Skip advert
Advertisement

Honda Jazz hatchback (2015-2020)

“The Honda Jazz has a class-leading boot and the most spacious interior of any supermini, thanks to its tall roof and upright stance”

Carbuyer Rating

3.4 out of 5

Owners Rating

4.3 out of 5

Read owner reviews
Price
£26,885 - £29,285

Pros

  • Impressive reliability record
  • Very spacious inside
  • Well equipped

Cons

  • Quite pricey
  • No diesel option
  • Rivals are better to drive

The Honda Jazz is a practical supermini that competes with a long list of popular small cars, including the Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa, Volkswagen Polo and Peugeot 208. Park the Jazz next to any of these and you’ll notice the Honda is a little different.

For starters, the Jazz is designed for the maximum amount of interior space within typical supermini dimensions. It’s taller and boxier than rivals and has a small engine bay, all of which help increase interior space to give passengers in the back a surprising amount of legroom. The Jazz drives more like an MPV than a supermini but the steering is light and the driver has great visibility.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The best small cars and superminis you can buy today

Honda updated the Jazz in 2018 with the latest Honda family look, giving it new bumpers a wider front grille and redesigned headlights. The engine range benefited from the addition of the 1.5-litre petrol engine that was already in use in the Civic. It went into a Jazz Sport model that has now been discontinued. As of early 2020, Jazz buyers can only choose between S and SE trim levels as Honda gears up for the replacement model.

The Jazz is best known for being impressively practical and versatile. Its defining features are a raised seating position, back seats whose bases hinge upright to create a load space for tall objects between the floor and roof lining and a competitively sized 354-litre boot. Lower the split-folding rear seats and this becomes a 1,314-litre luggage space, sufficient for most reasonably sized loads.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Given the Jazz’s appetite for carrying people or loads, or both, it’s a pity its entry-level engine isn't more powerful. The 1.3-litre petrol produces only 101bhp. Unlike an increasing number of small, modern petrol engines it’s not turbocharged, so often feels quite strained beyond anything more than gentle driving.

Advertisement - Article continues below

You can have this engine in your Jazz with a manual or automatic gearbox. The latter is what’s called a CVT. These are known for a slightly strained-sounding and high-revving character, which can feel a bit like slipping the clutch in a manual car. For this reason, we’d only recommend the CVT if you plan on driving in town traffic.

We prefer the manual, because it makes better use of the available power and is slightly quicker from 0-62mph (11.2 seconds) than some versions of the automatic. That said, the CVT is more efficient with figures of up to 60.1mpg and 106g/km CO2, compared with the manual’s 55.4mpg and 117g/km CO2.

Many people are attracted to the Honda by its reliability record. The Honda Jazz finished 62nd out of the 100 cars ranked in our 2019 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey of cars currently on sale in the UK.

The Jazz was given five stars in independent Euro NCAP crash-tests and it’s fitted with a full roster of airbags, electronic braking and anti-skid technology. The Jazz will warn you if a tyre loses pressure, has ISOFIX mounting points for child seats and features as standard a system that’ll brake automatically at low speeds if a collision is deemed imminent.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Which Is Best?

Cheapest

  • Name
    1.5 i-MMD Hybrid Elegance 5dr eCVT
  • Gearbox type
    Auto
  • Price
    £26,885

Most Economical

  • Name
    1.5 i-MMD Hybrid Advance 5dr eCVT
  • Gearbox type
    Auto
  • Price
    £28,085

Fastest

  • Name
    1.5 i-MMD Hybrid Elegance 5dr eCVT
  • Gearbox type
    Auto
  • Price
    £26,885

Richard is a former editor of Carbuyer, as well as sister site DrivingElectric.com, and he's now Deputy Editor at Auto Express. Having spent a decade working in the automotive industry, he understands exactly what makes new car buyers tick.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Honda Jazz review – an easy-to-drive hybrid supermini
honda jazz ex style
In-depth reviews
19 Apr 2024

Honda Jazz review – an easy-to-drive hybrid supermini

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024
The best cheap-to-run cars 2023
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024

Most Popular

New Skoda Elroq revealed! Family EV gets 355-mile range, costs from £31,500
Skoda Elroq front quarter
News
1 Oct 2024

New Skoda Elroq revealed! Family EV gets 355-mile range, costs from £31,500

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s best PCP finance offers
Carbuyer best new car deals hero
Deals
4 Oct 2024

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s best PCP finance offers

Like the new Skoda Elroq? Our alternative picks cost over £10k less
Skoda Elroq front quarter
News
4 Oct 2024

Like the new Skoda Elroq? Our alternative picks cost over £10k less

Tips & advice

View All
Car dashboard warning lights: the complete guide
Car dashboard symbols and meanings
Tips and advice
26 Mar 2024

Car dashboard warning lights: the complete guide

Electric car charging stations: public networks, charger types, apps and maps
Charging station
Tips and advice
23 Jul 2024

Electric car charging stations: public networks, charger types, apps and maps

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?
PCP vs HP
Tips and advice
17 May 2022

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?

Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Tips and advice
21 Mar 2024

Average speed cameras: how do they work?

Best cars

View All
Top 10 best car interiors
Peugeot 208 hatchback
Best cars
25 Jun 2021

Top 10 best car interiors

Top 10 best electric cars 2024
Best electric cars
Best cars
16 May 2024

Top 10 best electric cars 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024
The best cheap-to-run cars 2023
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024
Fastest hot hatchbacks hero
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024