Honda Jazz Problems

Being green is easier than you might think; you don't have to buy an expensive hybrid or oil-burner as some people would have you believe.A smaller car, one with a smaller petrol engine, will do the trick for most folks. While hybrids are still expensive and diesel fuel is dear small cars like Honda's Jazz are economical and affordable.Often, when you think about it, they will get the job done for most people as well. Why carry around all that sheetmetal and cast iron when you don't have to?Besides, small cars are easy to drive, easy to park, and easy on the pocket. There's plenty of choice when it comes to small cars and prices vary wildly from brand to brand.The Jazz, like Hondas tend to be, is one  of the premium models in its class, but that didn't hold it back when it came to popularity. The second generation GE arrived in 2008 and built on the first generation and the success it enjoyed.There was a new body, although it looked much like the old one that had proved popular, particularly with women buyers who were taken with the styling. The same two engines continued to be offered, but they were revised.The 1.3-litre entry-level engine in the GLi was given four valves per cylinder, which made it rev easier and more smoothly. Its output also went up substantially. The VTi and VTi-S were both powered by the larger 1.5-litre engine and its output was also boosted by a healthy amount. Gone was the quirky CVT transmission of old that had been some what troublesome, and in its place was a regular five-speed auto. For those happy to shift themselves there was also a five-speed manual on offer.The Jazz, with its upright peoplemover type body, is a practical little car offering good interior room, flexible seating and clear   visibility. On the road it steers well, handles with assurance, is comfortable and is easy to park.IN THE SHOPHondas generally have a good reputation for being reliable, although parts and servicing can be more expensive than some other brands. Good independent service agents specialising in Hondas are a good alternative to dealers if you want to save a few bucks. It's important, however, that the Jazz is well serviced and has the recommended oil changes.Fresh oil and clean filters keep modern engines alive longer, so check for a service record for any potential purchase. The switch from the CVT transmission in the older model to a regular  auto is good news; the CVT suffered a number of problems that caused buyers headaches, none of which will bother buyers of the auto in the GE model.IN A CRASHANCAP judged the Jazz as a four-star performer when it came to safety, it would have probably got an extra star had Honda made electronic stability control available. It didn't, but the Jazz did have ABS braking across the board, and traction control on the VTi and VTi-S. Dual airbags were standard on the base GLi, while the VTi and VTi- S also had head and side airbags for added protection.UNDER THE PUMPFuel economy is one of the most important considerations when most of us sit down to select the next car we will buy. Hybrids and diesels have been the flavours of the month in the last few years, but both come at a hefty cost that most people refuse to pay.Small petrol-engined cars, like the Jazz, are a viable alternative, especially when they return fuel consumption figures of 5.8 L/100 km (1.3) and 6.4 L/100 km (1.5) as the Jazz does.AT A GLANCEPrice new: $17,990 to $23,920 Engine: 1.3-litre 4-cylinder petrol, 73 kW/127 Nm; 1.5-litre 4-  cylinder petrol, 88 kW/145 NmTransmission: 5-speed auto, 5-speed manualBody: 5-door hatchVariants: GLi, VTi, VTi-SSafety: 4-star ANCAPVERDICT:Practical, roomy, economical, it's hard to beat. 

Honda Jazz is the smallest model from the at-times quirky Japanese car maker that’s sold in Australia. Since its launch in October 2002 the Jazz has gained an excellent reputation for build quality and trouble free running.Quality is of particular interest as the Jazz comes from Thailand, not Japan, to hold down manufacturing costs. We have visited Honda’s Thai plant and came away impressed, though hardly surprised, to note Honda's big emphasis on quality control.Honda Jazz has a high roofline to maximise interior space in what is a relatively small body. It can seat four adults with little compromising on legroom, but in Australia is more likely to carry either a couple or a family with young children. It fulfils both tasks with ease.There’s reasonably easy entry to the back seat, but some may find the rear door opening is a little tight in the original model. Those sold from the new model of 2008 this mild problem had been rectified. The Jazz has one of the best folding rear seat designs of them all. The rear seat slides backwards and forwards to let you choose your own compromise between people and/or luggage.And it can be folded in a few moments to create a huge luggage area. Even better, the front passenger seat backrest can be reclined all the way down to let you carry long loads extending from the dashboard to the rear window. In August 2008 Honda introduced a new Jazz that looked the same as the first generation, but was actually a major evolution of the old.The gen-two car is larger and sits on a longer wheelbase, so has significantly more space inside, particularly in the rear area of the cabin. Boot space increased and the 60/40 split rear seats could be folded flat without having to move the front seats a few notches forward as in the original model. At the same time the body was more rigid to improve NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness). The post-08 Honda Jazz has the sort of refinement that normally requires a car a size larger.Honda Jazz comes with a 1.3- or 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine. Though the engine sizes remained in the second-generation Jazz, they were actually all new. Power and torque were both increased, yet fuel consumption and emission decreased. Best of all, the torque graph has stretched to give you more grunt at the bottom end of the rev range.The gen-one Jazz has a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The 1.5 CVT comes with a sports mode offering seven preset gear ratios operated by steering wheel shifters. The 1.3-litre engine runs purely as an automatic. However, Honda decided to go back to a conventional torque-converter automatic transmission in the gen-two Jazz. Honda made this decision because potential buyers didn’t like some of the characteristics of the CVT, particularly the way it selected relatively high engine revs to gain maximum efficiency.Handling of the little Honda is good if roads are reasonably smooth, but it can be bounced about on bumps. On surfaces that suit it, the Jazz turns in easily, is happy to change direction in corners and is generally well set up for everyday driving. Enthusiastic drivers may find it a little lacking in steering precision. While the Jazz is reasonably easy for the amateur mechanic to work on, there is some underbonnet crowding that’s inevitable on a car of this size. Keep some band aids handy - and don’t forget the workshop manual.The Honda Australia dealer network is widespread in the heavily populated areas, but isn’t all that established in remote areas. We seldom hear of any real hassles with getting hold of spare parts, but if you are concerned about this it may be smart to make local enquiries before falling too deeply in love with one of these cute little models. Spare parts prices for Hondas are more reasonable now than they have been in the past.Insurance costs for Honda Jazz generally sit in the mid-range of the field. There doesn’t appear to be any real differentiation between companies on premium charges. It’s always wise to spend some time shopping around for the best deal, though.WHAT TO LOOK FORCheck that the engine starts easily and responds quickly and positively to the throttle, even when it’s completely cold. A continuously variable transmission should be crisp in its reactions to changes in throttle position and road conditions. Because a CVT transmission sounds and feels different to conventional automatics, have an expert drive it if you are not confident it’s working correctly.Make sure the brakes stop the car without any pulling to one side and that no one wheel locks while the others are still turning. Bodywork should be undamaged and free from rust. Corrosion is not common unless the car has been poorly repaired after a smash. Look over the interior to make sure it hasn’t suffered at the hands of uncaring owners, especially bored young kids. As always, it makes a lot of sense to get a professional inspection after carrying out initial checks to the best of your ability.CAR BUYING TIPCars that are always used in cities or close-in suburbs can suffer from a lot more parking scars than those that live in more spacious surroundings. Small cars are often city cars, so check them very carefully. 

