The new Jazz is here!
As the latest incarnation of Honda’s supermini rolls off the production line, here are five ways that it’s even better than the last three versions
The new engine
The 2015 Jazz features an all-new 1.3litre, double overhead cam i-VTEC engine. It’s smaller, which results in a lighter car, which of course results in better handling without a heavy lump pulling the car every which way, and better fuel economy.
Help with your driving
Honda’s Agile Handling Assist is now standard on the Jazz. So if you take a corner a wee bit faster than it turns out was seemly, AHA gives your rear, nearside wheel a kiss of brake, pulling the car into the turn and making you look more expert than you are.
There’s also a raft of safety features now standard on most Jazzes. They include City Brake Active System, rear view camera, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, high beam support system and emergency stop signal. Basically, you are going to have to try quite hard to have a prang in this car.
Intelligent speed limited
This is a form of cruise control that you can set to an upper limit. So you can ease off if traffic slows, but with just a touch of right foot and you’ll speed up to your chosen top speed. Perfect for those average speed cameras, for instance.
Brilliantly, you can link this to the Jazz’s new (and suspiciously clever) traffic sign recognition, so the car will limit your top speed to the current limit as read by the intelligent camera just above the rear view mirror.
It’s got Honda Connect
Every Jazz bar the entry level model, has Honda’s new, 7-inch infotainment system screwed in. This touch screen, app based system built on the Android platform, offers internet browsing and you can connect your smartphone via USB, MirrorLink, wifi or Bluetooth. Plus, under the front arm rest is an HDMI to connect smartphones, DVD players and such.
Relaxation mode
One of the almost 300 different seating configurations is the new-to-Jazz relaxation mode. Pop off the front passenger head-rest, then that seat folds completely flat, giving the seat behind more leg room than even Usain Bolt could hope to use. Bring a flask of tea and a crossword and this is the comfiest car of all time.
