SINGAPORE'S best-selling hatchback looks set to scale even greater sales heights next year. The Honda Jazz, which is called the Fit in Japan, is now roomier and even more fuel-efficient.

This mini hatch with the versatile interior has grown 55 mm longer to 3,900 mm, and 20 mm wider at 1,695 mm. Its height remains unchanged at 1,525 mm, primarily because the new Fit needs to continue using Japan's automated multi-storey parking facilities.

The wheelbase has increased 50 mm to a credible 2,500 mm but with the turning radius maintained. As a result, the cabin is now as spacious as a mid-sized car. The interior feels wider (Honda even carved out the door panels for better elbow room) and rear legroom has also improved.

More significantly, the change in dashboard design is nothing short of seismic. From what used to be boringly conventional, it is now closer to smoothly organic. And while the materials used in the cabin are still mostly hard plastic, they are not inferior to the old model's.

They also feel less cheap and more acceptable than other cars in its class.

Another feature which stands out in the interior - its 10 cupholders. The ones in the door pockets are big enough to carry bottles while some are lined so you can keep things like coins too.

The two engines available - the 1.3-litre i-VTEC with 100 PS and the 1.5 i-VTEC with 120 PS - have also been uprated. For example, the 1.3 has an extra 14 PS but it has also managed to benefit from Honda's emphasis on fuel efficiency.

In the drive department, the biggest improvements are to the ride quality and steering feel. Rear seat passengers who used to complain about bounciness will find that this has been ironed out and the ride, smoother. Among other things, the rear suspension has been completely revised and the rear seat cushions are now thicker.

The electronic power steering is also more powerful to make it feel meatier and steering more communicative.

What Honda has essentially done with the Fit/Jazz is to push the boundaries and improve on those aspects which were found wanting in the old model, rather than developing an all-new car.

So should you buy the Fit, a Japan domestic model (JDM), from a parallel importer now or wait for the authorised Jazz from Kah Motor, which will be in the showroom in March 2008 with expected delivery in the third quarter?

Apart from warranty issues, there are other major differences between the Fit and the Jazz, which will come in two versions - a Jazz 1.3 and Jazz 1.5 S (the latter has a body kit and 16-inch alloy wheels).

For one, the Jazz will have a five-speed automatic gearbox - the first in its class - equipped with steering-mounted paddle shifters.

This is because under Euro 4 development, Honda has equipped the export version with an auto gearbox instead of the continuously variable transmission. This development has resulted in the delay for authorised importers like Kah Motor but there is a silver lining.

As the Singapore car is being developed alongside the European Jazz, this means higher crash safety, plus higher braking capacity because of larger front brakes and rear disc brakes - as opposed to rear drums on the JDM car. For some, that will certainly be worth the wait.