| New model | 2008 Paris Motor Show | 2008 Honda Jazz |

Honda's new Jazz arrives this autumn; it is more spacious than ever with more power and improved fuel consumption. Honda's stated aim is to build a small car with a 'big car feel'.

The new Jazz is 55mm longer and 20mm wider than the current model, the increases carrying over to greater interior room. Luggage capacity has grown by just over 40-litres and the rear seats have been redesigned to fold away more easily.

Slimmer windscreen pillars and larger windows - combined with retractable rear head restraints - should improve front and rear visibility. To allow more light into the cabin an optional glass roof, made of heat absorbing glass, is also available.

Honda has revised the suspension to improve the ride, while the wheelbase has increased by 50mm and the front track by 35mm to improve both stability and handling. Vehicle stability assist is available to provide an extra margin of safety.

Other safety features include a redesigned front crumple zone to better disperse crash energy. Front, side and curtain airbags are fitted and the front passenger airbag can be disabled to allow a child seat to be fitted in the front passenger seat.

Power comes from 1.2- and 1.4-litre engines with 89bhp and 99bhp respectively. Fuel economy is improved too: on the combined cycle the 1.2-litre Jazz returns 55.4mpg while the 1.4 manages 54.3mpg (in comparison to 51.4mpg for the outgoing 1.2-litre Jazz). Carbon dioxide emissions are similarly modest at 120g/km for the smaller engine and the larger unit gets a 123g/km rating with manual transmission or 120g/km with the updated six-speed automated manual i-Shift transmission.

There is no official information on what the new Jazz will cost but a slight increase over the current model seems reasonable. Exact trim levels and pricing details will be announced closer to the car's unveiling at the Paris Motor Show.

John Lambert - 31 Jul 2008