Used Honda Jazz (2015-2020) Review

The Honda Jazz has been playing the same simple tune for years now. It gives you all the benefits of a supermini (reasonable running costs, dinky dimensions and ease of use) with the interior space of a much bigger car.

Traditionally it's been very popular among retirees, but we think anyone in the market for a hassle-free small car will appreciate its many clever practical touches, flexible boot, and robust interior that feels built to last.

It's a sensible choice, and those after style and flair should look elsewhere. Similarly, its limited engine range means buyers seeking ultra-low running costs, hybrid technology, or better motorway performance are better off choosing a more conventional small car such as the Skoda Fabia, which also has better media hardware.

Still, if you need a car just for nipping to the shops and short local journeys, the Honda is safe, good to drive, and should provide a totally hassle free ownership experience - not something that all of its rivals can claim.

Most buyers will be well served by the 1.3-litre engine. Its lack of puff means it is ill-suited to motorways trips, but it's a lot more affordable than the 1.5-litre model, and works fine when buzzing around suburban streets.

Paired with the standard six-speed manual gearbox, the Jazz is enjoyable to drive, despite its leisurely pace. The CVT automatic is an acquired taste, taking the stress out of stop-start traffic and low-speed manoeuvres,  but spoiling refinement and denting performance on faster open roads, exacerbating the Honda's other flaws.

Avoid the 'S' model if you can. It's too basic to be comfortable, missing out on the touchscreen media system and improved safety equipment that are standard on the higher grades. SE models offer the best value, but if you can plump for the Honda Jazz EX, you'll appreciate having a leather steering wheel, climate controls and LED lights.

The Jazz offers something genuinely different from the usual small car suspects. Its roomy interior provides a level of passenger space that would embarrass some executive saloons, and the boot is both big and clever.

If you want decent practicality but a more conventional shape, the Skoda Fabia comes closest to matching it.  With  the Honda Jazz's 330-litre boot it can carry a decent amount of luggage, and has a punchy three-cylinder turbo engine.

For buyers who fell in love with the Honda's tall driving position and airy cabin, plenty of crossover SUVs give a similar sensation from behind the wheel. The Citroen C3 Aircross and Nissan Juke are two prime examples and come loaded with kit across the range. The Juke is best for cabin quality, the Citroen for spaciousness.

The best driving small car is the Ford Fiesta, but the strongest all-rounder is probably the Volkswagen Polo. Unlike the Jazz, both of these feel mature and refined on the motorway, so are perfect for longer journeys.

The Jazz is priced above many of its peers, but that money hasn't been spent on a lavish interior. The dash materials feel as though they've been chosen for durability rather than creating a plush, welcoming cabin.

It's certainly not bargain basement, with a mix of textures and finishes that includes gloss black surrounds on the stereo, and matte grey inserts around the air vents and underside of the steering wheel. Still, run a hand over the glovebox lid or door bins, and you're met with some fairly low-rent surfaces that are clearly cheap.

Everything is plastic (including the steering wheel on all but EX models) and despite some silver trim pieces designed to look more like metal, no one is going to be fooled. There's no dense or squidgy dash covering, and while we can't fault the build quality, a Renault Clio, Volkswagen Polo and Peugeot 208 are all more upmarket.

Spending extra on the top Honda Jazz EX trim does bring a noticeable lift, with better seat fabrics, stitched leather for the steering wheel and gear knob, and a glossy black touch panel for the climate controls brightening things up.

The entry-level Jazz has a radio that is embarrassingly basic. It has four speakers, a small LCD screen with graphics that look like they're from a nineties arcade game, a CD player, and Bluetooth, but that's your lot.

If you want DAB radio, USB connectivity, or a touchscreen then you need to step up to the SE model. It has a 7.0-inch colour screen that includes Honda's Connect media system, and can be upgraded with sat-nav.

No Jazz comes with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay smartphone integration - a major omission at this price.

This system is certainly better than the standard setup, but lags behind the slick touchscreen you get in cars such as the Volkswagen Polo and Skoda Fabia for legibility and touch response. The touch sensitive buttons next to the screen are particularly irksome, sometimes requiring several careful prods before they register an input.

