Honda Jazz hatchback: spacious and practical

Price: £11,695 - £20,245

Pros: Very practical, superb build quality, great reliability record

Cons: No diesel engine, uncompetitive economy figures, not much fun to drive

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3.2/5, Carbuyer "The Honda Jazz is one of the most practical cars in the supermini class. It's been on sale since 2008, but it's still a strong rival to newer cars such as the Ford Fiesta and Nissan Note. The highly flexible interior even makes the Jazz a decent alternative to supermini-MPVs such as the Ford B-MAX and Vauxhall Meriva.But the Jazz has fallen behind some key competitors in terms of fuel economy: Honda doesn’t offer a diesel, and the 1.2 and 1.4-litre petrol engines are only available with five-speed manual or CVT automatic gearboxes, neither of which are ideally suited to minimising fuel consumption.Buyers chasing low bills have the option of the hi-tech Honda Jazz Hybrid, although it's not as efficient as the rival Toyota Yaris Hybrid. It combines a 1.3-litre petrol engine with an electric motor to claim 62.8mpg fuel economy, but the Toyota beats that with 80.7mpg.The reality is that drivers are unlikely to get close to those figures in the real world, so you’ll have to cover a lot of miles to recoup the extra cost of buying a Jazz Hybrid in the first place.In light of that, we’d recommend the 1.4-litre petrol engine. What this car lacks in performance, it makes up for in space, and that's what Jazz buyers demand."

3/5, Auto Express "If you put space and versatility ahead of styling and driving pleasure, the Honda Jazz is in a different league to its supermini rivals. From the outside, its neat lines and boxy profile owe more to a small MPV than a compact hatchback, but the rewards are obvious on the inside."

4.5/5, Parker's "There are two petrol engines on offer (but no diesel) which are peppy around town plus offer decent performance on the motorway - plus the Jazz is comfortable and easy to drive. But the Honda's biggest strength is it's interior which is hugely practical and impressively spacious, making it one of the most family-friendly small cars around."3/5, What Car? "The Jazz's engines are smooth, but if you’re after the quiet life, the car is best avoided. Far too much wind noise and road noise make their way into the cabin, and this gets worse the faster you go. CVT versions (including the hybrid) make an almighty racket when you accelerate quickly."