Jazz vs bigger cars

[stefan]

Our family's life situation changed and we started looking into buying a bigger car. Tried a few "bigger" cars at the dealer and somehow they didn't feel bigger. So I took out my tape measure and made a few quick measurements, and the Jazz wasn't that much smaller in comparison (except the boot, obviously, but you could arguably solve that with a roof box).

Didn't bother measuring ride height or seating position since I don't care about those, but I'd expect a marginal difference there too.

You get around 6cm more shoulder/hip room going up to something like the 6th gen CRV and this only matters if you're carrying three people in the back (split between them that's a whopping 2cm each). The only real downside is the sloping roof in the back, so the two outer rear passengers might touch the roof if they're taller than 180cm like me. We tried sitting three in the back of CRV and the Jazz and it's equally uncomfortable in both.

Interior length for both rows in the Jazz is comparable or larger than cars above the class above its class. Left the dealer confused. We went in expecting to definitely buy a new car, now not so sure.



(the "schematics" of cars are AI-made images for visualization purposes and are definitely not reflecting real size)

[FMIB]

You are not wrong. I have also recently been comparing my other car, an XC40 with numerous other cars, looking at significantly bigger cars that range from SUV's to estates.  The interior packaging is not so different.
The biggest thing I noticed was that so many cars no longer have fully flat boot spaces when the rear seats are folded. This ranges from steps between the boot and the folded seat backs or seat backs that slope upwards when folded onto the seat bases.
Boots are shallower in many cases or only marginally bigger.
So in general, all are significantly larger on the outside, not so much on the inside. However what you do tend to get with the larger cars is a more polished/comfortable driving experience.

[Synchrotron]

I don't find this surprising either. SUVs can be notoriously cramped inside.

You might want to look at big estate cars, like the newest Civic (and maybe the Toyota Corolla), etc. In terms of interior space, I would expect them to have much more wiggle room.

[Kremmen]

I had to laugh last week when watching a large SUV with personalised 4 character number plate trying to parallel park in Reading

After what seemed like ages and over a dozen back and forth movements he gave up and drove off. Within minutes a small Jazz sized car went in first time

[Nicksey]

I had only previous to the Jazz had Renaults. (Before anyone comments, they were all very good cars and we never had any problems with them, unlike the Jazz). We had three of the first gen Capturs, which were similar in size to the Jazz, and roomy/spacious inside too. When we looked at changing, the new Captur had come out. Outwardly much bigger, and more akin to what other manufacturers were doing with the SUV. We test drove it, and the only significant difference from the inside was the ride height. Cabin space for driver and passengers were the same as previous Capturs. On the outside though, it was stupidly big. We then took a step back, and bought the new Clio instead. In conclusion, big on the outside doesn't necessarily mean big on the inside, and I have frequently had passengers in the Jazz remark how big and airy the Jazz cabin is, one of whom has the Toyota Yaris/Cross and is amazed by the difference especially in the back seat area.

[Downsizer]

One very obvious problem of people choosing cars which are larger externally is that it is increasingly difficult to park in supermarkets etc while having enough spare width to open the door to get out! I am in favour of road tax being graduated based on external dimensions.

[Kremmen]

What I noticed most was the width

My Maestro, Xantias and IS200 all fitted easily through my garage door opening with door mirrors out

My first 2007 Civic 8G would not fit unless I folded the mirrors. Fortunately I'd already calculated this and if the Civic didn't have electric folding mirrors I'd have given it a miss

The Jazz would have fitted but with only 2cm to spare so folding mirrors was again needed

So what is wider, door thickness, centre console, seats

[Lord Voltermore]

The Jazz is probably one of the largest cars to still be classified as 'segment B/supermini. Roomier than some 'segment C'  cars.   But its a bit academic as its also more expensive than many segment C cars.
I had a Civic as a loan car. Nice car. But felt much larger than the Jazz when manouvering and driving on congested roads.   But I didnt think the cabin area was significantly larger . But I suppose a few extra millimeters extra space  in the right places can make a difference.   

