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It's not often a new car comes out with a higher fuel economy figure than its predecessor.
But Honda's addressing criticisms of the outgoing Jazz _ over-relaxed performance, for starters _ which means a touch more urge and a conventional auto in place of the more frugal CVT continuously variable transmission.
What's new?This is the first car on Honda's new global small car platform, and it tucks the fuel tank centrally and beneath the cabin. That's safer in the event of a crash, sits the weight low and gave the car's designers more room to move.
This is a longer, wider car, with clever cabin design making the most of the extra space.
There's more power _ 22 per cent on the 1.3-litre and 9 per cent for the 1.5-litre _ and there's that auto transmission, with steering wheel paddles filched from the Civic, and the first five-speeder in the class. Whack the car into sports mode, and you'll immediately notice an uptake in power.
Inside, the newly-designed dash is smart and easy to navigate, with the items most often used sited closest to hand. It's easy to get comfy; there's reach as well as angle adjust for the steering wheel, and height adjust for the driver seat.
At 384 litres with the seats in use, the boot's as roomy as the much bigger Ford Fiesta's, while the clever folding rear pews are easier to use, and turn this city runabout into a magically capacious mini-van with enough cubbies, slots and pockets to lose a kindergarten in.
The new body has been designed to maximise the view out. It comes with larger wheels, a stiffer body, suspension changes _ even the little touches look good. Forget expensive iPods _ load songs on to a flash drive and plug that in. Simple.
The company lineHonda's prices are up across the board, with Jazz rising 7 per cent to start at $22,000. Honda NZ MD Graeme Seymour says higher prices are inevitable given exchange rate moves, but "in real terms cars are cheaper _ despite their much higher spec _ than they were 10 years ago".
What we sayJazz was always the small car you bought to carry lots of guff, and that doesn't change. It's more useful for kids now _ the child seat's tether points no longer need a screwdriver to access, and the clever ratcheting seatbelt offers greater child seat security.
Meanwhile it's a smarter-looking car that feels more spacious than it is, and the cabin's a pleasant place to be.
On the roadThis Jazz is immediately more confident than the outgoing car, and a lot keener to perform. But it still won't please an enthusiastic driver. The electric power steering lacks feel, and despite the improved suspension and larger wheels Jazz doesn't reward a vigorous approach to bends.
But it is a much better all-round proposition now, combining all its practical advantages with handsome looks inside and out and reasonable open road performance.
Why you'll buy oneThis is a clever little car, packed with useful features, and nice little extras like the instant and average fuel readout, the MP3 and USB ports. And you no longer pay for its versatility with poor open road performance.
Why you won'tYou want a keen corner carver or more grown-up looks.
