It is easy to see why Honda's Jazz is popular: It is zippy yet frugal, compact yet roomy and endowed with a clever design that lends itself to a host of dress-up possibilities.
The second-generation car is largely an improvement. The biggest step up must be the extra interior space that comes with a 50mm extension to the wheelbase.
At 2,500mm, the wheelbase of the new Jazz is the most generous in its segment, an honour it shares with the Mitsubishi Colt.
The new car is noticeably larger, with upsized headlamps so big, they almost merge with the A-pillars.
A more rakish windscreen, a raised and shorter snout, sportier character lines on the bonnet, pronounced front air dam and an edgier side profile make the latest Jazz quite a contemporary looker.
The car is just as pleasing inside. The higher variants (there are eight to choose from) come with a factory-fitted centre console, with the top of the range featuring an enormous sunroof.
Fit and finish are excellent for what is essentially a mass market hatch. The middle seat in the second row even gets a three-point restraint.
Other new features include a sturdy parcel shelf, reclinable rear seats, sizeable front-quarter windows (for better visibility), a host of cubby holes for knick-knacks and no shortage of strategically placed drink-holders.
The most radical change, however, must be the floor. It no longer has a completely flat floor at the back - the pride of the first generation. Honda is said to have included a hump to improve its rigidity.
On the go, the new model is just as nippy. Its larger dimensions have translated to a slight weight penalty but this is compensated by the beefier power plants - 1.3-litre 100bhp or 1.5-litre 120bhp.
The 1.5 model tested thrives on higher revs though. Pity, since engine noise starts to intrude at around 3,000rpm.
The car gets disc brakes all round this time. The stopping is clearly comfort- biased most of the time but when the need arises, stomping on the pedal will anchor down the car convincingly.
The best part about a vehicle this size is its manoeuvrability. Combined with a light but tight steering, the Jazz weaves through traffic like a motorbike with a roof.
The most amazing bit is the Jazz does not feel like a small car. It is not the least claustrophobic and not the least weedy in the way it rides or presents itself.
The car retains the cabin versatility of its predecessor. Fold-flat rear and front seats, rear seats that can be lifted and a wide boot section allow the car to swallow everything from a bicycle (wheels intact) to a surfboard to tall potted plants.
HONDA JAZZ 1.5 S SKYROOF
Engine: 1,496cc 16-valve inline-4 Transmission: Five-speed automatic with paddle shift Power: 120bhp at 6,600rpm Torque: 145Nm at 4,800rpm 0-100 kmh: 11.7 seconds Top speed: 180kmh Fuel consumption: 6.7 litres/100km (city-highway) Distributor: Kah Motor Price: $69,500 with COE
It does pretty much what its predecessor could do but its oneupmanship has to be with the sharper styling, the extra legroom and the higher equipment level.
The only downside has to do with the cost. The new Jazz comes at a time when the Japanese yen is sky-high. Would you believe that the test car has an open- market value of $21,000? That is as much as a premium grade Toyota Wish MPV and more than a Volkswagen Beetle.
This article was first published in The Straits Times on Nov 22, 2008.
