Honda Jazz review

Let’s not beat around the bush: the Honda Jazz is expensive, costing more to buy outright than the Ford Fiesta, Peugeot 208 and Volkswagen Polo. However, it does come very well equipped as standard and is predicted to hold on to its value much better than most rivals, including the Toyota Yaris. 

The Jazz also did very well in our real-world True MPG test, although not quite as brilliantly as the Yaris. The Yaris also emits less CO2, although the Jazz beats just about every other rival on that score and is a relatively cheap company car because of it.

EX models benefit from a few more luxuries such as keyless entry and a heated steering wheel but are pricey, while the SUV-inspired Crosstar EX is super-expensive. The range-topping EX Style model brings 16in alloy wheels, a contrasting black roof and a bit of extra kit that includes a rear-view camera and blind-spot monitoring system, but for the same money you could have a well-equipped Seat Leon or Volkswagen Golf.

Honda finished a middling 14th (out of 30 manufacturers) in the 2021 What Car? Reliability Survey, above the likes of Ford, Peugeot and Volkswagen. Skoda was 12th and Toyota came joint fifth, so Honda isn't quite the reliability champion it once was.

Every Honda comes with a three-year warranty as standard for most parts, but the hybrid system in the Jazz is covered for up to five years or 90,000 miles. Kia beats that with a seven-year warranty as standard, and Hyundai and Renault give you five years of cover.