Faults:

Passenger side automatic window, promptly replaced under warranty by the dealer;

For some obscure reason, Honda dealers in Portugal drill extra holes in the Jazz body to install rear license plates instead of using factory mountings.

The carpet self destroys. The car is about 1 year old and there's a hole on the carpet, on the passenger side...

General Comments:

The Jazz is a no thrills, no frills car. Don't expect great performance. It was built for town driving, although it will cope with highway traffic.

Its versatility is one of its major selling points. The Magic Seat system is very ingenious, and it will transform the Jazz into a small truck on demand. I've been able to fit a full size mattress in it...

Rear seats are incredible spacious and comfortable.

Perceived quality is very good, except for the sorry excuse for a carpet. It's the worst I've ever seen. It doesn't look and feel like a carpet. It's not even glued to the floor of the car. It feels papery... I have no idea what was in Honda's mind to use this kind of material in a car...

Also, I wonder why didn't Honda add an engine temperature dial? You never know how hot the engine is running until the warning light comes on, which might be too late.

Fuel economy is very good, although Honda overstates it. I've managed 4.5 liters per 100 kms on the open road at a constant speed of 80 kph. Anything near 100/120 kph, and it uses some 6.5 liter per 100 kms.

Honda quotes 6 liters per 100 kms on city driving. Expect something in the region of 7/8, which anyway, is good.

The sound system is fairly good. The CD player reads CD-R and CD-RW with no problems. Another thing that baffles me is why on earth Honda doesn't offer an MP3 reading unit? Newer models have an MP3 jack though, but still, no standalone MP3 reading possibility.

Faults:

There is nothing going wrong till now, and don't expect anything because of Honda legendary build quality.

General Comments:

This is a really good small car. 6L/100 km through the town and amazing 4,6L/100 on the road. Pretty good performer and easy to park almost everywhere in town. Practicality is excellent. There is enough space for 4 of us and other baggage.

Faults:

If you are sitting inside a Honda Jazz, you can hear loud noise from outside, even when windows are closed. You just can't relax, very bad NVH, but great in fuel economy.

Faults:

Very awkward flat spot below 2000 rpm. A brief turbo-like surge occurs thereafter. The problem is most evident on hills and in second gear, when it stifles any pulling power. Yet this is not an engine that aspires to rev. Is this a fault or do they really 'all do that'?

Rear view mirror vibrates.

General Comments:

A hugely practical and intelligent car for the size.

Easy and fun to drive despite the slow steering and a bouncy though not jarring ride.

Very economical in a variety of use, but it could do with a bigger petrol tank.

Despite the search for light weight, impressively solid and precise build quality.

However I am still uneasy about the service and the engine.

And why didn't Honda bring the 1.5, which is offered everywhere else, to Europe?