The Honda Jazz has been a proven fixture on the car market in the so-called "B" segment for years. We currently tested its modernized third generation, which also comes with a new drive unit, with an atmospheric four-cylinder 1.5 i-VTEC. Until the arrival of this new engine, you could only buy a Honda Jazz with a petrol 1.3 i-VTEC, either in combination with a manual six-speed gearbox or with an automatic CVT gearbox , which also recently passed our editorial test.
The currently tested, modernized car was therefore equipped with the mentioned fifteen-cylinder engine with a power of 96 kW, in combination with a manual six-speed gearbox. The modernization has also affected the external parts of the Jazz, which are most noticeable in its front part. The modernized Jazz is again a little more playful than its predecessor, it is such a messenger of good mood, especially in the tested color scheme, in which it stands out beautifully from the dull, gray line of other cars.
Its front part is markedly cut through by voluminous, horizontally oriented headlights, which flow smoothly into the front mask. The body of the bumper itself is connected to this strip of lights and the front mask, which looks very massive and sturdy. The bumper is softened by a relatively large cutout on both sides. Fog lights with chrome edging are very elegantly placed in this cutout. In the tested Dynamic version, the lower bumper is equipped with a discreet lollipop with an effective red stripe.
The side profile of the car is very wedge-shaped, from the front bumper the side line of the car rises significantly to the roof itself. Honda Jazz, in terms of proportions, is more like an MPV in the small car segment. This is also where its greatest advantage flows, which is primarily the interior space. The side doors of the Jazz are enlivened by an interesting molding, which forms the connecting element of both side handles and stylishly transitions to the rear part, specifically to the rear taillights.
The rear section is dominated by contrasting, vertically oriented taillights that go up to the upper part of the fifth door and effectively line the sides of the rear window. The lower part of the massive bumper, which spatially takes up a large part of the side fenders, must not be missing a decent decorative strip, again with red coloring, and a decent sporty hint of a diffuser.
The external appearance of not only the tested Honda Jazz is imaginative, original and very dynamic. The Honda Jazz is a really big revival for the segment.
The interior space of the Jazz is really voluminous thanks to the aforementioned construction of the car's body. The position behind the wheel is very pleasant, it is higher and getting into the car is very easy and comfortable. But what you will appreciate most about the interior of the Jazz is the variability of its interior space. This is where the Honda Jazz deserves huge praise. It is necessary to appreciate that even a vehicle of this segment can work with the interior space in such an efficient and smart way. The rear bench of the car, referred to by the manufacturer as Magic Seats, has either the possibility of folding the seats upwards towards the backrests and creating additional storage space when only two people are driving, or when the backrests are folded down, the seat can be moved slightly forwards and downwards, thus creating a flat loading surface from the loading edge of the trunk up to the front seats. In addition, the backrest of the rear bench has the option of partial folding, i.e. increasing comfort for passengers in the rear seats. Another positive is the very low loading edge of the luggage compartment. The Honda Jazz really thinks about its users, and we like that a lot.
The Honda Jazz is great to drive, one of the things that helps it is the steering wheel that fits well in your hand. Its circumference seemed to me to be larger, but in connection with the narrower rim it was still very user-friendly. The instrument cluster is relatively compactly integrated into the rather voluminous dashboard. The chapel has three circular alarm clocks, two analog (speedometer and tachometer) and one digital, with not entirely contemporary graphics that swallow you with data from the on-board computer or cruise control. The central part of the dashboard is dominated by the generally not very popular on-board infotainment display. As a result, it is quite clear, but its graphics are not pleasing to the eye, the need to confirm security information every time it is started can really annoy you. But let's balance it with some praise, we find it right below the mentioned display, it is nothing more than a manual transmission selector, which is very decent in the "Honda" style and its paths are short and precise.
Earth Dreams is the designation for the engine that our tested Jazz was equipped with. Here, Honda is trying to achieve a certain compromise, a balance between the ecology itself and the dynamic parameters of the power units. As I already informed you, 1.5 is newly offered in Jazz. The engine is very agile, with the spirit of an athlete, its output is 96kW at 6600 rpm. is more than adequate for the car. It can be dialed playfully and has no problem with performance at low revs. Its connection with the six-speed manual works very well, its settings are tuned rather sporty, to pull. The city and adjacent districts were a more pleasant territory for the tested Jazz than the highway itself, where you turn less than 4,000 revolutions at the highway limit. The chassis and the steering itself are very similar, although the chassis is stiffer, it irons out all the bumps with great overview, the steering is then pleasantly steep with the precision of a watchmaker. The Honda Jazz, in this specification, claimed 6.5 liters in the weekly test and this is in connection with the dynamic features, which showed us a very good figure with the big one.
The current Honda Jazz range is divided into four levels of equipment. These are the Trend, Comfort, Elegance and Dynamic grades. The currently tested stronger motorization is only available with the Dynamic equipment, and you only have the choice when selecting the gearbox. The base price of the Honda Jazz in the Trend trim and with the gasoline thirteen starts at 379,900 CZK. For the tested 1.5 i-VTEC engine and in Dynamic equipment and with a manual six-speed gearbox, the Jazz starts at CZK 479,900.
Honda Jazz is a car that thinks about its users. It will offer you a large internal variable space on the floor plan of a city car. All this, in combination with the new engine, is peppered with dynamic driving characteristics that will certainly not bore you. The imaginary icing on the cake is the Dynamic equipment, which sharpens the already handsome Jazz with more aggressively shaped bumpers and a decent wing of the fifth door. We really liked the tested Jazz and can recommend it to you with confidence.
