Is this Jazz still the ultimate practical small car? (Honda Fit Review)

The Honda Jazz / Fit is an incredibly practical small car. This third generation model came out in 2015 and sold through to 2020. But was it an improvement on that excellent first car?
Car on review: 2019 Honda Fit Mk3
#hondafit #hondajazz
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[@reelreeler8778]

USA here....I have a 2017 Fit, bought it new, absolutely love it and wouldn't ever consider getting rid of it. 99% of my driving is in the metro/city area and I can always find a parking spot for it. The cargo room with the back seats folded is amazing. My wife drives a 2023 Civic sedan. They both get excellent fuel economy.

[@Interesting_Australia]

I had 1st Gen Jazz 15 years ago, and now I have 3rd Gen one. Man 1.5 VTECH is the best everyday car. It is like a Swiss knife. it has everything in it. Reliable, cheap to ride, and fun to drive. Yes, it is fun and somehow it reminds me of my old Miata. Wheelspin? - easy! 9-12 hrs drive - no problem, camping and sleeping the car, no problem at all. Just an advice, if you would like to enjoy it, get 1.5 with manual transmission, throw away the factory stereo and pun modern Android system. Jazz can run half a million k's with not a single problem.

[@JJonCars]

Yes- great analogy, Swiss army knife :)

[@keithjones1496]

Great review of a very practical car JJ. Call me old-fashioned but I prefer the cleaner lines of the old, 'van-like' design of earlier models. The styling of this third-gen Jazz is OK I suppose but that 'gouge', as you described it, detracts from an otherwise attractive little car.

[@LorePetter]

Norway here. In fall 2021 my mom needed a car, and my advice was to go for a 2010mk2 Jazz. She has been very happy with it since, especially the amount of space inside compared to what it occupies outside.

[@sha22276]

Something i love about the Honda Jazz is the fact you can get a panoramic roof (except for the first gen), i cant seem to find any car the same size with that option. It makes the cabin feel even bigger.

[@JJonCars]

Oh man yeah I bet that's absolutely brilliant sitting the in the back with the seats reclined and the pano roof. I'd definitely go out stargazing in it

[@AShiga]

I had a 1st gen 1.5 vtec in Brazil - a joy to drive fast. Even took it to Interlagos for a track day. Dad had the 1st gen 1.3 flex fuel dsi, much slower but even more frugal. I now have the 2nd gen 1.3 here in the notoriously s*t traffic of London. All of them were manuals. I'd easily change to the 3rd gen when the time comes.

[@aaronmorgan4145]

I used to first and second gen Jazz both great car and i bloody love the first gen!

[@vectravi2008]

I have a 2006 jazz. Still in great condition and very reliable. I have been told that the Mark 3 fit imports don't have rear wheel liners, which could be a cause for concern regarding corrosion

[@philread386]

I have the 1.5 manual and love it. If you put your foot down it can be a bit noisy and have often wondered if it's induction roar or engine noise. Economical and fast enough for everyday and touring use. Cracking little car

[@davedaubrey8588]

Good day J J. I have a second hand 2007 with the cvt gearbox. I absolutely love it. I do find a little issue that took a little getting used to . This however is not mentioned in any review. The upright column on the driver side tends to give a rather large blind spot. This was a real problem when first driving the car until I developed the habit of leaning forward and slightly back to check that area. As an example a motorcycle was on that side on a slightly oblique four-way stop street and I genuinely did not notice him. Thanks for your review.

[@JJonCars]

Oh interesting, I can imagine yes that it could be an issue. That area is tricky in a lot of modern cars, but with the second pillar it could definitely add to the visibility problems. Glad you like the car though!

[@davidevans4089]

Brilliant car, I have had two Jazzs and when I replace my Civic hopefully many years from now I will probably have another.

[@novicetheaf]

Great car, very practical and nice enough looking jazz depending on the spec you get 🙂

[@papalegba6796]

Good car, very versatile. I'll shout out the Hyundai i10 automatic as being a solid, reliable, totally idiot-proof city car too, & the Dacia Stepway if you need to go off road at all. Both are surprisingly tough & capable.

[@gazazzz904]

I got a Honda jazz 3rd generation as a family car. Is pretty spacious inside, fits two children at the back with car seat. Ride quality expect it to be on the harsh side and can feel every bumps on the road. Good gas mileage and easy to maintain. Used price in the UK is equivalent to some higher mileage bmw 5 series. Perhaps the reliability and long term ownership cost outweigh the higher purchase price compared to other luxury cars.

