Honda Jazz 1.4 EX 5dr Car Review - February 2012

The suspension is quite soft and forgiving meaning that passengers will have a good ride, but this is at a sacrifice to the overall driving experience. The steering is light enough to make parking straightforward, but the handling isn’t quite up to scratch when driving on country lanes and winding roads. The driving position is good and visibility is generally quite good, but the thick windscreen pillars can impair the view at junctions.

Although nobody would expect the engine to be sensational on the Honda Jazz, it does provide reasonable acceleration, going from 0-62mph in 11.8 seconds, and has the capability to reach a top speed of 113mph. Overall the driving experience is fine, but those looking for fun behind the wheel may have to look elsewhere.

The Jazz does look a bit like the more sensible brother of the Honda Civic, and although it is nothing spectacular it does look fine. The large triangular headlights are quite reminiscent of a Ford Fiesta, and the air intake below the grille is smaller and more understated than that found on other cars. The back end is tidy enough, although the dazzling array of colours on the dashboard is in stark contrast to the muted design outside the vehicle.

This model comes with alloy wheels as standard, which do jazz up the exterior somewhat, and the fully adjustable steering wheel and front seats make it easy for the driver to find the right driving position. Bluetooth connectivity and a hands free kit make communication on the go much easier, and the panoramic sunroof will really come into its own in the summer.

The Jazz is quite spacious for a small car, and the legroom in the back seats means it can easily accommodate four if not five people with relative ease. The boot space is also quite large, but the fact that the sides of the boot door do slant inwards will reduce the ability to carry bulky items. For those who are considering using the Honda Jazz as a family car, it is worth noting that there are plenty of larger cars available in the same price range.

The Honda Jazz was given a five star rating in the Euro NCAP safety test, and comes with a range of airbags to keep driver and passengers safe. The fact that the passenger airbag can be switched off will be useful for those with babies that will be using a car seat in the front seat. The alarm and immobiliser are all standard equipment on these cars, and Honda cars do have a good security record.

There is no doubt that the Honda Jazz is a nice car, and is spacious as well as compact, but the biggest question is whether or not people will really want to pay £14,995 for it. The features included in this model can be stripped out in the lower specified models for those that are particularly price conscious, but the competition in this class is particularly strong.

The running costs also find the Jazz in the territory between a supermini and a mid sized hatchback, as it delivers a fuel performance with an average 50.4mpg. The insurance costs are fairly reasonable, and it is supplied with a three year warranty and three years breakdown recovery, which is better than some of the competition. Those who do like to change their cars every few years will also be glad to know that depreciation is not a big issue for the Jazz, and resale values are quite good.