Description
What is it?
This is the world’s most left-brain small car – the thinking family’s supermini that thinks it’s a much bigger car. It’s now well into its fourth generation and remains as unbelievably roomy, versatile, easy to get in and out of, and economical as ever. The latter trait thanks to a whizzy hybrid system as standard.
It does make the range seem narrow – one engine, one power output, one transmission. The curveball is the Crosstar model (just say it quickly, don’t read it too closely) with raised suspension, a bit of plastic on the body, roof rails and fancy water-repellent seat fabrics for all those lifestyle activities like surfing that owners will doubtless get up to.
What’s the inside like?
The interior is very impressive, unless you’re a diehard Jazz fan from previous generations. You sit nice and upright, like in an MPV, the fuel tank is squirrelled away under the front seats and this frees up a load of space under the rear bench. You can hide your shopping down there, or the back seat bases fold up to create a large space behind the front seats.
There’s a bit of influence from the Honda e on the dashboard, if you screw your eyes up a bit. It’s a pleasant interior, much sharper than we’ve seen from the company in the past. Simple, straight lines and some nicely textured padding.
