The third generation Honda Jazz is now available in South Africa and Cars.co.za drove it in Cape Town.

The Honda Jazz is a popular city car around the world and is renowned for offering incredible space, practicality along with a generous helping of specification. It has a proven track record in SA, and was one of the first small city cars to offer a respectable safety rating as well as innovative interior versatility.

Fast forward to 2015, and the Honda Jazz which, we saw unveiled online has made its South African debut.The 2015 Honda Jazz gets a nice and modern front end, with the rear looking a lot fresher than the outgoing model. I think the design language is striking, particularly when paired with one of the more vibrant colours available. On the launch, I chose the delicious orange which was very eye catching.

Engines and performance

Essentially, the new car offers seven models, with two engines and two gearbox options. There’s a 1.2-litre engine and a 1.5-litre engine available. The smaller 1.2 offers 66 kW and 110 Nm, while the 1.5 has 88 kW and 145 Nm. The smaller engine Jazz can hit 100kph in 13.5 seconds, while consuming a claimed figure of 5.6l/100km. The 1.5 is a little quicker, being able to hit 100kph in a claimed 9 seconds, with fuel consumption sitting at 6.0l/100km. On launch, I drove the top specced 1.5 manual gearbox, and I feel the engine offers commendable performance.

Specifications and features

The Honda Jazz does not skimp on safety features.Passive safety features include dual front, side and curtain airbags, inertia reelseatbelts with pre-tensioners and load limiters for front occupants, and height adjustableseatbelt anchors. Child seat tethers are fitted to the rear.These features are joined by an array of active safety systems that includesABS anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution (EBD) and emergencybraking assistance (EBA). The Trend also benefits from Honda’s Vehicle StabilityAssistance (VSA).

The model I drove came with amultifunction steering wheel as well as cruise control and Hill Start Assist. Alloy wheels and a full-size spare wheel both come standard in the 1.5 Dynamic. The interior gains a pretty seven-inch display in thedashboard, which incorporatesthe audio system, Bluetooth telephony, the trip computer, andmore. There’s also leather trim on the steering wheel and gearshiftknob, while a fully automatic climate controldoes a sterling job of keeping the summer heat under control. The best part has to be the two USB ports and HDMI port which will make use of your smartphone’s features for car use.

SA Launch

The launch route took us through the Swartland region of Cape Town and we skirted the towns of Paarl and Wellington. The car’s 1.5 engine performed well, and the gearshift was typically Honda, which is a great thing. The car’s features make it a competitive option in this segment and I feel like it will continue to be a best seller in our market.

2015 Honda Jazz Price in South Africa

The new Honda Jazz will go onsale in February 2015. All models except the entry-level Trend come with a four-year/60 000 km service plan included in the price, while services on all models are at 15 000 km intervals.

Jazz 1.2 Trend Manual R179 900

Jazz 1.2 Comfort Manual R204 900

Jazz 1.2 Comfort CVT R221 900

Jazz 1.5 Elegance Manual R234 900

Jazz 1.5 Elegance CVT R249 900

Jazz 1.5 Dynamic Manual R249 900

Jazz 1.5 Dynamic CVT R264 900