Top 3 Honda Jazz features that stand out from the competition

Saying that you can’t buy a new Honda Jazz anymore isn’t strictly true, mind you: the third-generation model received a new face, some body cladding and a re-badge late in 2020, turning into the WR-V in the process. So, seeing as we’ll be concentrating on the final local Jazz in this article, many of these features also apply to the current WR-V.

Related: Shop for used Honda Jazz cars for sale here.

 

1. Unrivalled versatility

The key to the Jazz’s practicality masterstroke lies in some fairly radical re-thinking of the way in which a small hatchback should be packaged. Starting with the first-generation Jazz, the fuel tank was re-located under the front passenger seat, instead of its usual spot under the rear seats. Combined with a space-saving torsion-beam rear axle, this liberated a huge amount of cargo space, by making the now-vacant volume under the rear seats available for luggage carrying.

Adding an elevated roofline and an ingenious folding rear seat arrangement (named “Magic Seats”) to the equation allowed for a multitude of cargo-carrying configurations, large enough to carry flat-screen TVs and even items up to 2.4-metres long or 1.2-metres tall inside the luggage area and cabin. As a result, the Jazz was (and still is) almost unbeatable for carrying large loads within a small overall footprint.

 

2. Excellent safety credentials

The third-generation Jazz offered a nearly full house of safety features right from the start, with 6 airbags and rear ISOFIX child safety anchors, and stability control across the range. This is backed up by a 5-star Euro-NCAP crash safety rating (earned in 2015), making this one of the safest superminis around. 

In other words, even a used Jazz is a very safe way to transport your family, pets, and groceries. It’s important to note that, in its transformation into the WR-V, the third-generation Jazz lost the stability control system (probably for cost reasons), although the other safety features remained as-is. 

3. Available large-car equipment

In its higher-trim variants, the third-generation Jazz (and current WR-V) offer decidedly upper-class cabin appointments. Highlights include a 7-inch colour touchscreen infotainment, along with rear parking sensors in the Dynamic- and Sport trim levels (the latter also including smartphone mirroring), Bluetooth/AUX inputs on all derivatives, touch-interface automatic climate control from Elegance trim upwards, and cruise control from 1.2 Comfort automatic trim upwards.

Being a later iteration of this formula, the WR-V expands on this equipment list by offering rear parking sensors across the range; as well as LED headlights, keyless entry with push-button start, and a rear-view camera in high-level Elegance trim. These features, while also available in some competitors, mark the Honda Jazz as very well-equipped for its size class.