it worth a place on any shortlist, and if you factor in its surprisingly decent reliability record, you’ve a great car – for not a lot of money. Hot hatch fans will enjoy the exciting ST model, while the ‘warm’ Zetec S provides more affordable thrills.

Commended: MINI

2001 to 2007

When you’ve got a modern classic on your hands, designing a replacement can be a tricky business. But MINI has managed to shrug off this problem by successfully sticking to a tried-and-trusted formula – and that represents great news for used buyers. A fresh model can be the death of outgoing motors, yet the all-new MINI is barely distinguishable from its predecessor, so expect robust resale values from the original. It still offers fine handling and an unrivalled image at lower prices than ever before – but make sure your choice has air-con, because those without are hard to sell.