Ah the Honda Jazz, a car thats a success in the UK despite Honda's best efforts.
I keep looking at the Jazz but 3 years up the road and having just tried the new 2012 model one, still not taking the jump.
Main issues.
Ride/steering. Dear Honda, can you actually make the damn thing handle and steer properly? If it's beyond your wit, ask any Honda ricer tuning mag and they'll tell you what to do to make it go right.
Interior. Oh come on Honda! You can do better than this! You've got <£10k trim quality in a car that costs >£15k!
Engines. Please! Can we have the 1.5! No excuses! You build the damn things in Swindon with the 1.5 engine for export! What's up Honda? You worried you'll scare people if you move the Jazz out of the pedestrian performance class in the UK?
Gearbox. Why no proper torque converter automatic for the UK? Same again, no excuses, you build Jazz's with a TC box for export in Swindon.
My wife loves her 2000 Honda Logo to bits, but it's getting on. After 11 years, I would expect the Honda Jazz to be offering something so much better. Better trim? Not particularly. Better engines? Not overly. Better gearbox's? CVT in the Logo seems fine. Better handling? Nope. Better steering? Nope. Quicker? No!
The Jazz is a bit more economical and has 5 doors, but that's about it - hardly a compelling sell. Offer it with a 1.5 engine and the sporty trim like the US spec Fits and we'd be talking turkey. Offer us the Fit RS and I'd write a cheque tomorrow.
Honda seem to be resolutely aiming the Jazz at the over 65's in the UK, unlike other markets were the car is aimed at a younger and more sporty inclined age group.