The Jazz lineup has been known to have a compact body but a versatile-enough interior to accommodate the basic transporting needs of its users. Throughout time, its exterior has seen a few updates but the same offering still remained at its core. For this latest model, we have the top-of-the-line Honda Jazz 1.5 RS Navi CVT variant so let’s take a look if it still carries the traits people have grown fond of over the years.
Exterior
There’s really no mistaking a Jazz but in this Rallye Red color, you can still expect to turn some heads. The latest overall design of this Jazz doesn’t shy away from the aesthetic of the ones that came before it. It still exudes a very cool and sporty feel with its sleek lines and sporty accents.
Upfront, you get a nice matte black front grille which is flanked by two LED headlights equipped with Daytime Running Lights. And being the RS variant, you’ll find the exclusive RS emblem sitting pretty on the right side of the grille. Around the back, you have the LED tail lamp equipped with an LED high-mount stop lamp.
A closer look at the front bumper reveals matching carbon accents which are also present on the design of the rear bumper. Following the Jazz’s lines brings your focus from the elegant sill garnish on the side all the way to the tailgate spoiler which pretty much rounds up the car’s design.
And lastly, adding a bit more flair to the Jazz are its full black gloss, power-adjustable side mirrors, and a set of handsome 16-inch black alloy wheels.
Interior
The interior is a lot more subtle with its seats made of a simple black fabric finished off with orange-colored stitching. Additionally, the steering wheel and shift knob are wrapped in leather for a more premium feel.
But of course, one of the main features of the Jazz has always been the amount of space it had to offer. The setup is somewhat modular and offers four modes to choose from depending on your needs.
Utility mode allows you to fold down the seats on the second row to reveal a fully flat back. If you need a bit more space, you can opt to adapt Long Mode by reclining the front passenger seat to add a few more inches in length. Honda says that in Long Mode, you can even easily stow a full-length surfboard.
Now if you’re not really looking for length but height, opt for the Jazz’s tall mode by simply folding up the bottom seat of the second row. And lastly, for those times when you just need to take a quick break from driving, the Jazz offers Refresh Mode. By detaching the headrest and reclining the front and driver passenger seat, the back seat transforms into a lounge of some sort where you can give your legs a good stretch.
Features
The center console houses a 7-inch touchscreen display with a handful of features. While unfortunately not running on Android Auto or Apple Carplay, it does offer its own brand of features and apps for navigation and connectivity. Navigation works well but I would personally still rather just connect my phone and use Waze for directions and use the on-screen map as a visual aid.
Speaking of connectivity, the Jazz can connect wirelessly to your device via Bluetooth but also offer additional wired input through its HDMI and USB ports.
Just below the touchscreen display, you can find the automatic airconditioning system which also utilizes a touch panel. This may be a pro for some, as it does look more modern, but lacking tactile buttons to manipulate could possibly result in some distractions while driving since you’ll have to look where you’re pressing instead of just feeling it out.
On the steering wheel, you can find useful controls for audio as well as for answering and dropping calls.
Performance
The first thing I noticed driving the Jazz was how light and nimble it is to bring around. Its sportiness isn’t limited to its look since it can accelerate pretty fast when the situation calls for it. The engine was responsive, and can easily pick up speed even when the vehicle is loaded with passengers.
Another thing I liked about the Jazz is how wide the windshield is. As the driver, it’s important that you see everything happening around you so having a wide, unobstructed view is definitely a good thing.
And in order to yield better fuel consumption during your trips, it’s Eco Mode is there to keep its performance in moderation. There’s even this ambient light flanking the speedometer that indicates how friendly your gas input is. Step on the gas hard, the light turns blue. Ease up a bit and it turns green. It’s a handy feature for me as it serves as a constant reminder to achieve better mileage while driving.
We took the Jazz around the metro doing errands and through downpours of rain, as well as out of town for a quick drive and to experience the vehicle further. On long highways, it’s very smooth and its cruise control comes in handy for a more steady-paced adventure. Although going on streets with uneven surfaces, you easily feel the bumps.
Creature Feature
As always, in our reviews, The Modern Creatures aims to find special features in a product that makes it worth buying — something that gives it an edge from its peers. For this Honda Jazz RS, it would definitely be the versatility of its seats to accommodate different kinds of cargo. It’s not too common to see a vehicle this size haul your stuff (up to a full-size surfboard) effortlessly and in just a few folds.
Conclusion
The Honda Jazz RS, for me, is one perfect example of a vehicle suited for Metro Manila — it’s compact enough for some of our narrow streets, it has useful tech that comes in handy during long and short drives, and offers versatility in space depending on what you need. It also looks good and turns heads on the road with its RS package and more importantly, yields mileage that’s above average.
The Honda Jazz starts at PhP 868,000 for the base model but this top of the line RS Navi CVT is at PhP 1,088,000. So if you’ve been a Jazz fan and want to get the latest features and its signature kits, you’ll definitely enjoy the Jazz RS.
To see it more in action, watch our video review below:
