Here is what it said:
15 May 2021
HONDA JAZZ AND JAZZ CROSSTAR
The complete hatchback? Maybe Honda’s Jazz is that car. Customer loyalty is strong. Now there’s choice between Jazz and its Crosstar spinoff. They share the same economical 1.5 litre petrol engine and selfcharging electrical hybrid assistance and single-speed automatic gearbox. Total power is 108bhp with 185 lb ft of instant torque from the two electric motors.
The model differences are slight. The Crosstar rides a little higher, has wheel arch and sill protection, a different wheel design and a normal radiator grille instead of the Jazz’s rather blank face. Integrated roof rails add to the SUV theme. The furnishings are water repellent. There is a better hi-fi with extra speakers. Capping it off is a two-tone paint finish. Our demo car was black over surf blue.
Performance and economy vary only slightly depending on model, with the Crosstar paying for its bulkier personality. You should expect around 60 miles a gallon and on our tests there was nothing to choose. Both passed the 60mpg mark over our regular hilly country ride, 50mpg on short shopping runs, 62mpg commuting and so on. Indeed the Crosstar shone with 71mpg on a gentle 40-mile intercity route.
Prices for the regular Jazz start at £18,985 for the SE, then £20,585 for the SR and £22,185 for the EX, as tested. The Crosstar is sold only in EX specification, at £23,385. That is
The Honda Jazz, left, and its Crosstar spin-off, right, share the same economical 1.5l petrol engine and hybrid assistance. a £1,200 premium over the Jazz EX, or just over £20 a month more on a three-year PCP deal at £251. That will be tempting if you want the EX grades, which have navigation built in, but note you can get the entry Jazz for £179 a month.
These self-charging hybrids are a major stepping stone to the allelectric future in the next ten years. They need no fuel other than petrol, with the electric batteries being charged whenever you use the car. They are in fact the original hybrid system, pioneered 20 years ago by Honda and Toyota. These days we call them self-charging to avoid confusion with the plug-in hybrid, which relies on mains electricity to fill its batteries to reach well over 100mpg.
The Jazz needs no introduction at all to Honda drivers. Since 2001 it has been a sensible, fuss-free and roomy family hatchback, favouring utility and reliability over sprinting thrills. It features Honda’s uniquely folding rear seats. They can be folded forwards or, the “magic” bit, the bases can be lifted up to fit against the backrest. This creates a very large, secure storage well, measuring 30 inches by 55 inches at its base. Then there is the boot proper, and under the floor a surprise bin for muddy boots or hiding stuff from villains.
As for the 0-62 thing, the Jazz does that in less than 10 seconds.
Its intermediate acceleration benefits from the electric torque but the elephant in the room is hard to avoid. While the single step gearbox is smooth it gets very noisy whilst revving. The elephant under the room is tyre drumming and bump interference. The Jazz was on 185/55/16 Yokohama BluEarth and the Crosstar had fatter Dunlop 185/60/16 Enasave. Of the two, the Crosstar had the edge for ride refinement.
Jazz and Crosstar are completely new. Making its debut is an airbag which inflates between the front seats to avoid driver and passenger banging heads in a collision. There are nine other airbags. All models have climate control, an adaptive speed limiter and cruise control, traffic sign recognition, selfdipping, automatic headlamps, automatic wipers, powered and heated door mirrors, lane departure warning and crash sensing with emergency braking.
The SR adds part-leather trim, parking sensors, wireless smart phone connection and a nineinch touchscreen with connected services such as finding parking, the weather and so on. Honda has fitted the Jazz with a lane-departure system which tugs the steering if the car wanders off line or crosses lanes without the driver indicating.
This fail-safe system can be irritating but is one of the reasons why the Jazz gets high marks in the EuroNcap crash safety tests. Both can be switched off but are always back on duty when you re-start the engine.
The EX grade extras include a rear camera, Garmin navigation, a heated leather wheel and front seats, larger alloys and blind spot information.
As an everyday drive the Jazzes are easy to use. A padded fascia looks friendly and is book-ended by drop-in pods. The cabin is equipped with plenty of other storage areas and with 12v and USB sockets plus two USB in the rear. Space is possibly unrivalled in this Fiestasized class, particularly for all the headroom and leg space in the back. The door apertures and widemouthed opening makes entry and exit easier for large or less agile men and women.
Visibility is helped by the deep windows and for the driver by the slender roof pillars which take the windscreen down the bonnet. There are stouter main roof supports above the door hinges.
From the outside, the Crosstar gets most looks and its two-tone paint may steal your heart, though not mine. I’d take the Jazz SE.
■ Verdict: Sensible, pleasant, economical and functional.
■ It is: two versions, hatchback and SUV-lite Crosstar sharing the frontwheel-drive chassis, a 1.5 petrol engine and electric twin motors. Crosstar rides an inch higher.
■ Price: From £18,895 for the Jazz SE to £23,385 for the Crosstar EX.
■ Size: Length 159 inches (4metres).
■ Economy: Jazz SE/SR 62.8mpg, 102g CO2.
■ 0-62mph: 9.4 seconds.
