Car Statistics: Honda - Jazz Series 08 (4 stars)

Styling (3 stars)

It's been given a refresh inside and out, and exterior improvements such as racier-looking nose, and a wider track have given it a sportier appearance. However it lacks the visual drama of the new Ford Fiesta.

Handling (3 stars)

The Jazz has been designed for practicality over dynamic prowess. That said, suspension tweaks have improved cornering, whilst at speed the car feels solid. Its spaciousness does work against it here as the extra body height induces a bit more body roll than some rivals.

Comfort (4 stars)

There's plenty of room for four adults to sit comfortably in the Jazz and the ride and engines are much more refined than in the previous version. Road and wind noise is not overly intrusive and at idle, the engines are almost silent.

Quality (3 stars)

The interior will suit some but not others. The materials are not the best and the quality does fall short of others in this class. However the little Honda should run very soundly; reliability is unlikely to be an issue.

Performance (3 stars)

The lack of a diesel engine - or a more torquey petrol unit - is disappointing as the engine options are very limited. The 1.2 will feel sluggish under a full load, whilst the 1.4 with 100bhp is decent, but lacks any real shove. Engines need to be revved to get the most out of them.

Roominess (5 stars)

The main appeal of the Jazz is the amount of space inside. There's plenty of head and leg room, whilst the wider track offers more elbow room than before. The excellent rear folding seats are easier to operate and there's a useful dual-trunk system in the 1.4 too.

Costs (4 stars)

The Jazz should be relatively cheap to run as both engines offer over 50mpg. Insurance groups are fairly low - bands 4 and 5 - whilst servicing should be pretty reasonable. CO2 of 125g/km for the 1.2 and 128g/km for the 1.4 puts the Jazz in VED band D.

Value (3 stars)

It's a pricier alternative to other cars in its class, but view the Jazz as a mini-MPV against the likes of the Nissan Note and Ford Fusion, and it feels competitive. There's a decent level of equipment and it certainly provides plenty of space for your pennies.

Stereo (3 stars)

The stereo is a competent bit of kit and comes with an Aux port and MP3 compatability. Sat Nav is an expensive in-dash option, or alternatively buyers can opt for a sat nav docking station on the top of the instrument panel.