2012 Honda Jazz

Honda Jazz

Honda’s Jazz has always played the practical card hard, and for South Africans who want something more versatile than a Swift or Yaris, this is where it makes sense. Petrol only—forget hybrids or electrics here—and you get your pick of 1.3- or 1.5-litre engines, with more gearbox options than you’d expect in this segment: manual, auto, semi-auto, even a CVT if you’re brave. That’s rare for a hatch smaller than a Polo, and on paper at least, it means you won’t have to compromise on how you want to drive. The used market’s your only shot, though—no new ones left—so what you see is what you get. Eleven listings at the moment, running from R86,500 to R258,800, but most hover between R130k and R200k, with R149,995 the median. It’s the 1.5 Executive and Elegance models that dominate the classifieds—expect those between R134,995 and R199,900 depending on year and mileage, which averages a city-friendly 123,000 km. That “magic seat” rear bench is the Jazz’s ace: fold it flat and you’ve got a boot taller than some crossovers, making it almost van-like inside. Neither the Swift nor Yaris can touch it for cargo space, and that matters for students, Uber drivers, or anyone who needs to haul awkward stuff around Cape Town or Durban. The 1.3 Comfort CVT at R149,995 is probably the real-world sweet spot—easy on the fuel, even easier in stop-start traffic. Just know that condition varies enormously at this price, so a full service record isn’t a bonus, it’s a deal breaker.