THERE aren't many cars on the road today that can boast the same approval rating as the Honda Jazz.

The musically-monikered supermini has been striking the right note with owners for the best part of decade, having topped the influential JD Power Customer Satisfaction survey for nine straight years.

That's certainly a ringing endorsement from the people who matter the most, the drivers themselves, and a few days behind the wheel of this 1.4 litre i-VTEC Si version certainly shows why the Jazz has proved such a hit.

Added to the range in 2012 the Si version gave the somewhat staid image of the Jazz a boost - the addition of some sporty design trappings creating a much more youthful look.

Bespoke bumpers and side skirts give the Si a more road-hugging stance, while 16-inch alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, front fog lights and Si branding all help to highlight the car's sportier specification.

A revised suspension, new dampers and a larger front anti-roll bar, to improve body control, are all added, along with some tweaks to the power-steering, to give some extra pep to the Si's performance.

And while it's still difficult to describe this as an exciting car to drive it's certainly sharper than the standard Jazz with precise handling and good grip, while the five-speed manual gearbox is compact and snappy.

The 1.4 version of Honda's proven i-VTEC petrol engine employed under the bonnet pumps out 99hp and in a car this size offers plenty of zip around town while coping equally well with the open road and motorway cruising.

The pay-off for the sportier set up is a slightly firmer ride but this is still a pretty comfortable car to travel in, even over longer distances.

Average fuel economy of just over 50mpg is bettered by many superminis on the road today but still means running costs will be low, while carbon emissions of of 129g/km amount to road tax costing £110 a year.

The Jazz's real strength, though, is it's Tardis-like interior - and there are no compromises in this department for the sporty version.

With design that is more akin to an MPV than a hatchback, Honda have squeezed oodles of space into the Jazz's compact frame - with the sort of versatility that's normally reserved for people carriers too.

Plenty of glass real estate means that the cabin has a light and airy feel and there is adequate room for five, with decent head and legroom in the rear.

A clear and uncluttered centre console puts all the controls within easy reach of the driver and, although much of the plastic on show is hard and scratchy, everything is well screwed together and feels built to last.

And Honda seem to have eked some usefulness out of virtually every square inch of the interior with not one, but two, glove boxes and an abundance of convenient smaller storage spaces and cup holders.

But the real genius is in the Japanese car-makers' 'Magic Seats'. Not only does the split rear bench fold flat with consummate ease, providing a load space to rival a small van, but the seat bases also flip up allowing taller items to be carried in the rear footwell.

The Si model sits mid-range and has pretty good amount of equipment with climate control, electric windows all round, powered folding wing mirrors, leather-bound multi-function steering wheel and a stereo with USB connectivity while stability control, six airbags and anti-whiplash head restraints help take care of safety.

Bluetooth is a bit of a glaring omission, as you'd expect to see that at this trim level, but it can be added, along with satnav, for an extra £995. A portable, stand-alone system will be cheaper, though, so this is unlikely to be a deal-breaker for anyone looking for a hugely practical supermini with some distinctive styling.

The third generation Jazz is due to arrive this summer and will no-doubt boast improved fuel economy and extra gadgets.