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Inside, Honda has gone for better trim and upholstery materials, and new colour schemes, as well as changes to the instrumentation, switchgear, door handles, steering wheel controls and (where fitted) the satellite navigation display. The latest headrests on the sliding rear seats can be shoved down so that they don't get in the way of the driver's view through the interior mirror, but there's no change to the space-saving fascia-mounted handbrake.

Running on two-wheel drive for normal motoring and moving automatically to four-wheel drive only when needed, the AWD system has been modified.  There's a new Vehicle Stability Assist system as standard on the Executive, as well as better provision of airbags, and the brake specification has also been improved.

On sale in October, the 2005 Jazz range features revised front and rear styling, including an individual look for the 1.4 Sport. Inside, there are upgrades to the instrumentation, trim and equipment levels, but no alterations to the very efficient rear seat folding system in a car whose interior accommodation was designed by somebody familiar with Dr Who's Tardis.

As before, the 1.4-litre petrol engine will be available with either a five-speed manual gearbox or Honda's own seven-hold CVT transmission, although the CVT will now be worked via paddles rather than by steering wheel buttons.

The latest 1.2-litre engine may be new to the UK, but it's been available in other markets for some time. Offering 76bhp instead of the 81bhp of the 1.4, it comes with the five-speed manual box. The 0-62mph time is under 14 seconds, the top speed is the same 106mph as the 1.4 manual, but there's a noticeable improvement in the fuel consumption figures - 60.1mpg extra urban and 51.4mpg combined - and the CO2 rating dips to 129g/km.

Prices for all these new cars nearer the time of the UK launch.

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