Jazz punches above weight

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), Oct 24, 2008

Byline: By EDWARD STEPHENS

SEEING is believing - a full-sized quad bike in the back of a supermini.

But that's the new Honda Jazz for you.

When the original Jazz was introduced in 2002 its Tardislike interior created by so-called "magic seats" was a revelation.

The design of the seats, which could be folded flat in seconds to reveal van like proportions or left upright but with the seat squabs folded up like cinema seats to take large items across the width of the car, meant the little Jazz could certainly punch above its weight as far as coping with luggage was concerned.

Now there is a totally new Jazz with even more interior space. Just take a look at the picture.

At first glance the new model bears a striking resemblance to the original, but on closer inspection you can see that everything is new.

The new car is longer, wider, sleeker and has more glass than the outgoing model. And it's those extra dimensions mean it can cope with even more large, awkward shaped items.

A re-design job on the magic rear seats means they fold flat without you having to move either of the front seats forward, and thanks to new headrests which become an integral part of the seat you no longer have to remove them before starting the folding operation.

The spare wheel has disappeared on the new car - replaced by a 'get you home' mending kit - so the well it occupied now offers even more luggage space beneath the floor.

This also gives the car a twin level boot, and on some models a suspended cargo net drops into the lower level to hold items in place.

The new "cabin forward" design means better visibility as it gives the driver a panoramic view.

Even the quarter lights on the new model are a third larger.

The original Jazz was ahead of its time so Honda have capitalised on all the best ideas, improved them and added a whole lot more.

The car is available with a choice of 1.2 or 1.4-litre petrol engines, both with super slick five speed manual gearboxes.

The i-SHIFT automatic version follows in Januar y.

CAPTION(S):

MORE SPACE - the Honda Jazz with quad bike on board; LONGER AND SLEEKER - the new Honda Jazz