Jazzin' it up

What we like:

Fuel economy is simply tops. And its engine note is more refined compared to its bigger 1.5 liter sibling.

What we dislike:

No body kit. Missing digital climate control and factory fitted head unit.

Handling wise, the Jazz feels pliant out on the expressway. But over undulating surfaces, the Jazz has the tendency to bounce about and get busy. Fret not though, as it won’t throw passengers about or wake the baby up.

The slightly harder ride does compensate for something else – respectable handling. You can take that favourite corner faster, and the Jazz will go about it with good level of confidence. Now, this trait is pretty common these days, but what’s seen in the Jazz is something noteworthy, and takes the cake at this side of the competition.

The weight at the helm is prim and proper, making it easy to manoeuvre around town especially after you take into consideration (a) the 3,900mm x 1,695mm x 1,525mm dimension and (b) relatively small 4.9m turning radius. Parking, be it parallel, reverse or head-first, is a cinch - somehow explaining why the fairer sex is so much in love with the Jazz.

Braking power is reassuring, all thanks to its four-channel disc brakes and 185-wide footwear. ABS and EBD also comes as a back up – just in case the braking is not enough.

You won’t go wrong with this one, that’s for sure. With so many of them running around, the Honda Jazz has become the Toyota Corolla of the compact hatch category. That’s not a bad thing though, as its popularity simply means parts will be widely available anywhere and will also hold down its value well.

If you’re still undecided which one to get – the 1.3 tested here or the bigger 1.5 – we strongly suggest you take a drive in both first. Trust me, you will realise that besides the on-paper figure, there really is not much difference between the two, performance-wise. While it’s nice to get the one with the bigger engine, is it really necessary? Factor in the price difference, road tax and insurance, and you will realise that the smaller 1.3 Jazz makes more sense.

For once, bigger doesn’t necessarily means better.

Credits: Story & pictures by Azfar Hashim