THE majority of buyers who opt for a Honda Jazz tend to stick with the brand and the model and that is no surprise.

For years the Jazz has earned itself a reputation for economy, practicality and reliability and that has won it a loyal mature following.

Up until 2020 the Jazz was not very stylish but the latest generation changed that and its interior is almost futuristic.

And now Jazz fans have a wider choice thanks to the introduction of a Crosstar model - a slightly larger and small SUV version of the hatchback.

It gives the Jazz an even more modern look and as it is longer, wider and taller than the hatch there is more room inside.

It also boasts more ground clearance but do not make the mistake of taking it off-road or you will come a cropper. It has been designed as a lifestyle vehicle and Honda hopes it will attract a younger audience.

The Crosstar sits right at the top of the Jazz range and is only available in one spec which provides even more kit than on the hatchback flagship EX.

The car looked great in Surf Blue with a Crystal Black roof at an extra cost of £950 but the paint job is well worth the asking price.

As well as the two-tone paint job the Crosstar also comes with smart 16-inch alloy wheels, roof bars, a premium sound system and upholstery that is designed to resist tough treatment from more active buyers.

The interior is really spacious with stacks of room for four adults to travel in real comfort and vision is excellent thanks to the huge windscreen.

All the controls are easy to operate and nicely laid out and there is lots of storage points for the driver and passengers. There is a large digital speedometer to keep you legal and a large touch screen which allows you easy access to most of the cars other functions including sat nav and the infotainment. It also displays the view from the reversing camera and features all the info from your smart phone.

Thankfully the heating controls are located in easy reach and you do not have to take your eyes off the road to adjust the temperature or blower.

As well as its impressive interior space the Jazz Crosstar also features Honda's ‘magic' rear seats which collapse into the floor to provide a completely flat and substantial load space.

On the safety front this car comes with all the latest safety aids and equipment including no fewer than 10 airbags, one of which is a new front-centre airbag designed to protect occupants from side impacts.

Out on the road the Crosstar impresses and the steering is sharp and accurate while the suspension deals with even the worst of our roads. The automatic transmission means it is ideal for town work and it also shines on the motorway where it cruises quietly and without fuss.

Available only as a hybrid the Crosstar is powered by a combination of a 1.5-litre petrol engine and two electric motors that are self-charging. It does not need to be plugged-in and it is amazingly frugal.

Around town you can manage to run it on electric-only power for surprisingly long periods and the petrol engine cuts in and out smoothly.

It takes 9.9 seconds to sprint to 62mph and has a top speed of 107mph but it really scores on the economic front. Honda only claims an overall figure of just under 60mpg for the car but is capable of so much more and I got a result of 70 mpg over a mixed week of driving without trying.