Jazz hits high note

By DAVID LINKLATER

Big-car values in a small-car package: that's the aim of Volkswagen, Honda and Citroen in a new trio of superminis for 2002.

If any small hatchback deserves the mantle of little luxury car it's the VW Polo.

Launched in New Zealand last week, the fourth-generation Polo is larger than the previous model inside and out.

But the key to the diminutive Dub's appeal is the outstanding quality of build and materials. In no way does it feel like a $25,990 hatchback.

It's not just about equipment - although the new Polo has gained semi-climate control air conditioning, remote locking and an alarm-immobiliser system over the old car and also features a height/reach-adjustable steering wheel and height-adjustable front seats.

There's substance there, too. The Polo's body is laser welded for extra stiffness, resulting in improved handling and excellent refinement, while large body panels and narrow joint dimensions add to the executive-car impression. You expect a quality cabin in any new VW, but there's no way you could take the Polo's luxurious ambience for granted.

There are a variety of textures on the dashboard and centre console, the fit and finish is superb and the controls are beautifully simple.

The VW's carryover 55kW 1.4-litre engine is a modest performer and packaging is nothing special, but for the touchy feely, quality-conscious driver there's nothing like it for the money. Or even a lot more money.

Honda's Jazz, due in New Zealand in August, plays the big-car game in a different way: it provides huge cabin space via an innovative interior layout.

The Jazz will be one of the shortest cars in the class, but Honda has located the fuel tank in the centre of the car and utilised a compact torsion beam suspension at the rear to create a low, near-flat floor.

The rear seating features a four-stage set-up called Utility Long Tall Refresh. In Utility mode the backrests fold forward to create a 1720mm-long flat load space.

The Long set-up also reclines the front passenger seat completely, allowing 2400mm-long cargo to be carried.

In Tall configuration the rear squab and seatbacks sandwich together to form two partitioned load areas with 1280mm of load height. Finally and most conveniently, Refresh converts the front and rear seats into a bed. Power comes from Honda's new 1.3-litre i-DSI (intelligent Dual and Sequential Ignition) powerplant with two spark plugs for each cylinder, which fire together or sequentially depending on the driving conditions.

The use of low-friction materials result in fuel economy 15 per cent superior to conventional 1.3-litre petrol units.

Automotive News drove the car in Japan last year and found it fun and lively. The engine is responsive and strong under load, while steering and handling are superior to the larger Civic.

In September comes the Citroen C3, with the emphasis on style. Forget about your basic two-box profile - the C3 pays homage to the classic 2CV, with a curvy roofline, outrageously tall mid-section and clamshell bonnet.

The Euro-chic attitude continues in the cabin, with digital instruments, idiosyncratic console shapes and alloy-look plastics. Citroen New Zealand is likely to import two models: a 55kW 1.4-litre in both manual and automatic and an 80kW 1.6-litre with the choice of manual or Tiptronic shift.

Sadly, a new 1.4-litre diesel co-developed with Ford isn't likely to make it here due to fuel quality concerns.