AFTER the Fiesta and Corsa, which is the best-selling supermini in Britain? Renault Clio? Peugeot 207? VW Polo? Toyota Yaris? No, it's the Honda Jazz, launched in 2002 and since 2004 either second or third in the sales ladder.
It has been phenomenal. In 2006 we bought more than 30,000. This year, up to the end of August, we bought almost 17,000 – a remarkable figure considering that the brand new Jazz was imminent. The Corsa and Fiesta both have big fleet sale contracts.
The Jazz is primarily bought with personal money.
Since 2002 we have bought 161,000. The average age of owners is 63, and 60% of them are aged 56 to 75. That means the bulk of the other owners are under 56, and Honda expects to gather more youngsters with the new model. It goes on sale in October, from £9,990 for the 1.2-litre engine in S grade. Higher grades have air conditioning and alloy wheels. The other engine is a 1.4 (actually nearer a 1.3) from £11,490, and if trends continue a 1.4 in its higher trim level will be the biggest seller.
This new Jazz's body is much stiffer and has chunkier, even funkier styling. It is the same length as before but wider and taller, with a longer wheelbase and wider track. There has been a comprehensive retune and the layout of the suspension has been altered to eliminate the choppy ride of the outgoing Jazz. It is more stable too. The steering motor gives extra assistance, so the wheel is easier to turn and it has been repositioned to give a more natural feel.
Visibility is improved, helped by a larger windscreen, thinner pillars, larger front-quarter lights and rear head restraints that can be pushed out of sight.
One of the Jazz's tricks was its fold-up rear seats, leaving a useful storage area. The new Jazz has the same system, and adds one-touch fold-flat movement without having to unplug the head restraints when you want to extend the luggage area.
This Jazz is packed with storage areas: four compartments behind the gearstick, another in front with a movable partition, plus cup holders galore, an MP3 connection, upper and lower gloves boxes facing the passenger and door pockets. There is even a hidden storage box in the rear seat. The 1.4 model is fitted with a neat parcel-net shelf that doubles as a boot floor or can be hinged up, revealing the floor well to enable taller items to be carried. It has more luggage space behind the back seats than larger hatchbacks like the Mégane, Golf and Focus.
The Jazz has always been about user practicality, and this model is even better. The larger cabin gives improved front and rear legroom. Lanky six footers (and over) have no trouble getting comfortable, and the back doors open almost to right angles so you can get in and out in comfort, or place a large unbendy object such as a bike frame behind the front seats.
Honda is renowned for its engines, and the new pair are much more powerful, so the new 1.2 has more oomph than the old 1.4. Now with 16 valves and variable timing, the 1.2 develops 90ps (up from 77ps) and the 1.4 makes 100ps (83ps). Gearboxes are five speed, with a six-speed automated manual i-shift on the 1.4 Jazz.
On the road, the 2008 Jazz feels very refined, from the soft, rattle-free door closure to the smooth start-up and quiet running manners. The suspension really is much calmer and the steering feel is exemplary. It feels just right.
Honda expects that only a small percentage will buy the entry-level 1.2S. However, it is worth considering, with curtain airbags, power and heated mirrors, front electric windows and height adjustment for the driving seat.
Spend an extra £1,000 for the 1.2SE and you have air conditioning and alloy 15-inch wheels. It costs £10,990.
However, throw in another £500 and you get the 1.4ES, with more power and more kit and clearly priced to attract us away from the 1.2. Extra stuff includes electronic stability control to help moderate skids, folding body-coloured mirrors with an integrated indicator, two-way steering wheel adjustment with audio controls on the pad, the flexible boot system, a chilled gloves box, electric rear windows, a map pocket on the passenger seat and rear audio speakers. With i-shift gears and a hill-holder clutch, the ES costs £12,290.
The top grade is the EX, at £12,790 (plus £800 for the i-shift version). It includes a panoramic glass roof, rear privacy glass, leather wheel rim and gearknob, cruise control, second map pocket, front fog lamps, automatic lights and wipers, climate control and a driver's armrest.