[@JJonCars]

Yes I think you might be right - people know and like these cars so they hold their value!

[@leswooldridge3003]

Had the 2008 and now have a 2016. Both are excellent cars. The 2008 was a bit more fun to drive because the steering was quick but the 2016 is a bit more comfortable.

[@GraemeWant]

I agree that the third generation is the best version of the Jazz. I have a 2nd Generation 1.5L VTEC Sports one. 2007 model. Nice , but the third generation with the 1.5VTEC is the best, both from an exterior point of view and interior point of view.

[@ImChristianSoobz]

The fuel economy is fantastic on a 1.3 £20 a week ✔️ plus not hard to maintain. Decent purchase

[@ron2256]

I've got a Jazz 1.4EX built in Swindon England in 2010.. i bought it new.. I've still got it. It's brilliant.. it's quite fast on acceleration if you use the best petrol E5 SuperUnleaded.. it has the 15 inch alloys with semi low profile tyres which makes it handle really well. The magic seats make it like a Tardis, bigger inside than outside.. The new ones are hybrids which i don't want because they are really expensive, twice as much to go wrong and you have a battery which will be uneconomical to replace whereas my petrol only version will go on for years and years .

[@JJonCars]

Great cars! I need to review the second generation Jazz.

[@ron2256]

@@JJonCars you can review mine but it needs a clean.. 😹

[@JJonCars]

@@ron2256 Haha! I'll take a look at it tomorrow :)

[@ron2256]

@@JJonCars 👍.

[@nickzourb190]

Oh you visited Cyprus I see ! Next time visit Greece, come to Athens and review my 2002 C209 CLK200 😎

[@JJonCars]

Yes, lovely place! I want to visit Athens, it's on my list :) Cheers!

[@nickzourb190]

@@JJonCars Feel free to contact me prior. It would be my pleasure to meet you and why not review my CLK too. Cheers from sunny and warm Athens!

[@JJonCars]

@@nickzourb190 I absolutely will. If you send me an email [e-mail] then I'll have your contact details for if and when I'm there :)

[@Rjhs001]

Hi JJ. It's small, practical and well put together, much like myself...well, except I'm 6' 2". I've always liked the Jazz and it seems to have all the same advantages and drawbacks of the Civic, which I think both of us have previously owned. BS JJ needs to be told to get his feet off the front seat! Disgraceful behaviour.

[@JJonCars]

Haha! Yes there are a lot of similarities there, though the Jazz can't compete with the spaceship-ness of that Civic. I'll tell him but... Well he isn't going to listen. At least his shoes were off 😂

[@Rjhs001]

@@JJonCars Merry Christmas JJ and a Happy and Peaceful New Year to you and yours. See you in '24.

[@JJonCars]

@@Rjhs001 Merry Christmas John!

[@paulwilliams4815]

My 4 th Jazz..( all mk1 s ) for - great practical cars, ultra reliable, good on fuel..if you can live with the high revs to get anywhere.not so sharp steering ,and poor seats/suspension...love the look of the new (2019 on model)..just out of my price range....and yes pensioners love em lol .

[@JJonCars]

Pensioners are better at picking cars than the rest of us I think. They just want something practical that works, they long don't care about showing off to their neighbours:)

[@DavidHughes-op6zl]

My gran runs hers on 'elder'berry wine.

[@martynb901]

To call the modern Honda Jazz a small car shows how times - and cars - have changed!

[@TheBlackHat23]

I have the 2019 fit hybrid version (DCT Transmission). Try it, it packs quite some punch with the i-VTEC :D

[@j.r.arnolli9734]

DCT? My 2019 has a CVT and the newer version, the hybrid, has two electro-motors and an Atkinson engine, no gearbox, let alone a CVT/DCT. Mostly works as an electric with the engine as a generator.

[@TheBlackHat23]

​@@j.r.arnolli9734Yeup I confirm it's DCT, I know there is a CVT version too. Depends from which market I think.

