Nipping out in the fresh new Jazz.

It was good before, but it’s even better in its new, 2011-model incarnation. Honda's Jazz now features a sports styling makeover, stunning new colours and extra-value interior appointments... plus a top safety rating, courtesy of Honda’s acclaimed VSA electronic stability system.

Writes Graeme Meyer

A recent drive across Banks Peninsula to Akaroa for fish and chips on the waterfront not only demonstrated the changes in the car, but also reaffirmed the model’s great handling. The steep, winding highway between Little River and Akaroa twists and turns with hardly any straights between the corners, and challenges the balance, power and all-round handling of any car, both on the way up and on the equally tortuous descent. With three people aboard, the Jazz demonstrated poise through corners that rivalled or bettered many larger cars. Nor was this apparent only in the 35km/h hairpins of the hill section; it took the sweeping bends on the flat between Christchurch and Little River with equal aplomb.

In terms of driveability, the fivespeed auto model Jazz literally puts the power in your hands. If you feel like upping the fun quotient on a road like the Akaroa Highway, the racing inspired paddle-shifts will bring you alive with the road. Either activate the paddles for instant short-term manual control, or select S mode and the paddles give you fivespeed manual control, allowing you to balance the Jazz on the throttle through the corners rather than relying on the brakes. Because this allows the Jazz to sweep through the corners with minimal loss of momentum, it also improves fuel economy.

Equally though, you can leave the gearbox to its own clever devices. Honda’s gear-logic control automatically holds lower gears through corners, meaning the transmission is not forever hunting up and down through the ratios.

After enjoying the trip to Akaroa and finishing the fish and chips it became apparent on the leisurely return trip that the Jazz was built to accommodate anything its owners could ask of it, easily converting from a surprisingly roomy travelling vehicle into a Tardis-like cargo transporter. Making it back in time for a spot of shopping, we put the Jazz to the test by seeing how much we could fit into it.

This is one of the only cars on the market that lets you take your friends around in style and comfort, yet is also capable of carrying a 55-inch flat screen TV straight home from the shop in the box. It provides small car fun with almost truck-like versatility, a feature not found anywhere else in the car market.

Magic? Close to it. The model’s unique Magic Seat system has been designed to provide three-way options. The rear seats not only lie flat, but the seat squab also folds up to the seat back, providing an open space 1.3m high behind the front seats that allows for tall objects to be carried. The front passenger seat also lies backwards and combined with the 60/40 folding rear seat allows for large, long items to be carried, ideal for the weekend Kiwi DIYer.

With the price of fuel rocketing over two dollars per litre, people are looking at how they can be more fuel efficient, and the Jazz comes up trumps in a number of ways. You can be as frugal as you want when driving one. It comes in two thrifty engine sizes, 1.3L and 1.5L i-VTEC engines, both coupled with five-speed gearboxes. In the recent AA Energywise Rally, the Jazz won the Small Car class with a 5.27 l/100km economy in the manual.

The new Jazz models have been updated to deliver a more stylish and contemporary feel inside and out. All versions include different body styling, with the 1.5L Jazz Sport demonstrating a strong and sporty image with its sports body kit, while the 1.3S offers a more subtle sports styling. The 2011 range sees a number of vibrant new colours added to the exterior, including Fresh Lime Green, Sunset Orange and Storm Silver, all of which make a great personal statement out on the road. Both models include unique alloy wheels and rear sports spoiler, while the Sport model also adds front fog lights.

Inside, the design and layout is fresh and engaging. The dash is easy to read and the trip computer provides a wealth of information – including fuel economy, time travelled and fuel remaining through the multi information display. The interior features a lightly patterned blue-highlighted seating on the 1.3S and similarly patterned black interior on the Sport.

The interior is not wanting for features either and includes a host of gadgets to make driving the Jazz even more fun. Standard is a USB connection for iPod or USB stick integration, CD player, audio controls on the steering wheel, 10 cup holders, cruise control and auto air conditioning.

Building on Honda’s inherent safety development, the new Jazz is now fitted with electronic stability control and receives its deserved five-star EuroNCAP and ANCAP crash ratings. Also included on a comprehensive list of safety items are front and side airbags (with Occupant Position Detection System for the front passenger), side curtain airbags, plus seat belt reminders for all seats.

Take a fresh look at your next car. You would be doing yourself a disservice not to test drive the Honda Jazz. This car has it all – it’s stylish, sporty driving at its best, with plenty of space and outstanding fuel economy adding to the great value that only the Jazz can deliver. There were no complaints about the fish and chips either.

Book a test drive today.