Much of the Civics extra bulk was due to a significantly  longer bonnet visible ahead of you .Sigmund Freud would probably have a theory on why this makes you feel more important and  superior. (even the ladies  )  Extra bulk was also wasted on a sloping back window design and curvaceous doors and wings  , projecting out at the sides.  More 'road presence' but not much more cabin space.  I expect the same applies to many SUV's.

   Like it or not, the upright boxy style of the Jazz maximises cabin space  vs it road footprint.   Maybe its less aerodynamic as a result and less appealing  if you priorities style over practicality.   
But SUV's often need to be quite a lot bulkier than the Jazz before they improve on its interior space.

[sebastiand]

If I compare with the 2014 Outlander. (I have now a baby and a 2 year old kid).

In both cars I can try to fit a small person in the middle seat (with a baby child seat with belt + an isofix wide toddler seat). Isofix doesn't let you put the seat closer to the door.
But in the outie you can seat just uncomfortable (child seat well positioned), while on the jazz you seat very uncomfortable (and child seat not well positioned).
Both cars have 2.5 middle rows though (so they are not made for this kind of usage when using child seats).
Other difference is the height, Outlander is much taller and gives you more room for the legs.


Now if I compare the Jazz with a smaller SUV the difference is much smaller. And if you compare it with a smaller vehicle like the Yaris Hybrid (that here costs same or more money) the jazz is massive upgrade in terms of space.

In the jazz boot I managed to fit a huge stroller chassis (Graco evo XT, just the chassis) + a small one (yoyo babyzen) + backpacks etc. All in the boot.  I could also have a lot of space for putting a changing mat + kid for changing, in the Jazz boot lol. The boot is amazing.

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[5thcivic]

Compared to my Civics the Jazz interior is not noticably much different, even in the back. Undoubtedly the new Civic is a nicer looking car, but for me who does not need the boot space as much, that saving of 60cm in length (compared to the latest) makes a BIG difference in the garage and parking. The E is a little smaller than the Jazz and nearly as good in the front with no console filling the space up to the dash and seems very airy, but is much poorer in the back for legroom.

[Jazzfan49]

We changed our 2023 Jazz SR for a 2026 HRV Advance, it’s bigger overall than the Jazz and has much more front and rear legroom, the only negative is rear headroom for over 6 footers although my son is 6ft 2in tall and doesn’t find it a problem to get comfortable.
Rear passengers benefit from adjustable air vents which makes it very airy and comfortable, not so economical as the Jazz but 58/60 mpg is more than acceptable IMHO plus it’s comfortable and drives just like a Jazz as it’s the same drivetrain but with more power.

[JB]

When I brought my Jazz I looked at a Corolla there was definitely more room inside the Jazz
especially in the back, in fact I had a Vauxhall Insignia before Jazz and its easier to lift
shopping bags from back floor in the Jazz than it was in the Insignia , bags used to catch back seat
and rear of front seat in Insignia in the Jazz they don't and seats are in normal position.

[nowster]

When I was first looking at the Jazz having come from two Nissan Micras, I had a comfortable test drive with a Mk1 Jazz in which the dealer suggested I do a mix of driving (including taking it up the M62 Pennines climb). In contrast, the Nissan dealership wouldn't let me go more than half a mile from the dealership or more than 20mph.

The Clio-chassis Micra was so tight inside that if I had the driver's seat in an approximation of comfort (with my knees splayed at a daft angle) you couldn't get a sheet of paper between the back of the driver's seat and the rear passenger seat. And there was almost no boot space. Obviously I declined.

When I test drove the ex-demo Mk2 Jazz that I eventually bought, the dealership gave me the keys, apologised for there not being much in the tank, and that was it. I did about 20 miles unsupervised with a mix of dual carriageways and challenging country lanes.

[coldstart]

I'm quite pleased with the loading capacity of my Jazz!
I was even able to load an IKEA "Pax" wardrobe with packages measuring 210 by 60 cm without obscuring the view through the passenger side window (just try this with your "average" SUV).