EX vs Advance trims and other questions from a prospective buyer

[SimonP]

Hi guys, I'm new to the forum so be gentle with me.  I'm in the UK so answers relevant to this country's models please.

I'm close to buying a 2023 Jazz EX. I want the facelift version but there seems to be very few of them about from that year or people aren't selling them. I notice that there's an Advance (not Advance Sport) trim which appears to be similar other than having nicer wheels so it seems odd that they sat alongside each other in the range.

* Am I right in thinking that they are very much alike but were on sale simultaneously and was the Advance actually a replacement for EX? Are there any other differences? Should I chose one over the other?

* Were there many EX facelifts made in 2023 and would they all be 73 reg? I'm struggling to find one within 50 miles of where I live (edit: Bristol area and yes, I'm keeping an eye on Waylands).

* I looked at a pre-facelift EX recently and felt a vibration in the lumbar area when the engine was running. Is that normal? It was rather high mileage, wasn't very well looked after and appeared to have been a lease car so it might have just been that one.

* I gather Android Auto can now have two apps side by side? I'd like to have Google Maps and Musicolet running together, is that possible? If so, I might drop down to SR trim and get a reversing camera installed as that's the only really useful difference other than the heated seats and steering wheel. Good move?

* Most of our mileage is around town and short runs on dual carriageways, can Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Keep Assist handle roundabouts and is the Jazz OK for long motorway runs? (Comfortable, no engine drone, ACC and LKA lets it more or less drive itself, etc.)

* Finally, why the boring colours? Red is the only interesting option but as beautiful as it is, it can attract more attention from our friends in blue, not that I speed much these days with all the cameras everywhere. I noticed in the poll that more of you have red cars than the other colours so I guess it's not a problem.

Thank you for your thoughts, I'm sure they'll be very useful.
Simon.

[Downsizer]

I think the names (Elegance, Advance etc) replaced the previous letters as part of the facelift. I don’t know what else changed as I went from a Mk 3 to the Elegance. I find it fine for long dual carriageway runs and the cruise control works well. You have to brake for a roundabout which cancels the cruise control, but then you just press a button to restore it. It will keep within lanes as long as they are clearly visible.
I agree with you about colours - I bought new and chose red which I have grown to like, and I can find it easily in a car park!

[ninanina]

Hi guys, I'm new to the forum so be gentle with me.  I'm in the UK so answers relevant to this country's models please.

I'm close to buying a 2023 Jazz EX.  ::)I want the facelift version but there seems to be very few of them about from that year or people aren't selling them. I notice that there's an Advance (not Advance Sport) trim which appears to be similar other than having nicer wheels so it seems odd that they sat alongside each other in the range.

* Am I right in thinking that they are very much alike but were on sale simultaneously and was the Advance actually a replacement for EX? Are there any other differences? Should I chose one over the other?

* Were there many EX facelifts made in 2023 and would they all be 73 reg? I'm struggling to find one within 50 miles of where I live (edit: Bristol area and yes, I'm keeping an eye on Waylands).

* I looked at a pre-facelift EX recently and felt a vibration in the lumbar area when the engine was running. Is that normal? It was rather high mileage, wasn't very well looked after and appeared to have been a lease car so it might have just been that one.

* I gather Android Auto can now have two apps side by side? I'd like to have Google Maps and Musicolet running together, is that possible? If so, I might drop down to SR trim and get a reversing camera installed as that's the only really useful difference other than the heated seats and steering wheel. Good move?

* Most of our mileage is around town and short runs on dual carriageways, can Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Keep Assist handle roundabouts and is the Jazz OK for long motorway runs? (Comfortable, no engine drone, ACC and LKA lets it more or less drive itself, etc.)

* Finally, why the boring colours? Red is the only interesting option but as beautiful as it is, it can attract more attention from our friends in blue, not that I speed much these days with all the cameras everywhere. I noticed in the poll that more of you have red cars than the other colours so I guess it's not a problem.

Thank you for your thoughts, I'm sure they'll be very useful.
Simon.

Hi SimonP

When I was looking to replace my Mk4 Prius for something smaller the Jazz ticked all the boxes

The Jazz is an amazing car; huge inside but quite compact on the outside

[Nicksey]

I have a 72 plate EX, but I don't know what the Advance has regarding trim/interior...
I bought the EX level because after my previous cars (Renaults) I didn't want to go backwards with the Jazz, and only the EX variant matched what I was used to. Heated seats, heated steering wheel, side door protectors, rear spoiler, 16" diamond cut two tone alloys, fitted mudflaps, blind spot monitoring and a few other bits. I went for the blue beam metallic (which I do regret) because I wanted the light grey interior instead of the black interior, and you could only get the light interior with the dark exterior colours.
The cruise control and driver aids work well, and I find them quite easy to use and great on the motorways.

[ninanina]

Hi guys, I'm new to the forum so be gentle with me.  I'm in the UK so answers relevant to this country's models please.

