KEY POINTS:
Honda's Jazz has always been the small car of choice if you half need a minivan.
A bit of sleight of hand, the seats tucked away, and virtually the whole cabin became a stylish cargo carrier.
Yet driving pleasure fell by the wayside in the process, and subsequent tweaks did little to address that.
But this latest Jazz is a vast improvement. It's still a clever cargo-carrier _ better, perhaps, now it's longer and wider.
The seats still swivel-fold flat with a flick of the wrist, turning the already decent 384-litre boot into an astonishing 1321 litre-capacity one. But it's a lot better to drive - if not as nimble as some of this hotly competitive class.
My test variant is the Jazz Sport, one of several versions designed to attract those downsizing. Boss says you can't have a Civic? Buy a Jazz with leather seats, says Honda.
The Sport is fitted with the 1.5-litre engine, with more power than before, mated to a five-speed auto - which addresses another complaint about the old car and its CVT transmission. It was sluggish.
But there's a downside to a conventional auto, and this Jazz is a tad thirstier. That's a price you'll gladly pay for the perky power delivery and keen response to the throttle. It's still no race car but at least it's no longer Valium on wheels.
Fortunately this car has larger wheels and an enhanced suspension to match its new energy. It's still not racy - the steering feels a touch vague at times and there's a strict limit to how spirited an approach you can take to corners.
However, that limit's more generous then before, and the handling compromise you paid for practicality seems much more reasonable this time around, especially since the car's so well thought out.
The cabin's packed with neat little touches, from the plentiful cup holders to the extra glovebox and the under-seat cubbies; from the iPod and USB ports to the bag hooks in the boot, to the fact you no longer need a tool to access the child-seat tether points.
It's not all good news, of course. Although there are six airbags, ABS brakes and a multi-function trip, there's no stability control - and the price has risen, and inevitably will rise further unless exchange rates stabilise.
To those now used to cheaper fare this Jazz Sport's $28,700 price tag will feel a tad steep; suddenly the three grand step to the entry-level Civic may not feel so hard to climb.
Jazz 1.5 Sport
We like: Practicality, well thought-out cabin, much-improved handling and performance.
We don't like: Keen drivers need not apply; Honda's ahead in the small car price tables.
Powertrain: 1.5-litre i-VTEC, 88kW @ 6600rpm, 145Nm @ 4800 rpm, five-speed auto drives front wheels.
Performance: 0-100km/h not available; fuel 6.7/100kms (claimed)
Safety: Six airbags, ABS brakes, child-proof rear locks
What it's got: Air conditioning, leather trim, steering wheel audio and cruise control, MP3 compatible, USB and aux jacks.
Vital stats: 3920mm long, 384-1321 boot volume, 42-litre tank.
- HERALD ON SUNDAY
