Road test report -- February 2009

by Kevin Fenix.

Top speed is said to be 182 kph (113 mph), with 0-100 kph acceleration in 11.5 seconds. This makes it a pretty nifty performer for a car in this segment of the market. Perhaps of more interest for a small car, is the fact that despite this effortless performance, it still manages to return 43 mpg (6.5 lt/100 km) on the urban cycle, with 59 mpg (4.7 lt/100 km) on the extra urban cycle. This gives a combined cycle average of 52 mpg (5.4 lt/100 km). Remember this is a petrol engine, not a diesel ! When delivering these excellent performances, its carbon dioxide exhaust emissions are 128 gm/km, putting this version of the Jazz into category B, of the Irish road tax structure, which at present rates, incurs an annual road tax charge of 156 euro.
The engine fitted to the test car was a 1.4 litre, with Honda’s innovative variable valve lift and timing. It is tuned to give an excellent 55.265 kW/lt. On the test car it was linked to a silky smooth five speed manual gearbox, with a set of well balanced ratios. As the performance figures show, it has the get up and go when you need it, but it is also capable of cruising along with an effortless ease whenever the mood takes you. It is just as happy in urban traffic, as it is out on the open road.
Surprisingly for a Honda, the suspension is very European in its design. It uses simple MacPherson struts up front, with a simple torsion beam on trailing arms, with coil springs, at the rear. It works very well, allowing the car to ride comfortably and hold the road easily. It handles with ease and manoeuvres without effort in confined spaces, thanks to the precise steering, geared to give a very comfort oriented 3.4 turns from lock to lock and the excellent all round visibility provided by the large windows and exterior rear view mirrors.
The braking system is well up to modern standards for a car in this segment of the market, with ventilated discs at the front and plain discs at the rear. The system incorporates anti-lock, with electronic brake force distribution and emergency brake assist. The specification includes front, side and curtain airbags. All five potential seats have adjustable head restraints. Like the vast majority of cars today, the rear seat is fitted with seat belts and head restraints for three passengers. While the space available may be suitable for children, the centre section of the rear bench seat, is hard and uncomfortable and certainly not the best place for an adult. Three adults, sitting abreast in the rear seat, would find shoulder room very uncomfortable for all three. While it may be more suited to a child, from a shoulder room perspective, remember it is still relatively hard and uncomfortable, especially for longer journeys.

The hooded instrument binnacle, behind the steering wheel, contains three large analogue instruments - tachometer, speedometer and fuel level gauge. Each also contains some warning lights or digital information. The tachometer for example, has a blue light that indicates when the engine is cold, plus a gearshift change indicator, with green arrows indicating when an upshift or downshift is recommended. The large centrally positioned speedometer, has a large digital information panel, that gives, amongst other things, average speed, trip and total distance recorders, outside air temperature etc., while the fuel gauge has warning lights for things like seat belts unfastened in occupied seats, door open etc.
On the right hand edge of the centre console, close to the left hand edge of the steering wheel, there are three clearly marked, dial type switches, for distribution, temperature and airflow of the air conditioning system. There are also three buttons, centrally positioned, below the audio panel in the centre console, for the air conditioning.
The audio panel is large and clearly market. At its top right hand corner, close to the steering wheel, there is a large, red button for the hazard flashers, while the digital panel in the top centre, contains a clock as well as information relating to the audio equipment. There are further controls on the left hand arm of the steering wheel, for the audio, with other functions on the right hand arm. Overall it is beautifully laid out and easy to use, which contributes so much, to the overall driving pleasure.
Ahead of and just below the circular air vents, on the extreme left and right hand sides of the facia, there are spaces that may be used as cupholders, or convenient storage spaces. Similarly ahead of the gearlever, there are open spaces, that may be used as cupholders or storage spaces. There is a closed container (ashtray) that fits into these spaces and may be moved around as circumstances demand. Then there are further spaces behind the gearlever and extending between the two front seats. Finally there are also storage pockets in the lower edges of the front doors.

The boot is very interesting. It is covered by a rear shelf, made in two sections. The rearmost section lifts up when the hatchback is opened, while the other section remains level and horizontal. Flaps hang down from this forward section, which can be attached to the back of the rear seat by press studs, so that if the seat back is not adjusted back up against the forward edge of the shelf, people cannot see into the boot, between the seat back and the shelf. Between the normal luggage floor and the underside of the shelf, there is 0.335 cubic metres of space available. However the floor is also divided into sections and if the rear section is opened, there is a net suspended from the floor to carry small items. If this lid is opened back fully to rest on the floor ahead of it, the section can be lifted up and hooked into a higher position. This means that smaller items placed ahead of this section have less space to slide around. Also items placed behind this section are similarly more constrained. Both the shelf and the floor can be removed to take full advantage of the well, where a spare wheel would normally be kept. Fold the 60/40 split rear seat down, remove the floor and shelf, and you have a very generous 0.883 cubic metres of load space and that is still only loading to lower window level, so as to preserve rearwards visibility.

Left : Normal luggage space

Above : Floor divider in vertical position

Above : Maximum luggage space.

This Honda Jazz is not just a pretty face, as it can also tow a braked trailer of up to 1,000 kg in weigh, or an unbraked trailer up to 450 kg. If all that is not enough it will tolerate up to 55 kg on the roof. However, while the design does provide tremendous space and an almost endless variety of ways of using it, you still have to keep an eye on the overall gross vehicle weight which is 484 kg more than the unladen weight of the car. If you are carrying four adult passengers, that could use up 300 kg (plus/minus) of that allowance, so do not go overboard with the loading of goods and luggage !
Honda give a generous 3 years/100,000 km, warranty with 3 years roadside assistance and a 3 years paint cover. Their anti-perforation guarantee lasts for 6 years.
An electronic device measures various items of an operational nature and indicates when a service is required.

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Technical data