Honda Jazz review - Practicality, comfort and boot space
The Jazz still holds the ace card for practicality; nothing in the supermini class comes close to the versatile ‘Magic Seat’ system.
Practicality and ease of use are where the Jazz still really shines. Visibility for the driver is excellent, thanks to the slimmer A-pillars and high windscreen. This, along with an elevated driving position and a good view out of the rear windows, means that there shouldn’t be any major problems with parking manoeuvres or navigating out of tight junctions.
One slightly irritating quirk that we found during our own test was that, due to the shallow cowl design, the digital instrument display was sometimes affected by sunlight. The main screen was easier to see, but the information on either side can be harder to make out.
The famous Magic Seats in the second row are a brilliant piece of design. Not only do they split in 60/40 fashion, you’re also able to fold up the bases like a cinema seat to help you slide awkward larger items across the rear floor.
There’s lots of useful cubby holes and storage bins for assorted items, while all versions include a front centre armrest, cupholders and seatback pockets for extra convenience.
Size
The Jazz is 4,044mm long, 1,694mm wide (excluding door mirrors) and 1,526mm in height, which makes it about the same length as a Ford Fiesta. The SUV-inspired Jazz Crosstar is 46mm longer and is also slightly wider and taller than the standard hatchback.
Leg room, head room & passenger space
The Jazz includes plenty of space for the driver, although Honda hasn’t forgotten about the needs of passengers - four six-footers can easily be accommodated without any worries about knee or legroom. Despite a 10mm lower roofline, head room is still exceptional when compared to rivals.
Boot
The Jazz’s boot size is a decent 304 litres, although the Fiesta offers 311 litres and the Renault Clio a huge 391 litres of load space. However, with the rear seats folded, the Honda supermini trumps both of these competitors with a 1,205-litre capacity.
The Jazz Crosstar, despite having SUV pretensions, actually has a smaller boot than the five-door hatch at 298 litres.