[@sergiotachini5707]

3rd generation is the best of the best

[@adamek9750]

The 1.5 mk3 is out of my budget. Debating whether i should go for a mk9 civic or a save a bit and get mk2 jazz

[@JJonCars]

Something I discovered the other day, is that the Mk9 Civic has the 'magic seats' like the Jazz. So you can fold them up and fit tall items in the middle. The Mk8 couldn't do that. I would have thought those two cars you are looking at are a similar price? If I wanted practicality and a small car I'd get the Jazz, if I wanted something to drive longer distance in then the Civic would be a better bet

[@Bambotb]

Jazz or i20 or audi a1 ? Rank them please , also would you buy jazz new or bmw 1 series 2019 used for same price ? Thanks

[@JJonCars]

I haven't tested all of those cars. But it would depend on what you want. The Jazz is way more practical than those other cars. But the Audi and BMW will be more refined and 'quality feeling'. I don't know much about the i20

[@Bambotb]

@@JJonCars ok so if you are faced with the option of getting a new jazz or a 5 years old bmw 1 which would you pick for same price

[@JJonCars]

@@Bambotb that also depends what you want. The new Jazz will be a more affordable, cheaper to run and more practical car, and most like more reliable. But the BMW will be nicer to drive and more refined. What do you want from the car?

[@Bambotb]

@@JJonCars i understand your point i am just asking your opinion on what would you do in your situation, forget about me

[@JJonCars]

@@Bambotb haha ok, I get you. Didn't want to send you off on the wrong track. For me, if it was my only car I'd get the 1 series. It's more of a drivers car, fun and also better for long journeys. But if I needed a second car now to go with what I already have, it might be the Jazz as I could use that practicality.

[@CJ70-]

Build in japan,what more can u ask for.

[@fredonline]

I'd rather be behind the wheel of your Accord, have you still got it?

[@JJonCars]

So the Accord is actually my dad's car, though I think I drive it as much as he does. It's a lovely car, the leather armchairs and VTEC engine. So it's still about, with it's all season tyres on - beats the local land rovers in the snow for grip I kid you not 😄

[@rinzevnrossum]

I'm curious about the list price of the Jazz Crosstar 1.5 Hybrid in GB. In the Netherlands the starting price is € 32690, converted GBP 27915. The higher Dutch price is caused by two taxes; VAT and BPM, the latter of which is an extra tax to fill the Dutch treasury. I have owned the tested car (not the hybrid crosstar!) for two months now, a used one with only 7000 km, with the 1.3 liter automatic engine and my average consumption is between 6.5 liters and 7.0 liters with a calm driving style, which is disappointing to me, to be honest. Perhaps consumption will be more favorable in the summer. My preliminary conclusion is that the user options are great, the fuel consumption is disappointing and that the seating position on the highest seat adjustment obstructs the view of the Dashboard. What is also disappointing is the user-friendliness of the meter settings. In addition, a digital speedometer is missing, which I find very unpleasant, as well as the lack of being able to easily set the average consumption over a driven distance. Not to mention the lack of APPLE CarPlay and Android. Overall, it is a pleasant, user-friendly car with a lot of interior space, but the new hybrid version is by far preferable to this model.

[@JJonCars]

I don't know much about the Crosstar, but I do know that you guys have it a bit tougher with tax in the Netherlands, especially with performance cars! Interesting to hear your thoughts on this Jazz, cheers 👍

[@AleksandarStefanovic]

I have a similar issue with the Mk2 Jazz, with both the seat and the steering wheel in the lowest positions - I cannot see the top of the dashboard (I'm 178 cm tall). Fortunately, I use Google Maps on my phone for navigation, and it has a GPS-based speed indicator, it's digital and positioned higher than the actual speedometer, so I prefer that anyway. I only have to take a look at the dashboard to see the fuel remaining, and see if there are any warning lights.

[@oliverstemp9132]

The Jazz Mk3 was better looking than the Jazz Mk4.

[@JJonCars]

Yeah, it's that weird folded over bonnet isn't it, strange design for sure

[@oliverstemp9132]

@@JJonCars that’s probably why it’s been facelifted away

[@Yorkshiremadmick]

The middle, roof mounted seat belt stops the IKEA packs sliding in. Shame

[@Nsns15-]

Can’t believe the space inside this tiny car!

[@bayandamsweli2005]

Makes me wanna get one

[@davidbreeze7425]

The ride is terrible on 16 inch wheels. Back breaking. The 1.3 cvt is horribly slow. The Mk 4 hybrid is so much better.

[@rinzevnrossum]

I agree with your opinion that the 1.3 is very slow. I share the opinion with many other reviewers that the Jazz offers a lot of interior space and is very reliable. However, I am bothered by the noise of the CVT and the underpowered engine, not to mention the lack of CarPlay. I will soon trade in the car for either the newer model - I hope that CVT and 1.5 liter engine makes less noise - or for another brand.