Thinking about my next car

[Pine]

I am thinking of changing my car and will only be considering a small hybrid.  So I think my choice is between Toyota Yaris, MG3 or Honda Jazz but I am open to other suggestions.  Should I be put off by the emerging Jazz brake problem?  Also how is the Jazz at motorway speeds, I am thinking of comfort, noise and power up hills as several times a year I travel from Devon to Bristol and back. 

[Kremmen]

I wouldn't touch a China car with a bargepole, just don't trust them

The Jazz will be fine up hills. 1.5 engine with a powerful electric boost ...... or a powerful electric motor with a 1.5 ICE boost

The latest Jazz models will have the properly manufactured brake simulator

[Lincolnshire Rambler]

We have done from north lincolnshire to the bottom of cornwall in a day in jazz using motorway full of holiday luggage . The seats are very well designed and are comfortable for all day use . The ride is even better with a load on board and the performance on the motorway is as you want it to be - if you want to get a move on in the outside lane it will easily cope . If more typically you want to go at 70ish then you travel quietly . And you can easily pass tbe lines of Electric cars tailgating behind lorries at 60 as they mitigate their range anxieties… and the simulator failure is only for the first batch of honda across a few models

[Tombola]

If you often carry rear seat passengers I would avoid the Yaris,it's not roomy and the rear doors don't open very wide and the Yaris Cross I had was very noisy,the engine had a constant drone which was annoying, lots of wind and road noise, poor sound insulation, tinny bodywork, I would pick a Jazz over the two options you mentioned and I am confident that the brake issues will now have been sorted on new orders, the only advantage with an MG is the purchace price   

[Lincolnshire Rambler]

I think the jazz has little wind noise in comparison to the Yaris cross as the jazz has a shallower angle so doesnt have as much drag around the windscreen pillars . All the toyota and lexus hybrids use a different way of connecting the petrol engine into the drive train . Honda make the petrol engine follow a simulated drop down in revs to emulate a gear change which is an attempt to move away from how old CVT g boxes used to operate . Toyota and lexus dont do that , yet

[Tombola]

I think the jazz has little wind noise in comparison to the Yaris cross as the jazz has a shallower angle so doesnt have as much drag around the windscreen pillars . All the toyota and lexus hybrids use a different way of connecting the petrol engine into the drive train . Honda make the petrol engine follow a simulated drop down in revs to emulate a gear change which is an attempt to move away from how old CVT g boxes used to operate . Toyota and lexus dont do that , yet

When I still owned a Yaris Cross I test drove a Jazz Crosstar with a view to PX the Yaris, the Jazz was far better to drive in every way, quieter,more comfort and interior room, unfortunately the dealer fell short on the PX, I got a better deal on a VW TCross which I have now traded for a Jazz, can't wait for delivery day. That said, Toyota Hybrids are very reliable (as is the Honda's) just wish they were more refined to drive   

[NoelM]

I moved away from Honda last September. Now have Renault Clio eSpirit Alpine. No issues whatsoever much quieter than the Jazz. Seats more comfortable. Little room in the back though and no magic seats. Fantastic value for money compared to the overpriced Jazz 

[olduser1]

Drive each car on your list for 30+ mins over familiar roads. Whichever takes your fancy bargain like mad, no one is buying cars at the moment. Don't fail to check the car via vehicle score or similar if buying used. I would personally avoid any vehicle made after 2005. Enjoy your new car.

[Cobb2]

Hi Pine, I have a 2020 Jazz  which has had the brake simulator changed for free and I am now expecting it to last several more years with little trouble. As far as hills are concerned this mark 4 model is much better at hill climbing than earlier models and if you know Telegraph Hill on the A380 dual carriageway in Devon it had no trouble recently smoothly climbing that hill and overtaking several other cars. To be honest I was surprised how good it was compared to some larger engined cars that I have driven up it. It is very quiet and relaxed on motorways and the engine will only occasionally  become louder if asked to suddenly accelerate aggressively and perhaps on a very steep hill. On that particular journey to Devon (about 130 miles) it averaged about 62-64 mpg mainly driving on A roads at 55-60mph and some dual carriageways at around 70mph. It can actually be even more economical in town traffic where the EV is often running more than the engine. However, as already said on this forum you need to test drive cars yourself to really find what is best for you. What people think of a car can be very subjective, but the Honda Jazz Crosstar has been the best small car in lots of ways
(such as comfort, economy, practicality and ease to drive) that I have driven over many years and better than some medium sized cars. Its still worthwhile though getting other drivers views, which you are doing as part of that decision making. Good luck in making that decision.

[ahavoja]

I sat in a Toyota Yaris, it seemed too small inside the cabin for me.
I test drove a Toyota Yaris Cross, it was big on the outside but still not that big inside the cabin.
I test drove a Honda Jazz Crosstar, it accelerated more smoothly than the Yaris Cross, and it was small on the outside but still big enough inside.

Also when test driving cars, it could be that a new car feels quieter than an old car partly because of the tyres. As the tyres get a few years older, their rubber becomes harder, which lets more vibrations from the road into the cabin, increasing road noise.

[Expatman]

Take a look at the Lexus LBX, What Car’s car of the year with superb finish and Lexus bullet proof reliability. Mechanicals might be based on Yaris Cross but so far enhanced you wouldn’t know it. Starts from under £30k and I would have bought one but my wife thought the passenger seat lacked under knee support!!

[123Drive!]

I would say the new Jazz is a good all rounder but unfortunately it's really expensive now, 9.9% APR! I did look at the new Suzuki Swift with 0% and is well equipped with heated seats for example but you need to compromise with the smaller size car and mild hybrid. I don't know why although the Yaris seems a good car but there are no LED interior or licence plate lights...?

[Pine]

I moved away from Honda last September. Now have Renault Clio eSpirit Alpine. No issues whatsoever much quieter than the Jazz. Seats more comfortable. Little room in the back though and no magic seats. Fantastic value for money compared to the overpriced Jazz

A Renault Captur is the ideal size for me and recent Renaults are comfortable, quite and economical.  Unfortunately the nearest Renault dealer is more than 40 miles from where I live.

[Karoq]

. And you can easily pass the lines of Electric cars tailgating behind lorries at 60 as they mitigate their range anxieties…

Not his one you won't  (eNiro 208BHP) 310 Mies on a full charge. Owned for a year, covered 6k miles, never been near a public charger. What a load of rubbish is spouted about electric cars, by those who have not experienced the joys of driving at a cost of 4p per mile!
BTW I agree with Kremmen. Only good things about MG are the price and the 7 year warranty, which you may well need. 

[FMIB]

Well here is my take on it.
When I looked at alternatives to replace my Honda E. I found the Yaris Cross a bit cramped for me and not much else offered the practicality of the Jazz. Honda E was great, but limited range in the winter and practicality were the reasons for the change. The Clio does look a viable option, if a bit less interior space and practicality works for you.
I have a second large SUV and the Jazz tends to be used as my city car, where it excels. From time to time I have travelled on motorway journeys, airport and back of around 140 miles. Whilst I dont find the seats as comfortable as my SUV, its absolutely fine on the motorway, as quiet as many other cars I have owned and driven, never found it lacking in keeping with the traffic flow at anytime to motorway speed limits. My motorway consumption tends to average around 60mg on such trips.
Unlike others, I dont see the brake issue as a particular problem for me, simply I won't own a car with todays prices for repairs/parts without buying an extended warranty once the main warranty runs out.

Of course buying a Jazz, immediately puts you into a certain age group