Overview

If you think a small car can’t be spacious, we recommend you look at the Honda Jazz. It might be compact on the outside, but it’s one of the roomiest superminis inside and has flexible rear seats allowing it to carry bulky items. It’s for this reason the Jazz competes with the best small family cars on interior space, but within the footprint of a supermini.

The Jazz has been a popular choice since its introduction in the early 2000s, building a loyal fanbase that appreciates its ease of use and practicality. Now in its fourth generation, the Jazz is sold purely as a self-charging hybrid, and is one of the best small cars in terms of fuel economy, with CO2 emissions barely above 100g/km and claimed economy in the low 60s mpg. Given Honda’s reputation for reliability as well, the Jazz is a thoroughly sensible choice.

Its most natural competitor is the Toyota Yaris, another super-efficient hybrid though not one blessed with a large interior. The Renault Clio is also available as a hybrid, and has just been updated. If you’re shopping on a budget, it’s worth looking at the new MG3, which is sold as a hybrid and significantly undercuts the Jazz on price Those just after a practical supermini should look at the Skoda Fabia, a 2023 Parkers Car of the Year award winner.

There are certainly options in that list that are more enjoyable to drive, but the Jazz doesn’t pretend to be fun or sporty. Soft suspension means it’s one of the comfiest cars in its class making long journeys a painless affair, especially given the impressive real-world economy and pleasant interior.

So, should you buy a Jazz over all its small car competitors? We’ve extensively driven the Jazz in the UK, including driving one for a few months for a long-term test. Read more about how we test cars at Parkers.

Stay with us over the next few pages to find out how it stacks up for space and practicality, how plush the interior is and how easy it is to use, safety, running costs and what it’s like to drive. Furthermore, we’ll tell you how the Jazz stacks up compared to the competition.

If you’d prefer to consume our opinions in a more visual fashion, we’ve also created a video review of the Honda Jazz. Scroll down to watch it.

Watch our Honda Jazz video review