ONE of the most popular and reliable cars on the road, the Honda Jazz, will cost from £13,495 when new generation models hit the streets in September.

That tab is for the entry level S grade version while the flagship EX Navi CVT variant tops the list at £17,425.

While a new platform increases the supermini's overall length by 95mm, smart packaging means that the latest Jazz is proportionally bigger on the inside than its predecessor.

So occupants get both boot space - 354 litres with the rear seats up and 897 litres with them lowered - and passenger space that Honda says are unrivalled in the class.

And for ease of use, the Japanese brand has retained its Magic Seat system which allows numerous cargo configurations and a maximum interior loading length of a 2,480mms.

Design-wise the newcomer retains the classic Jazz silhouette and adds some distinctive styling, including a powerful new face and stronger character lines.

Kit across the range is comprehensive, with base-grade S models fitted as standard with the likes of air-con, cruise control with speed limiter and dusk sensing auto lights, while every grade comes with City-Brake Active to help avoid low-speed accidents.

The mid-grade SE model, priced from £14,595, adds front and rear parking sensors, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors and 15-inch alloy wheels.

Honda's Driver Assistance Safety Pack, with five advanced safety aids, is also included.

Those opting for the top-grade EX model from £15,715 get smart entry and start, auto climate control and six-speaker audio upgrade plus 16-inch alloys and front fog lamps.

Customers opting for the SE or EX models will also benefit from the Honda Connect in-car infotainment, an Android-based system with an app-based ‘pinch, swipe and tap‘ interface accessed on a seven-inch touchscreen in the centre of the dash.

A new 1.3 litre i-VTEC petrol engine from the company's Earth Dreams Technology series is in every car, combined with either a six-speed manual gearbox or a newly developed CVT, and CO2 emissions are as low as 106g/km.

Honda expects fuel economy to be an average 56.5mpg in manual versions and up to 61.4 in the CVT.

Leon Brannan, Honda UK's head of cars, said: "Now in its third generation, Jazz continues to evolve its unique blend of quality, compact exterior dimensions and class-leading interior space.

"And, with highly competitive list prices from just £13,495 and very affordable PCP packages from £139 per month, we are expecting strong demand."