WHAT IS THIS?
It is the world's most "left-hand drive" small car - a supermini for the thinking family that finds so much more. Now in its fourth generation, it remains incredibly spacious, versatile, easy to drive and economical as ever. The latter characteristic is achieved thanks to the standard hybrid system.
Admittedly, this makes the range seem limited - one engine, one power, one transmission. The curveball is the Crosstar model (say it fast, don't read too carefully) with raised suspension, some plastic on the body, roof rails and fancy water-repellent seat covers for all those outdoor activities like surfing that owners are sure to do.
WHAT'S INSIDE?
The interior is very impressive, unless you are an avid Jazz fan of previous generations. You sit well and upright, like in an MPV, the fuel tank is hidden under the front seats, which frees up a lot of space under the back seat. You can hide your groceries in it or fold down the back seats to create a lot of space behind the front seats.
The dashboard has a little Honda e influence if you lift your eyes a bit. It is a pleasant interior, much sharper than we have seen from the company in the past. Simple, straight lines and nicely textured upholstery.
In previous Jazzs, the front pillar was thick, making it hard to see. This time, the main collision structure is on the second rear pillar, so the front pillar is thinner and doesn't obstruct visibility as much. It looks a little strange, but it means better forward visibility.
WHAT IS A HYBRID SYSTEM?
When hybrid cars first hit the market, there was a lot of talk about the different approaches of Honda and Toyota - all very technical and boring, but interestingly, Honda eventually switched to a system much more similar to Toyota's.
We saw this new system in the hybrid CR-V. Simply put: the engine drives the generator, the generator drives the engine, the engine drives the wheels. But while the train is either full throttle or on a flat road, the car has additional settings to deal with the different states.
The hybrid battery absorbs energy when the engine has a reserve, allowing the engine (1.5-liter, turbo-less Atkinson cycle) to switch to the speed at which fuel efficiency is more or less optimal. For short stretches on the flat, the drive motor draws some extra power from the battery.
Finally, a lock-up clutch between the engine and the wheels provides direct drive at highway speeds. This improves overall efficiency a bit, as it prevents the house from being driven around on electricity. Other than that, there is no gearbox or even a CVT in the usual sense.
WHAT'S THE VERDICT?
"Roomy, versatile, easy to recommend - the Jazz knows its audience, but do you count yourself among them?"
The Jazz is one of those cars you can confidently recommend to friends or family members who have no particular interest in cars. It's a hard-working, reliable and practical car that justifies its small size with useful frills and thoughtful design.
But would you want it for yourself? Probably not. As useful and reliable as it is, its homely looks and dull drive make us look forward to plenty of other smart and fun superminis.