Although sat-nav is offered as an option on both Honda Jazz SE and EX trims, it’s a pricey £610 extra for an aftermarket system that feels seriously outdated compared to the standard setups of rivals. Entering addresses is tricky and the on-screen route guidance is confusing, so it's annoying that it won't let you use your phone instead.

Whether you're lugging a haul of fresh greenery from the local garden centre, strapping kids into child seats or need to carry tall adults without crushing their knees, few small cars do it better than the spacious Jazz.

Everything has been designed to maximise the amount of room. It's no longer than other superminis, but the gap between the front and rear wheels is huge, so passenger space is class-leading, in the front or the back.

The tall roof means there is loads of headroom, and you won't rub shoulders with the person sat next to you.

You can comfortably fit three adults across the rear row, and although they'll be brushing their elbows, the flat foot-wells mean that whoever sits in the middle doesn't have to awkwardly straddle a raised hump in the floor. Its doors open really wide, giving great access to the back seats for fitting a child seat. You can fit a Group 1/2/3 or iSize rear-facing child seat in the outer chairs without restricting the knee room for your front passenger.

Carrying luggage is no chore either, with the Honda Jazz's 354-litre boot that's only beaten by the Renault Clio. However the Honda's clever packaging means it can carry a class-leading 1314 litres with its seats folded. The back seats fold into the floor, leaving a very low, perfectly flat loading area that has a van-like capacity.

It has the added bonus of a set of flexible rear seat bases that flip up (cinema style) for transporting awkward items like potted plants. There are more tricks too, as you can recline the backrest of the front seat to lie flat. Honda calls this 'Long Mode' but it means you can carry items that are 2.4m in length, like a big bookcase.

On board stowage is generous too, with decent door pockets, three cupholders (one of which is right up by the steering wheel), a handy storage bin under the centre armrest and a roomy glovebox for valuables.

The Honda Jazz's dimensions are 3995mm length, 1980mm width and 1550mm height.

Forget that it produces over 100PS, because the 1.3-litre petrol Honda Jazz is rather slow. Almost all of its rivals use turbocharging to make them feel more flexible and responsive at low revs, but the little Honda goes without.

It's breathless, and feels weedy until you push the revs well above 4,500rpm. At that point it begins to kick into action, although it does get noisy. The standard six-speed manual gearbox has a really positive action, which is good because you'll be constantly working through the ratios trying to extract what little performance is available.

That's perhaps a little unfair, as in town you'll be able to nip in and out of traffic, bumbling along without being too fussed about the lack of oomph. On faster, flowing roads and the motorway though, it needs working hard.

If you don't want to change gear yourself (and many small car buyers don't) Honda offers the Jazz with what is known as a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). It doesn't have individual gears, and feels nothing like the latest dual-clutch autos. It rewards a gentle driver, and will get flustered and loud if rushed.

Choosing the CVT blunts the already weak performance, and it's also less economical. It'll suit buyers who want an auto fine, but we'd recommend picking the excellent manual instead, as it's cheaper and smoother.

The 1.5-litre petrol is better for buyers who are in a hurry. It's got a useful 30PS advantage over the standard car, and while its not the strongest in-gear, it's a willing performer, and a tad more relaxed at higher speeds.

The Honda Jazz is at its best when kept in its natural environment; scooting around town and urban centres. The wheezy 1.3-litre engine needs a lot of encouragement to get up to speed, and is very vocal when you work it.

As the speed rises, it becomes boomy, with the engine note reverberating around the cabin, and you'll hear more wind and road noise than you would in conventional rivals such as the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo. This limits how often you're likely to want to take it on motorway trips, as it's not a very relaxing travel companion.

On the plus side, the standard six-speed manual is precise and satisfying to use. The clutch is light and the shift is nice and positive, making the Jazz easy to drive smoothly. The CVT gearbox manages to keep things smooth as long as you stay below 40mph, but if you put your foot down it sends the revs soaring. It's also not related to your actual speed, so there's a lot of loud droning from the engine but it won't be travelling any quicker.