Small cars demand a different approach than do their larger cousins in order to achieve an efficiency of packaging that delivers a level of comfort and everyday practicality for their owners.Honda's Jazz is a case in point. By any definition it's a small car, but at the same time its rather upright wagon-like shape gives it a roominess that belies its modest dimensions.MODEL WATCHThe Jazz arrived in local showrooms in 2002 and was updated in 2004 and 2006 with extra equipment that kept it fresh.  Despite its upright and boxy shape the Jazz had a cheeky appeal with its steeply sloping front, bright eyes and corporate Honda grille.Wide-opening doors and a high roofline made getting in and out of the Jazz a breeze, something that appealed to older buyers who struggled getting into other lower models. Inside, passengers sat in rather upright, but supportive seating that combined with the tall body to make a roomy and comfortable cabin.Another advantage of the upright style was the visibility, which was good all round.  With the rear seats folded to form the flat floor there was quite good space for whatever might need to be transported in the Jazz.  Honda offered the Jazz in three models, the 1.3-litre GLi entry level, and the 1.5-litre VTi and VTi-S.The GLi was only available with the 1.3-litre engine, but buyers could choose between a five-speed manual gearbox and a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), which was an auto of sorts.When working at its peaks the 1.3-litre four was putting out 61 kW and 119 Nm. It was a smooth driver around town, but was found out when asked to climb hills or accelerate quickly.For better performance there was the VTi and VTi-S with the 1.5-litre engine that put out 81kW and 143Nm. The larger engine handled the cut and thrust of city traffic much better and was more at home on the highway.VTi and VTi-S buyers could choose between a five-speed manual and a CVT transmission that could be overridden and driven as a seven-speed manual.At first the GLi was fairly basic and didn't come standard with air until 2006. By then it boasted central locking, a trip computer, power steering, mirrors and windows and four-speaker CD sound.The VTi came with air from the get-go and also had remote central locking, while range-topping VTi-S also boasted alloy wheels, a body kit, fog lamps, leather steering wheel, rear spoilerIN THE SHOPHonda enjoys an enviable reputation for reliability that many other carmakers can only dream about, but nevertheless it's always prudent to ask for a service record that confirms regular maintenance has been done. Servicing is required every 10,000 km or six months.Modern engines live and die on oil and missing oil changes is a recipe for disaster. Oil galleries clog up and in extreme cases it can be virtually impossible to clean them out without dismantling the engine and putting through a hot tub.Honda has had trouble with the CVT transmission in the Jazz, as reported by a number of CarsGuide readers. When test driving a potential buy look for shuddering when accelerating away from a standstill, and walk away from any car that shudders.Changing the oil in the transmission and resetting the computer have fixed some cars, but others haven't been able to be fixed that way and the transmission has had to be replaced at a considerable cost.It should also be noted that Honda claims that CVT-equipped cars need to be taken back to a dealer to have the computer reset if the battery has been disconnected for any reason. That includes those situations when a battery is replaced, which makes replacement a rather more expensive exercise.Honda parts and servicing can be more expensive than those on other makes and models, but there is a number of independent specialist service mechanics that can do the work more cheaply.IN A CRASHDual front airbags and ABS anti-lock braking were standard across the range, enough to receive a creditable four star rating from ANCAP.AT THE PUMPOne of the strengths of the Jazz is its fuel economy.  Honda claimed the 1.3-litre would do 5.2 L/100 km on average with the manual gearbox, and 5.1 L/100 km when equipped with the CVT.With the 1.5-litre engine Honda claimed an average consumption of 5.6 L/100 km for the manual and 5.5 L/100 km for the CVT.  One of our readers reported the consumption of their 1.3-litre manual   never goes above 5.5 L/100 km around town and sinks to 4.5 L/100 km on the open road.OWNER'S SAYGraham Bewley currently owns a 1.3-litre auto Jazz GLi, having previously owned a 2006 1.5-litre CVT Jazz VTi for three years. He says it is quiet and smooth, and roomy with a bigger car feel, it's   also economical, the steering is improved and it has a full-sized   spare. Against that he says he doesn't like the large windscreen, the air-conditioning is barely adequate, and the gearing is a little too   high with the 1.3-litre engine. But in summary, he says that while the Jazz is no sports car, it is very pleasant to drive and both of his cars have been super reliable. There were no problems with the CVT in his previous car.Dr. Graeme Paton has racked up more than 300,000 km in his 1.3-litre 2003 Jazz GLi and says it still feels tight, and starts first time, every time. It has been routinely serviced and has been very reliable only requiring routine brake pad and disc changes, and replacement of the wheel bearings, which Honda did under warranty.LOOK FORCute, but practical stylingRoomy interiorEconomical runningModest performance from 1.3-litreShuddering CVT transmissionHonda resaleTHE BOTTOM LINEA well built, spacious small car with good blend of performance and economy. 80/100