Louth Motors: Has the Honda Jazz lost its way in Ireland?

How did it happen that Honda’s cheapest car in Ireland, the Jazz, now starts at €31,495. That’s scary territory and maybe cars are heading the way of houses here in Ireland becoming increasingly unattainable for a lot of people.

The four model lineup has a peak price of €34,950 for the Sports Advance model I tested that gives additional equipment such as regenerative braking and deceleration control paddle, multiple drive modes (Econ, Sport and Normal), sports pedals, a leather steering wheel, rear spoiler and black front and rear bumpers.

All models have 1.5l hybrid engines fitted with a power output of 122 PS, a not insignificant amount. Compared to its immediately obvious competitor the Yaris, the differential is in and around €4k in favour of the Yaris.

Which goes some way to explaining why Toyota has sold 17 times more Yaris models than the 113 Jazz models so far this year.

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Some other competitors when you compare like-for-like powertrains and specifications are also in the above €30k territory which doesn't bode well for buyers/owners.

The Jazz I don't think has ever recaptured the imagination from its high of the original model which was a city car that shone with its functional, pleasant design.

The current design isn't the most inspiring but it is now firmly a small car that actually looks big. The A pillar got the designers touch with an acute angle line at the bottom of the window.

Other than that you would not be pointing out something you've noticed apart from the Honda badge which seems a lot bigger than before.

Having appeared to go up a size it makes the Jazz an option for more potential buyers which alas doesn't seem to have happened saleswise here.

The Jazz only comes with CVT drive which is a real pity as there is very little to match the enjoyment you get from a spirited small car with a slick manual gearbox. And whilst its necessary for hybrid drive, I feel Honda missed a trick not offering a manual which they do in other markets where it is marketed as a Fit.

The distracting thing about the CVT transmission, which is common from them all, is the disconcerting sound the engine makes compared to the progress it is making. This makes you think there is a disconnection between the wheels and engine.

It makes a bit too much noise when really pressed which I’d have expected Honda to have eliminated at the price point the car finds itself at.

But when you get used to how the engine and transmission performs it’s quite an able car off the motorway and around the bends.

It doesn't lean too much and the steering feel gives real and instant feedback compared to the engine experience feedback.

Being, and feeling, bigger you do get more comfort and the suspension setup is comfort orientated rather than sporty.

The combination of all these traits, for me, doesn't produce enough fun which bizarrely is something Honda is traditionally very good at delivering.

It feels like Honda is playing it very safe with the Jazz which is a bit of a missed opportunity because the sector needs that fun element.

Fuel economy which is the main reason for the hybrid engine and CVT transmission is good and I managed 4.9l/100km.

The interior is very pleasing in terms of materials and layout. I never had to hunt for a control because Honda laid them out logically and intuitively.

ABOVE: Interior of the Honda Jazz

With the amount of switches Honda gives you, resisting the temptation to make everything touch and menu controlled, it cements the easy-to-drive feeling you get in all Hondas.

The front passengers are afforded a decent amount of space as are the rear passengers - unless someone is sitting in the middle tight seat.

They sit on those wonderful Honda “Magic” seats whereby the seat base can fold up for a huge floor to ceiling height space as well as the back being able to fold flat.

It's an utter mystery why this isn't copied in every car as it is supremely practical and I’d nearly go so far as to say the price differential between it and the Yaris is worth it for them alone.

When folded flat the boot expands from 304 litres (marginally bigger than the 286litres in the Yaris) to an impressive 1,205 litres.

Back to the price, I wonder what Honda thinks of Citroen’s ability to deliver a new car for €22,600 in the shape of the new C3 that more or less matches the dimensions of the Jazz - albeit not a hybrid - that incidentally starts at €26,800? Citroen consistently delivers at very keen prices and does not seem to have had the price creep that Honda has allowed to have happened with the Jazz.

The same can be said for Suzuki, a more comparable competitor geographically, who with the Swift undercuts the Jazz in price considerably.

Honda’s reputation for reliability is legendary. In the most recent UK WhatCar survey, the Jazz ranked exceptionally well - just behind the premium brand Lexus, yet ahead of Toyota, which also scored highly.

That level of engineering excellence and dependability comes at a price, but it’s one many buyers are happy to pay.

Jazz owners are typically already loyal to the Honda brand, and for them the price difference is less important than the outstanding reliability, practicality, and engineering quality that Honda consistently delivers.

They may, however, be missing out on a more enjoyable and fun drive on offer from some of the competitors like the Renault Clio and the superb, all-electric Renault 5.