The 1.5-litre engine in the Honda Jazz Sport doesn't need working quite as hard, but it's no paragon of refinement. In fact, the Jazz just feels a bit tinny in general. You'll also hear stones pinging off the body over gravel, for example.

All but entry-level Jazzes come with a comprehensive suite of safety systems to help prevent an accident, and even the most basic model has an auto-emergency braking system, six airbags, and hill-start assist.

This impressive roster means the Honda Jazz performed admirably in Euro NCAP's crash tests, receiving a full five stars when it was certified in 2015. It scored higher for adult protection than a Ford Fiesta or Citroen C3, and only the Renault Clio betters it in child protection ratings -  in other words, it should keep you perfectly safe.

SE models and upwards come with a full suite of active systems that Honda calls its Advanced Driver Assist System (ADAS) for short. This snappily titled bundle packs in traffic sign recognition for reading the current speed limit, an intelligent speed limiter that will adapt to the local regulations. Every Jazz has a tyre repair kit.

It also includes lane departure warning and high beam support, which automatically dips your beams to stop you dazzling other drivers. You can't add this package to the most basic 'S' models though, another reason to pick a higher grade if you can afford it. Some drivers may find these systems more irritating than helpful.

The standard autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system can sense if you're about to have a collision, flashing up a visual and audio warning, and intervening by stopping the car if it thinks you're going to crash. It's great for preventing avoidable shunts, but unlike in rivals, it only works below 20mph, instead of 30mph.

The Honda Jazz scored a remarkable 9.80 out of 10 for reliability in the HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Survey, putting it in the top ten most reliable cars in the survey, which should put your mind at ease.

Honda as a brand may have only come 14th out of 30 manufacturers overall, but it was placed 8th out of all brands for reliability. It may not be a thrilling ownership prospect but sometimes boring is exactly what you want.

Weirdly, the Jazz finds itself in higher insurance brackets than other small family cars. It falls between Group 13 and 19 depending on the engine and trim, instead of starting at below ten like the majority of superminis.

Unlike some cars, the rating doesn't change as you go up the trim levels. All the models with the 1.3 engine (both manual and automatic) will be the most affordable choice for young drivers, or buyers with a few points.

The rarer Jazz Sport with the 1.5-litre petrol is in Group 19, making it quite pricey compared with say, the Kia Rio GT-Line with a 120PS engine. That sits all the way down in Group 9, and most rivals will be cheaper.

Taxing your Honda Jazz is very simple. Cars registered before April 2017 will cost you less than £30 a year, since every model emits less than 120g/km of CO2, at least according to the older NEDC-style efficiency tests.

Newer models have to pay the standard flat-rate of road tax (VED) that applies to all petrol and diesel cars. Currently this will set you back £165 a year, but there are no extra charges, as faced by some pricier models.

Although not a popular choice with company car buyers, the manual 'S' model will cost you the least. Its 29% BIK bracket is still quite a lot higher than for example, the electric Honda e, but still only about £70 a month

High spec versions of the Honda Jazz are very popular, and after a quick glance at the equipment list for the basic models, it's not hard to see why. The entry-level Honda Jazz S is an exercise in abstinence, and while vital features like air-conditioning, electric windows, and cruise control are all here, the standard CD radio is laughably dated.

Most buyers should seek out the Honda Jazz SE instead. It adds 15-inch alloy wheels, parking sensors and a 7.0-inch infotainment touchscreen that comes with DAB digital radio, and the option to add sat-nav should you wish.

Only the top Honda Jazz EX grade comes with niceties like a leather steering wheel and dual-zone climate control, and it has equipment you'll find in most mid-spec rivals, including LED lights, keyless entry and a parking camera.

The limited run Honda Jazz Sport specification gets a suitably subtle body kit, 16-inch gloss black alloys, tailgate spoiler, and on the inside, pin-stripe seat fabric, plus racy orange stitching on the steering wheel and gear stick.

There is virtually no optional equipment, but there was an option to add Garmin sat-nav for £610. Honda offered some packs, but when the ambitiously named Premium Pack includes floor mats and mud guards, they're hardly worth it.