From its first technology in 2001, the Honda Match/Jazz was a distinct form of supermini, with a deal with practicality and an MPV-infused character. Twenty years later, the fourth technology has improved the identical components, with the Crosstar variant including an SUV taste into the combo. So did Honda hit the nail within the head by mixing components of the small hatchback, MPV, and SUV segments? How does this hybrid mannequin evaluate with extra typical rivals? We drove it for every week and have all of the solutions.

Bridging The Hole Between Superminis And B-SUVs

Design-wise it’s straightforward to inform aside the Jazz Crosstar from the common Jazz, regardless of sharing the overwhelming majority of their physique panels and the MPV-style one-box silhouette. A wholesome dose of plastic cladding throughout the bodywork is the apparent start line for each automotive attempting to look “crossoverish”, however Honda went additional by putting in version-specific bumpers and a definite grille. The latter, together with the bigger ornamental intakes, diminish the lovable panda-like look of the usual Jazz making it extra rugged and adventure-ready.

Learn Additionally: We Drive The Honda e Advance, A Retro-Futuristic Gadget On 4 Wheels

The ending touches are the 16-inch wheels, the non-obligatory duo-tone therapy, the trendy roof rails, and most significantly the elevated floor clearance of 152 mm (6 inches) which is 16 mm (0.6 inches) greater than the common Jazz. The bodykit and the brand new suspension setup with extra journey have resulted in a slight enhance in all dimensions – even the wheelbase has grown by a tiny 3 mm (0.1 inches) to 2,520 mm (99.2 inches).

Regardless of wanting giant, the Jazz Crosstar remains to be labeled as a subcompact automobile measuring 4,090 mm (161 inches) lengthy, 1,725 mm (67.9 inches) large, and 1,556 mm (61.3 inches) tall. This makes it barely longer than most superminis just like the Renault Clio and VW Polo, though the peak is nearer to B-SUVs just like the Renault Captur and VW T-Cross.

Nicely Outfitted With Class-Main Inside House

The cleaning soap bar form of the Jazz makes extra sense if you step contained in the cabin. Visibility is nice because of the massive windscreen and the skinny pillars, with the driving force and the passengers sitting greater within the Crosstar. The dashboard appears to be like pretty fashionable, with patches of material masking the laborious plastics – no delicate padding choice from Honda within the smaller segments.

The usual 9-inch infotainment touchscreen is simple to make use of with a number of bodily buttons on the aspect and touch-sensitive shortcuts on the underside. It helps all fashionable connectivity options (Android Auto, Apple CarPlay) and AI-based voice management, whereas within the Crosstar it’s mixed with an ordinary eight-speaker sound system. The 7-inch digital instrument cluster is much more fundamental than those in rival proposals from Ford or the Volkswagen Group, each when it comes to dimension and customization choices, however it exhibits all the knowledge you want.

See Additionally: Honda Step WGN e:HEV Minivan Unveiled In Japan With Minimalist Design

The high-mounted twin cup holders on all sides of the dashboard will come in useful in your espresso or water bottles, displaying that this automotive was constructed to make on a regular basis life simpler. You additionally get a further cupholder in entrance of the storage compartment between the seats, giant door pockets, and a twin glovebox for smaller gadgets. Within the Crosstar, all seats are upholstered in water-repellent material that could be very straightforward to wash though it doesn’t look that thrilling in gentle grey. Most significantly, all seats are fairly snug, with the entrance row benefiting from good bolsters and reclining headrests.

The large 986 mm (38.8 inches) of legroom for the rear passengers is by far probably the most you’ll ever see in a automobile of that footprint. Two adults will really feel like kings again there, sitting excessive and stretching their legs, not to mention youthful passengers on little one seats. A 3rd smaller-bodied passenger might comfortable in for shorter journeys though the accessible width is proscribed.

What takes practicality to the following stage is the “Magic Seats”, a signature function for all Jazz/Match and HR-V fashions. They might not slide or recline, however they will fold utterly flat forming a 1,199 lt (42.3 cubic ft) loading space with out affecting the portion with the seatbelts, or flip upright creating a really giant area on the again for carrying tall gadgets like crops or bikes. Each transformations happen in a matter of seconds with just one hand, and independently for all sides of the rear bench, giving the Jazz and Jazz Crosstar van-like capabilities.

Baggage area is just not as spectacular as you’ll anticipate with a capability of 298 lt (10.5 cubic ft) however it has a sensible form and a surprisingly low loading space. The latter comes because of the intelligent packaging of the e:HEV hybrid powertrain and the rear suspension, and in addition to the expense of a spare wheel.

Comfy, Economical And Quiet In The Metropolis, Loud In The Freeway

In Europe, the Jazz Crosstar is solely accessible with the e:HEV badge. Which means in EV Drive and Hybrid Drive modes it’s the electrical motor powering the entrance wheels, with the naturally-aspirated 1.5-liter engine restricted in offering energy to the generator which in flip expenses the battery and powers the electrical motor. There’s additionally the Engine Drive mode the place the ICE is transferring the wheels however that doesn’t happen usually because the self-charging battery is saved at a good quantity of cost.