I'm close to buying a 2023 Jazz EX. I want the facelift version but there seems to be very few of them about from that year or people aren't selling them. I notice that there's an Advance (not Advance Sport) trim which appears to be similar other than having nicer wheels so it seems odd that they sat alongside each other in the range.

* Am I right in thinking that they are very much alike but were on sale simultaneously and was the Advance actually a replacement for EX? Are there any other differences? Should I chose one over the other?

* Were there many EX facelifts made in 2023 and would they all be 73 reg? I'm struggling to find one within 50 miles of where I live (edit: Bristol area and yes, I'm keeping an eye on Waylands).

* I looked at a pre-facelift EX recently and felt a vibration in the lumbar area when the engine was running. Is that normal? It was rather high mileage, wasn't very well looked after and appeared to have been a lease car so it might have just been that one.

* I gather Android Auto can now have two apps side by side? I'd like to have Google Maps and Musicolet running together, is that possible? If so, I might drop down to SR trim and get a reversing camera installed as that's the only really useful difference other than the heated seats and steering wheel. Good move?

* Most of our mileage is around town and short runs on dual carriageways, can Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Keep Assist handle roundabouts and is the Jazz OK for long motorway runs? (Comfortable, no engine drone, ACC and LKA lets it more or less drive itself, etc.)

* Finally, why the boring colours? Red is the only interesting option but as beautiful as it is, it can attract more attention from our friends in blue, not that I speed much these days with all the cameras everywhere. I noticed in the poll that more of you have red cars than the other colours so I guess it's not a problem.

Thank you for your thoughts, I'm sure they'll be very useful.
Simon.

SimonP
I would personally hold out for a Advance facelift 2023 model rather than the older EX model

The EX will potentially have the brake simulator issue but the Advance doesn’t as it’s the facelift version

It took me weeks to decide which Jazz to buy and I ended up upping my budget a bit to get the facelift Advance Jazz 2023 and it’s an amazing car

[JB]

You say its a face-lift you want then stick to that otherwise you'll regret it,
I found and brought my face-lift from Honda dealer 150 miles away from me
and was offered free delivery but decided to take the train so I could drive
back home, the dealer did send someone to pick me up at train station with
just a phone call to say I was there.

[ninanina]

Hi guys, I'm new to the forum so be gentle with me.  I'm in the UK so answers relevant to this country's models please.

I'm close to buying a 2023 Jazz EX. I want the facelift version but there seems to be very few of them about from that year or people aren't selling them. I notice that there's an Advance (not Advance Sport) trim which appears to be similar other than having nicer wheels so it seems odd that they sat alongside each other in the range.

* Am I right in thinking that they are very much alike but were on sale simultaneously and was the Advance actually a replacement for EX? Are there any other differences? Should I chose one over the other?

* Were there many EX facelifts made in 2023 and would they all be 73 reg? I'm struggling to find one within 50 miles of where I live (edit: Bristol area and yes, I'm keeping an eye on Waylands).

* I looked at a pre-facelift EX recently and felt a vibration in the lumbar area when the engine was running. Is that normal? It was rather high mileage, wasn't very well looked after and appeared to have been a lease car so it might have just been that one.

* I gather Android Auto can now have two apps side by side? I'd like to have Google Maps and Musicolet running together, is that possible? If so, I might drop down to SR trim and get a reversing camera installed as that's the only really useful difference other than the heated seats and steering wheel. Good move?

* Most of our mileage is around town and short runs on dual carriageways, can Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Keep Assist handle roundabouts and is the Jazz OK for long motorway runs? (Comfortable, no engine drone, ACC and LKA lets it more or less drive itself, etc.)

* Finally, why the boring colours? Red is the only interesting option but as beautiful as it is, it can attract more attention from our friends in blue, not that I speed much these days with all the cameras everywhere. I noticed in the poll that more of you have red cars than the other colours so I guess it's not a problem.

Thank you for your thoughts, I'm sure they'll be very useful.
Simon.

Hold on for the facelift Advance rather than the older EX

[Lord Voltermore]

The elegance replaces the SR and the Advance  replaced the  EX. Specifications are similar,  They were never sold simultaneously other than   to clear  old stocks.  There was also a lower spec SE  with more limited  infotainment but this was discontinued following the facelift.

I had an EX  and now have an Advance.  I was happy with the  EX but the Advance has had the behaviour of its driver aids fine tuned and improved so would be my choice if you can find one. 

I wouldnt dismiss the advantage of heated seats  (and to a lesser extent heated steering wheel) . I too considered them to be unecessary and  decadent until I had experienced them but would now regret not having them.   They heat up very quickly from a cold start compared to waiting for cabin heat from the engine.  Toasty.   And this saves fuel  ,especially on a Hybrid/EV as they use less energy than trying to extract cabin heat from an engine thats not yet warmed up and fully efficient.

