Honda Jazz 2019 Review

There's no denying that the Honda Jazz does a pretty good job of meeting the demands of just about anyone who is in the market for a light-class hatchback.

A packaging standout among its peers, which include Hyundai's segment-leading Accent, the second best-selling Mazda2 and the redoubtable Suzuki Swift, the cleverly-designed 2019 Honda Jazz has always amazed with its internal space, while doing a solid job in terms of road-going dynamics, equipment levels and fuel economy.

Here we take a look at the second-rung Honda Jazz VTi-S, which sneaks ahead of most of its similarly-priced rivals with recently-introduced standard niceties such as sat-nav, 7.0-inch touch-screen audio and projector-beam LED headlights.

The Honda Jazz opens bidding at $14,990 before on-road costs for the base VTi, moving up to $19,990 for the VTi-S and maxing out at $22,990 for the VTi-L.

There's a degree of personalisation with such things as a Protection Pack which avoids scuffing-up or vulnerable areas such as the boot, floors, bonnet and rear bumper/boot sill, while there are numerous garnishings such as “sports” floor pedals, side window shades, front and rear mudguards and load-extending roof racks.

Although Honda's five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty is lineball with most competitors, the Jazz is not the best in an ongoing sense with six-month / 10,000km servicing intervals. In part compensation, there's a “Tailored Service Program” that applies for the first five years from initial registration.

Seven years of roadside assist is available, but only as a part of an extra-cost program.

With its Magic Seats rear-seat folding that ends up providing an extraordinary 1314 litres of total luggage space – plus a generous 354-litre boot – on top of expansive head and legroom throughout, the Jazz is something of an exemplar in its segment.

Backing that up is an interior that emits a certain sense of style and quality, with a surprising array of soft-touch surfacing and a conventional instrument display/control layout that generally draws favourable reactions… Apart from some frustrating complexities setting up the Bluetooth, slightly clunky touchscreen functionality, a lack of voice control, and the provision of just one USB outlet.

No unexpectedly, rear passengers get neither air venting, nor a centre armrest, but at least there are pockets behind the front seats.

The Jazz drives with competence. There's an acceptably-absorbent, light-car ride, the steering is appropriately weighted and responsive and the 88kW/145Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine works in well with the continuously variable transmission (CVT) to deliver reasonable pep and good fuel economy.

As tested we managed 6.1L/100km over a week of driving (close to the official 5.9L/100km, although admittedly including a certain amount of freeway work).

Updated towards the end of 2017 with revised front and rear styling – and the previously-mentioned uplifting of equipment levels in VTi-S and VTi-L grades – the Honda Jazz is available across Australia.

With its standout packaging and fuss-free driveability the Honda Jazz offers a bit more than your average light-class hatchback. Four adults can be piled on board without testing the limits of affability and the Magic Seats will unleash a whole lot of load space when needed.

The Jazz is capable of almost doubling as a mini delivery van. It provides the sort of space you can imagine being used by art teachers wanting to load large picture frames, plus all the accoutrements of the craft.

But don't consider a Honda Jazz if you've got some towing to do: The quoted, braked capacity of 800kg tends to follow behind the class-leaders and places big limitations of what you can expect to hook up. No real surprises there.

The Honda's lack of autonomous emergency braking (AEB) puts it in arrears of Mazda2 Maxx and Suzuki Swift GL+.

Although it is rated with five ANCAP stars, the safety-tech rollcall – apart from the usual stability control, ABS braking, stability control, rear-view camera and six airbags – pretty much draws a solid blank: No lane-departure warning, no blind-spot monitoring and no rear cross-traffic alert to help the driver better manage the increasingly strident demands of the road.

The Honda Jazz rates as perhaps the most pragmatic choice for those needing a compact hatchback that will perform a broad range of luggage-carrying functions without too much compromising.

The fact you can step into a baseline Jazz for less than $15,000 is going to mean a lot, too.

But if you demand the latest in safety technology, it's an unfortunate fact that you'll need to look elsewhere.

How much does the 2019 Honda Jazz VTi-S 2019 cost?
Price: $19,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol
Output: 88kW/145Nm
Transmission: Continuously variable
Fuel: 5.9L/100km (ADR Combined); 6.4L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 135g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP (2014)