A few years ago, a Honda Cars Philippines manager told me that for every Jazz they sold, roughly three City sedans would be snapped up by customers. I get that the City is a great subcompact sedan, but the disparity still felt too large for such a fine hatchback.
Or maybe we’re just big fans of five doors here in TG.
Honda’s hatchback received a refresh in mid-2017. The highlight of that update was the arrival of the bright-hued RS variant, which stands for Road Sailing. Along with the RS, the regular Jazz also got improvements in the form of new grilles, bumpers, alloy wheels and power folding side mirrors.
The improvements are aesthetic, and that means we’re still waiting for Honda to slot in the Civic’s 1.5-liter turbo mill in there. But the changes are not enough to change the overall spirit of the Jazz, which is a stylish hatch confidently maturing before our eyes.
The A/C still has that comforting glacial quality, the suspension still soaks up our bad roads, and the cabin is roomy enough to sleep in. If all these qualities appeal to you, and you like the refreshed look of the Jazz, then it’s time to embrace the hatchback lifestyle.
We doubt if the market’s boring taste will change soon, so might as well be on the cool side of the motoring fence. Trust us, it’s fun here.