A cold engine (and high mileage) might also explain why you felt some vibration when the ICE started. I did occasonally feel some vibration on my EX (which reached 27K miles) at first  on a cold morning  but most of the time you cannot feel,and often cannot hear , the engine when it is running. And only then because you are comparing it with  the periods  when the ICE is not  running at all.

Colour choice is a personal matter  but I am very Happy with the Premium sunlight white pearl colour of my Advance.  Although technically white it is actually a very, very, pale grey when seen along side a platinum white car .But best of all the pearlescent  content gives a full spectrum of colours in certain lights . Its far from boring white.I recommend viewing an example for real, in daylight,  before dismissing it as an option.   It also seems to shed water better and stay cleaner much longer  than the platinum white pearl on my EX.

I often make long motorway journeys  at speeds up to 140 kph  86 mph.  It will happily cruise  quietly and  smoothly  at this speed, although it will use significantly more petrol than sticking to 70 mph or less.  The engine noise only becomes  more intrusive  if you are attempting to build up speed rapidly,or building up speed on an incline steep enough to slow trucks . But the noise is no worse than some cars make all the time at motorways speeds.

I wouldnt recommend expecting  the cruise control and lane keeping  assist  to take you through roundabouts etc .On any car.    Its not a self driving car.  LKAS does make it easier and a bit more relaxing  keeping central  to your lane on the motorway and main roads etc   and can 'self steer,'  round gentle bends  .  I switch it off for anything more severe  ,such as roundabouts, bendy roads etc  because it can make  the steering  feedback feel a little bit bit odd.      The adaptive cruise control is  very useful on  motorway and straight main road journeys,  but again you have to work with it and remain fully alert and ultimately in control of the car.  Its not a self driving car  where you can relax,and do other things.       

[SimonP]

Thank you all for the help and suggestions, much appreciated.

I was confused as it turns out the car I'm looking for was right at the time when Honda changed from letters to names so there was a bit of cross-over and both are available but the Advance is what I need, not least because it is the later model. TBH I think I prefer the look of the SR/EX over the Advance, the earlier model had a rather sweet smile whereas the newer ones look more like they're frowning, but it doesn't really matter and most people seem to prefer the new look so I'm sure I'll get used to it.

My wife feels the cold a lot more than I do so the heated seats and steering wheel will be beneficial to her and at this point in our lives, the extra facilities are more important to us so I think the Jazz will suit us perfectly.

Regarding the LKAS, I worry that it will encourage people to stay in one lane (middle lane hoggers) rather than use the correct lane but it's probably a good thing overall for considerate drivers. I wasn't very serious about it being able to handle roundabouts btw, just wondering how smart it is.

So the original dilema is resolved, it's a late model 2023 Advance for me, and the colour really isn't that important, although I like the idea of a red car standing out in car parks as I often forget where I parked.

Cheers,
Simon.

[Lord Voltermore]

If you have trouble locating  the car in a carpark etc I  think the 'Honda + app '   has functions that will help.  I think you can use the app to sound the car horn  remotely from a smartphone , and also  possibly geo -locate it using gps data and maybe one or two other clever tricks  .

Sorry I cant be sure what it can do  as I have never activated or used the app  for my car.

I take your point about LKA encouraging middle lane hogging . But as  with all these driver aids, such as LKA, ACC, RDMS (which is different to LKA)  etc  the driver must remain alert and aware of what the car  may be try to do  on their behalf, which may not always  be entirely appropriate with regard to other traffic and potential  hazards that a human may spot  but an AI system and  radar detectors etc will not.. Such as ,or the ACC trying to accelerate the car ahead when an alert driver will be aware another driver seems to be preparing to  suddenly enter your lane etc.  But on the plus side  the driver aid systems can also detect genuine hazards and take evasive  action far quicker than a human can react

If you have never before driven a car with these driver aids it can be a bit of a learning curve learning to work with them,and anticipating when there may be  slight  steering interventions  or unexpected changes in speed etc. Which you as te driver can easily 'overide, by manually steering or braking etc.    Some drivers never fully come to terms with the car having a' mind 'of its own  (under your supervision) and  switch aids off or dont use them. IMO they are missing out on the advantages and possible safety benefits  but  this is a topic that divides opinions    

[Sean Regan]

I've had a 23reg Crosstar since March. In my opinion, the best looking Jazz.
I've yet to see another in South Manchester.

[SimonP]

@Lord Voltermore

I think I read that the app can tell you where you parked so that'll be helpful for when my mind is elsewhere.

Yes, it will be my first time with the driver aids but I'm also considering a Tesla (except that I don't want to be associated with Musk) as I love all the tech so I'm sure I'll get used to it quickly enough.

[Bristol_Crosstar]

The facelifted models have a slightly more powerful engine, also the software relating to cruise control, lane keep assist etc has been improved as well as the previous brake issues documented on here being resolved so I would definitely go for one of the Advance variants.