What is there to dislike about the Honda Jazz? It is spacious, versatile and practical, with excellent build quality, superb reliability and it is built in Britain.

If it lacks anything, it is that little frisson of sporty excitement. Now Honda has attended even to that small detail with the launch of the gently pulse-raising Jazz Si.

This limited edition of the sensible supermini boasts sporty looks, revised suspension and extra, subtly racy features.

Built in Honda’s factory in Swindon alongside the rest of the Jazz range, the Si, which is based on the 1.4 ES manual version, comes with a set of sports-inspired features.

The exterior has been given front and rear sport bumpers and side skirts, as well as larger 16-inch alloy wheels. Dark rear glass, front fog lights and Si branding on the boot, highlight the car’s sporty specification.

The changes are not just cosmetic as the car’s suspension settings have been tweaked and a new set of dampers have been combined with a larger front anti-roll bar, to improve straight-line stability and body control. Engineers have also modified the electric power-steering system for improved feel and response.

The interior has been given the Si treatment too, with a leather-trimmed steering wheel, black and silver supportive seats and cruise control. Up against a range of serious rivals including the Volkswagen Polo, Toyota Yaris, Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa, the Si is a welcome addition to a range of cars that have proved a sales success, particularly with older drivers, following its launch ten years ago.

Since then, more than 3.5 million drivers across the world have taken to the roads in a Jazz, with more than 220,000 sold in the UK alone, keeping it in the top five of the UK retail sales charts for six years. Priced from just over £11,500, the range now extends to a hybrid model, alongside the established 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre petrol engines.

The success of the Jazz is partly down to the interior packaging, which combines surprising interior space within a compact, easy-to-park exterior. Most impressive are the so-called ‘magic seats’ in the rear which give a range of seating and cargo-carrying configurations, and now recline for extra comfort. They drop down in one motion without the need to remove the headrests or adjust the front passenger seat, giving a perfectly flat load floor. Or by locking the seat base in the ‘up’ position against the seat backs you can create a second load area between the front and rear seats to stow taller items in the rear foot-wells.

The boot too has a flexible folding floor, under-floor storage well and a cargo net.

In short, the Jazz Si is a small car that can effortlessly cover long distances — and is also fun to drive.

Auto facts Honda Jazz 1.4 Si
 

  • Price: £14,550
  • Insurance group: 16 (1-50)
  • Fuel consumption: (Combined): 57.7mpg
  • Top speed: 113mph
  • Length: 391.5cm/154.1in
  • Width: 152.5cm/60in
  • Luggage capacity: 13.3 cu ft
  • Fuel tank capacity: 9.2 gallons/42 litres
  • CO2 emissions: 129g/km
  • Warranty: 3 years/ 90,000 miles