1.3 i-VTEC SE 5dr

Dependable, reliable, solid, practical but boring!

This Jazz is my fourth Honda and my second Jazz. (My original introduction to Hondas was a Civic, which was the point at which I became a Honda fan). My previous car was the quirky, delightful, head-turning CRZ, sold with great sorrow because the grandchildren outgrew the back seats. Something a bit odd has happened to the gearbox in my latest Honda. Once you get to third, I have no complaints. It's getting to third that frustrates me. I'd rather have a 5 speed box with low end grunt please. This car also has the least slick gearchange I have ever encountered in a Honda. It's very notchy.

That apart, I do have a couple of other gripes. I loathe the warning beeps when they are unnecessary. Driving down narrow Devon lanes, they are constantly sounding, triggered by my proximity to hedges, not oncoming vehicles. Having studied the handbook at length, I decided to disable some of them. However, when you do this, you get a warning light on the instrument display panel, which is irritating, to say the least. There is a strong element of the car trying to tell me how to drive. Not a good idea. It also has blind spots, so shoulder checks are essential. Devon hedges full of blackthorn are not kind to my bright blue paintwork. Please, why can't car manufacturers use dark primer, not white?

Comfort-wise, the seats are fine and getting in and out is easy. Boot space is fine and the Jazz has always been good at swallowing large loads, like chests of drawers, with the seats folded. Great if, like me, you buy furniture at auction.

The engine is quiet (at tickover you can't hear it), it's easy enough to park, in spite of the blind spots and I get good fuel economy - around 50mpg. Due to lockdown, I haven't had chance to take it on any long motorway runs or to my house in France, which are regular runs for me under normal circumstances. It's solidly built and there are no rattles, but it's not a driver's car in this spec. Oh, I do miss my CRZ!

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