IT'S not so much the shape of things to come, more the shape that's already here and taking over.

Gone, increasingly, is the traditional booted saloon. In its place is a hatchback with a rounded roofline, sometimes long, sometimes short, sometimes tall . . . there's a growing list of them, very varied, but nevertheless versions of hatchbacks.

Ford's Focus may be the obvious example, but there are more varieties like Vauxhall's Zafira and a host of other small MPVs (Renault Scenic, Citroen Picasso, Audi's bug-like A2, Hyundai Matrix, Fiat Multipla).

From Japan we have the Nissan Almera Tino, Toyota's Yaris and Corolla Verso, Mazda Premacy, Daihatsu YRV and then a bundle of Hondas Civic, Stream, HR-V, CR-V . . .

And now the Jazz. Odd name but better than Fit, its Far Eastern name which Honda wisely decided to replace to avoid embarrassment in the West. Imagine going to your Honda dealer and saying 'I'd like to have a Fit, please'.

Honda probably regard the Jazz as a supermini, though it seems rather shorter and has a high back-end which suggests a more van-like utilitarian role.

That's not to suggest that it's ugly. To see how far Honda has come in terms of design and panache, just take a look at its predecessor, the Logo.

Never heard of it? Well, you're not alone. The Logo was an uninspiring, dull, has-been the moment it arrived two years ago.

It says a lot for Honda's reputation and legendary reliability that they actually sold 4,000 of them.

You will see considerably more of the thoroughly modern Jazz, which starts at under £9,000 and has received wide critical acclaim.

Sophisticated

A variety of reasons suggest that the Jazz will be a hit in Europe, where drivers are practically stampeding into small cars to cope with taxes, economy and environmental pressures.

It has already scooped two Japanese Car of the Year titles, and although it is actually put together by Suzuki, it is unquestionably a Honda: sophisticated and stylish, and sharing many of the new Civic's external design themes, including the bobbed nose, and consummately engineered throughout.

It also fizzes with innovation and versatility: it features 'magic' rear seats which not only fold 60/40 or completely flatten in an easy one-handed exercise, but their bases can double up too, like cinema seats.

The result is an astonishing amount of space in the aft section. Combine this with the Jazz's height, and even tall loads like a mountain bike can be stowed without much hassle.

You'll also find space under the seat cushions, an idea borrowed from the new Mini.

There are two cupholders by the gearstick (one is occupied by a removeable ashtray) and a handy well further forward. More useful is a shelf which stretches beneath the facia across the full width of the car, offering plenty of stowage space.

Not everyone will like the Jazz's funky fascia, but it disguises tacky switchgear and isn't over-fussy.

Black dials are housed in a hooded binnacle immediately in front of the driver, and there's a CD player, aircon and digital read-out for mpg.

Unlike the Civic, the Jazz doesn't have enough space to inset its gearknob into the fascia, but the short, stubby lever operates a quick and slick five-speed box (there's a semi-automatic sequential transmission on the way).

To add a certain panache, the gearknob is in stylish brushed aluminium, but it is a cold experience on winter mornings.

There are three trim levels, but all use the same 1.4-litre 82bhp engine which has twin sparkplugs per cylinder to boost the performance, cut emissions and deliver almost 50mph on the combined run.

Sadly, it doesn't feel all that lively and to achieve its 0-60 sprint time of 12 seconds it needs plenty of coaxing through its five gears though even the fourth can sometimes feel lacking for acceleration.

Further, the ride isn't so smooth and you're aware of it. Maybe there's a Jazz-band rocking the floor.

Against that the Jazz, being a Honda, is among the very safest of cars. It includes ABS with electronic brake-force distribution, crumple zones and high-strength steel beams. The latest ISOFIX child-restraint system has a third, roof-mounted anchor point an innovation other makers could well do to copy.

One final point. Honda houses the petrol tank amidships, swathing it in steel for added safety.