The Honda Jazz is something of a nonconformist in the small-car world.
The Honda has always felt more like a mini-MPV rather than a traditional, zippy town car such as the Volkswagen Polo or Skoda Fabia. However, what it lacked in nimbleness, it made up for with supreme cabin practicality.
This latest version is no measly refresh; from the ground up it’s all new. There’s a new chassis using Honda’s Global Compact Platform, with new front suspension that’s claimed to improve both ride and refinement – a bugbear of the old 2008-2015 Jazz.
It also allows for a longer wheelbase, so the engineers have eeked out even more interior space.
There is only a 1.3-litre petrol to be had, which is new too, but it is available with either a manual or automatic gearbox.
The naturally aspirated engine may be new, but it feels decidedly old-school by today’s standards.
Firstly, it’s not very efficient, with higher CO2 emissions and poorer fuel consumption than the competition, but neither is it that quick. In fairness, none of these cars are, but the problem here is flexibility.
Look at the data and the i-VTEC doesn’t hit maximum torque until a peaky 5000rpm. By comparison, a Volkswagen Group 1.2 TSI engine produces more torque, and serves it up from just 1400rpm.