Driving the Jazz Crosstar e:HEV within the metropolis is a pleasing expertise with the ICE both staying off utterly for extended durations of time, or maintaining a really low profile at low revs as a generator. The 107 hp (80 kW / 109 PS) of electrical energy doesn’t sound like a lot, however there’s a wholesome 253 Nm (187 lb-ft) of torque accessible in your proper foot so that you by no means really feel underpowered regardless of not getting the identical sense of acceleration as in a full-blown EV.

Gasoline financial system is nice within the city cycle the place you possibly can simply obtain a median of 4.0-4.5 lt/100km (58.8-52.2 mpg) as confirmed by our exams. Issues usually are not as frugal on the freeway although the place the combustion engine is attempting lots more durable leading to figures nearer to six.8 lt/100km (34.6 mpg). Total, our Jazz Crosstar had a really first rate common consumption of 5.3 lt/100km (44.3 mpg) within the final 1,600 km (1,000 miles), based on the journey pc.

The trip is snug because of the softer suspension and the automotive feels fairly secure at excessive speeds, whereas the steering wheel is properly balanced. You may really feel how a lot Honda engineers improved the chassis rigidity, refinement, and NVH in comparison with the earlier generations setting new requirements for the Jazz / Match. The tall physique and the jacked-up suspension have naturally resulted in noticeable physique roll within the corners and though dealing with is nice you don’t get impressed to assault B-roads. Efficiency is nice initially however after the 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) dash that’s accomplished in 9.9 seconds, you possibly can really feel it lagging behind some extra highly effective rivals. Having stated that, a loaded Crosstar will simply retain speeds of 130 km/h (81 mph) and even go barely sooner than the marketed high pace of 173 km/h (108 mph) in the event you give it time.

See Additionally: Sony And Honda Accomplice To Carry EVs Into The Market By 2025

The laid-back character and driving dynamics gained’t be a difficulty for any potential patrons, however the loud engine noise you get if you step on the accelerator is certainly irritating. We marvel why Honda didn’t add extra sound insulation supplies between the cabin and the engine bay. The truth that the ICE is just not at all times linked with the wheels and the driving force’s lack of management over the e-CVT gearbox means there’s a dissociation between revs, noise, and energy supply. Nonetheless, there’s a strategy to keep away from that in case you have a lighter foot and take it straightforward on upward slopes.

By way of security gear, the Jazz Crosstar comes normal with 10 airbags – it was the primary manufacturing automobile to introduce a front-center airbag between the driving force and the entrance passenger. It additionally will get the complete Honda Sensing Suite of ADAS together with the most effective Adaptive Cruise Management methods available on the market that by no means betrayed us, plus the Lane Maintaining Help and Highway Mitigation methods which labored nicely with heavy enter on the steering wheel guiding our method.

Pricing, Rivals, And Availability

The Honda Jazz Crosstar begins from £24,170 ($31,971) within the UK in the one accessible EX trim which has all the things you could possibly ask for, moreover the two-tone paint – you’ll should pay an additional £1,360 ($1,799) for the becoming Premium Daylight White Pearl / Crystal Black Pearl of our press automotive. Equally, the worth of the full-spec Jazz Crosstar Government Bi-Tone in Greece the place we drove it begins from €29,320 ($32,048) with all the things included. Though it’s a well-equipped automotive providing a cabin extra spacious and sensible than autos from bigger segments, its worth remains to be fairly excessive for a supermini.

The one rivals of the Honda Jazz Crosstar within the crossover supermini phase are the Ford Fiesta Lively, the Audi A1 Citycarver, and the budget-friendly Dacia Sandero Stepway, with all of them being cheaper but in addition extra cramped inside. In case you are barely versatile when it comes to dimensions you could possibly get well-specced examples from the B-SUV phase just like the Skoda Kamiq 1.5 TSI DSG for a a lot lower cost. At an identical worth level, you possibly can even entry base-spec premium compact crossovers just like the DS 4, or bigger C-SUVs just like the Nissan Qashqai.

Moreover the European market the place you possibly can solely get the e:HEV variant, the Jazz Crosstar is on the market in Japan, China (Guangqi Honda / Dongfeng Honda), Singapore, and South Africa. Honda determined to not convey this technology of the Jazz / Match stateside as a result of declining gross sales of its predecessor.

Our Verdict

The Honda Jazz Crosstar is providing hands-down probably the most sensible, family-oriented, and spacious cabin within the phase mixed with a compact footprint and SUV appears to be like. The adventurous styling bits, the elevated floor clearance, and the softer suspension make the Crosstar extra interesting to the lots than the usual Jazz and broaden the checklist of its rivals. The hybrid powertrain works nice in most situations and could be very economical within the metropolis, though the engine will get loud if you push and the mix of lukewarm efficiency and laid-back character gained’t get you pumped up.

Pricing is sort of steep for a automobile of this dimension, even when you think about the full-spec gear and the segment-leading versatility, because it places the Jazz Crosstar into the fields of bigger and extra premium autos for many who usually are not strict concerning the exterior dimensions. Having stated that, house owners who know what they’re shopping for shall be finally happy with its distinctive options and the numerous enhancements over its predecessors.