SA's biggest small car.

The Honda Jazz has long been hailed as the champion of B segment cars in South Africa. A little while ago, I went down to Honda East Rand Mall after an invitation from Sales Manager Aseya Mohamed, to find out why.

The model I was to drive was the Jazz Comfort 1.3 V-Tec. Upon being taken to the car I was immediately impressed with the facelift that Honda has done since last year’s model. The car now has a sportier, more youthful appearance than ever before. I have to say that this will definitely work in the car’s favour as I have never understood its ‘older buyer’ tag that it has carried for years. But now it was time for me to meet the Jazz, a lovely Metallic Grey model. So I rolled up my sleeves, buckled up, and hit the back roads towards the highway.

Amazingly enough, a lot of people will skip over the Jazz when considering buying a new vehicle in this price bracket. I say amazingly because I have to say that I am a little blown away at the practicality and drivability of this little ‘big’ car. There has been so much thought put into the design and development of the car that it actually seems a little out of place in this price range.

As far as the drive is concerned, any driver of pretty much any size, whether moose or mouse shaped, could get into a comfortable position in the Jazz. The short throw gear shift is appealing, and the car is just so easy to drive with a light clutch. The braking is responsive, no doubt due to the fact that the car features ABS, EBD and EBA. The engine is really responsive in the higher rev range (being a V-Tec), pushing out a respectable 73kW and 127nm of torque.

The practicality of the interior is what blew my mind about this car and is where I think the Honda pulls out its secret weapons that win auto accolades year after year. First off, everywhere I looked there was a cup holder. Someone has finally gotten the point! Humanity is saved from the future of cupholderless cars! The cabin has a modern look to it, whilst yet being ergonomically sound with everything well in reach. All plastics, switches, knobs and dials are of a good quality and feel good to use. Where is the scratchy, hard plastic that belongs in cars in this class?

Then come Honda’s Magic Seat System with the rear seats. The system allows you to lay one or both seats flat, or stand one or both seats upright. This creates (magically?) vast amounts of useable space in the Jazz letting you transport things in this car that you could never manage in any other car in this class. Coupled with the fact that the rear doors open up around eighty degrees, you can fit in virtually anything that the interior dimensions of the car allow.

So what do we have here? A car that is plastered full of awesome goodies that everyone wants like electric windows, mirrors and central locking. A car with a 100 000km warrantee, 60 000km/4 year service plan. A car with the most awesome seating in the world and the saviour of the world cupholder shortage as we know it? All of the above for around R178k. I do believe that I now understand why this car wins awards year after year. To the little (big) Honda Jazz, you have my respect and I salute you.

I would like to thank Aseya Mohamed and Joe Burney from Honda East Rand Mall for making this review possible. For interest in the Jazz or other Honda products, please contact them on (011) 826 4444 or email: aseya@imperialhonda.ih.co.za or joe.burney@imperialhonda.ih.co.za
Honda East Rand Mall Facebook: goo.gl/og1NS