The Jazz looks trendy, is easy to drive, and is small yet capacious inside. That in a line sums up what endears it to those looking for a versatile hatch.



Never mind the big sticker price for a small car, which leaves its buyers undaunted.



It's been nearly a year since the latest little Honda was introduced in Japan, where it's known as the Fit. And here we have the car coming completely built up from the Honda plant in Thailand.



It's pretty popular there, we hear, and has garnered a number of awards in Japan and eleswhere, so there must be something about the car that's worth its claim to fame.



Compact spaciousness is an oxymoron if ever there's one. The Jazz, especially the latest generation, proves the adjective-noun combo can co-exist without tripping each other up.



The usual drill with most car companies is that they like to show their products grow bigger with every build. Honda is no different; its Jazz is a little wider and longer but retains the same height as the earlier model at around 1.5m.



Wade through the details and you will find Honda has refined the Jazz's persona.



The high visibility is immediately obvious once you step inside.



The forward-leaning stance in the design goal and the curve roof are the starting points for a double take.



Compared to the previous model, the A-pillars are now slimmer and stretch forward by 12cm, lending a sharper exterior shape and enhancing the aerodynamics. This also results in front quarter windows that are larger than ever before.



The expanse of rakish windscreen, coupled with integrated rear seat headrests, heighten visibility fore and aft " not unlike a mini-MPV. That's always an advantage on increasingly-crowded roads filled with boisterous traffic.



What brings on the configurable coolness is undeniably the Ultra Seats, which the Honda salesman will only be too happy to show you.



Back-row seats and front passenger seat can be manipulated like putty to offer up different types of spaces for different occasions.



In Tall mode, back-row seats can be folded up, opening up vertical space of up to 1.28m. Ideal for the moments when you are hauling home potted plants from the Sungai Buloh nurseries.



The front passenger seat can be fully reclined in Tall mode to create a lengthwise space of 2.4m that allows long objects on board such as a clothestand.














Boot space is extended up to 1.72m long in Utility mode when the rear seatback is unfastened and dropped forward flat. Otherwise, start off with a fair bit of boot space at 380l.



The unspoken reality is that such objects in the passenger cell can pose a safety hazard in a collision, regardless of whether they are lashed down or not.



Meanwhile, 10 cup holders, a double glove box design and a rear left underseat compartment will have every Jazz owner sated where storage options for knick-knacks are concerned.



The dash looks refreshing albeit a little busy with all those knobs and buttons.



Unlike the first-generation Jazz, the latest one has an integrated audio system that can play songs in MP3 and WMA formats. In tune with the times, a USB port for iPod or MP3 flash media connections is offered. It would have been nice though to have a retractable cable when the port on the lower part of the dash is not in use.



The S-grade Jazz we had gets a plain steering wheel. The better-equipped V-grade version comes with audio and cruise control buttons on the wheel plus paddle shifters.



Comfort levels are commendable. We will have to take Honda's word that it's because rear seats are wider and thicker. The front seats, it says, are based on the seat frames of a middle-class sedan and are fitted with springs and padding for better seat hold and ride comfort.



Leather, instead of fabric seats, would have added better value to the whole package, considering this is a small car with premium price aspirations in Malaysia.



The Euro 4-compliant engine seems to have gone on a diet, looking decidedly small. All the better to deliver more cabin space, we figured. Its size, or the lack of it, does not mean it's anaemic.



On the contrary, the i-VTEC engine has been tuned for better output at higher revs while seeking to strike a balance with that important criterion " fuel efficiency.



The pick-up is not as inspiring as one hopes for but the engine rewards with a crispness once the right foot pushes harder.



In addition, the steering is light, linear and progressive. It works in tandem with a taut suspension to offer a dollop of sportiness in the mix, which is clearly seen as the Jazz barrels through corners, feeling stable and composed with minimal body roll.



There's room to jazz up this Honda with Modulo accessories. What you get in return for paying around RM2,200 extra are a tailgate spoiler, interior foot light, illuminated side step garnish, alloy pedals and a trunk tray.



For those who fancy the Jazz, it's the ideal city car that has shaped up to be a versatile player. And that's quite a feat for the little Honda that could.