There's an all-new Honda Jazz on the way and it'll be hitting Irish dealerships in August. Riding on the same platform as the upcoming HR-V crossover, the new Jazz is longer (by 95mm) than before and has an extra 30mm in the wheelbase, making it even more spacious - quite some feat given how roomy the current car already is.
Thanks to the fuel tank being under the front seats, the Jazz keeps its clever 'Magic Seats' rear bench, which can be either folded flat (expanding the boot space from 334- to 884 litres) or flipped up vertically, making a tall loadspace behind the front seats that's perfect for loading in a 50-inch hi-def flat-screen TV. Ahem.
Under the more softly-designed and rounder bonnet is a new 1.3-litre 'Earth Dreams' petrol engine, that produces 102hp. Honda hasn't given us any details yet of fuel consumption or CO2 ratings, but it should improve on the current car's Band B tax figure.
The interior is all new too, albeit recognisable from previous Jazz models. Honda claims that the cabin quality has taken a big step forward though. There is a standard five-inch LCD touchscreen for the infotainment system, while the new Honda Connect setup (seven-inch touchscreen, Android software, swipe, pinch and drag functions, full smartphone integration) is an option.
There's a whole raft of standard and optional safety kit too. Available as an option on the entry-level model, and available as standard on all other grades, Honda's suite of safety technologies known as the Advanced Driver Assist System includes Intelligent Speed Assist, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Traffic Sign Recognition system and High-beam Support System. Honda's City-Brake Active system will be fitted as standard on all models.
Honda also says that the relatively conventional suspension (McPherson struts up front, torsion bar at the rear) has been tuned for sharper responses than the current car.