Honda Jazz CVT 2003 Review

When Honda's engineers and designers really put on their thinking caps to build an all-new model, you can usually be assured that it is going to have something unique that sets it apart from the crowd. For apart from the conservative me-too models like the Accord and Legend, Honda has a tradition of delivering cars that offer something different. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but by and large, Honda can't be criticised for a lack of trying.

Cars like the original CRX, the NSX - Japan's only super car - and the two-seater soft-top S2000, which manages to squeeze nearly 180kW out of a naturally-aspirated 2.0-litre engine, were simply built to be driven. Stylish or clever designs like the fourth generation Prelude or Odyssey people mover have also gained their share of fans, and in terms of delivering what the people want - despite its four-wheel drive deficiencies - few cars have done it like the CR-V.

So when it came to launching a new, small entry-level car to fill the gap left by the ever bigger and more expensive Civic, Honda looked carefully at the emerging trends around the world, particularly in Europe, and came up with its own interpretation that in many ways does it better.

Like many of the new small cars such as the Mazda2 and Hyundai Getz, the Jazz is a relatively boxy and upright five-door hatch with a design that has been developed with a form to follow function platform. This is a very functional small car and the packaging is probably its greatest strength.

Step into the driver's seat and there is a wide dash with simple easy-to-use switchgear to control the standard air-conditioning - in our mid-spec $22,290 VTi CVT test car - and in-dash CD sound system. Little storage areas abound with a shelf and glove box in front of the passenger, a deep tray and two cupholders forward of the gearshift and decent-sized door bins. Other standard kit includes power windows and mirrors, remote locking, dual front airbags and ABS.

But it's when you look behind the front seats that the cleverness starts to become apparent. For passengers there is plenty of head and legroom - although three adults across would be an uncomfortable squeeze. The small doors also open wide for easy access.

If carrying people in the back is not your caper, then the rear seat is split 60/40. Nothing too unusual in that, except that the seat base also slides forward - via the latch at the top of the back seat - and the whole arrangement falls flat to the floor, creating a long, 1.7m flat cargo area right to the rear hatch. If you raise the seat back, the seat base comes with it, leaving a vertical area stretching to nearly 1.3m.

Added to the versatility is a front passenger back that lays right back, all up giving the Jazz a potential 1323 litres of cargo space.

Honda offers two engines in the Jazz: a base 1.3-litre and the 1.5-litre four-cylinder unit in our test car. It uses Honda's acclaimed VTEC system, and generates 81kW of power and 143Nm of torque. It is a very smooth and refined engine, offering more than enough urge to get the little 1050kg Jazz off the line and into motion.

For our test we chose the automatic continuously-variable transmission (CVT-7), which adds $2300 to the price of the manual VTi. It is trademark CVT-smooth, and features three driving modes - D, S, and L - which we presume stand for drive, sport and low.

The transmission quickly allows the engine to spin its way to the higher rev band where, courtesy of the VTEC system, the most torque resides. Floor the right foot in L and it quickly spins to about 4200rpm and will happily sit there, albeit at the expense of quiet running and fuel consumption. The S mode is a little less forceful, but will still keep the revs hovering over 3000 on the move, while the D is easiest and most fuel conscious for unhurried urban cruising.

In the VTEC models, the CVT also has a seven-speed setting which allows you to manually select electronically-controlled "ratios" via buttons on the steering wheel. We're not to sure about the value of this, because the Jazz certainly doesn't possess the chassis dynamics to make you want to drive it with any great enthusiasm.

The turning circle may be tight, but the steering is vague, and there is fair degree of roll in the body when cornering at more than sedate speeds.

But that is not to say that the suspension is soft - because it isn't, resulting in a ride quality that is also less than impressive. It's okay over smooth roads but hit even a moderate rut or pothole and the Jazz jolts and jumps with harsh reverberations.

As a versatile funky little runabout, the Jazz is blessed with excellent packaging, with a solid and smooth driveline. No one is likely to want to drive it like a sports car, so the handling deficiencies probably aren't too much of a problem - but over time the ordinary ride quality may become annoying.