Report: Joshua David Luther; Photography: Mohd. Nasir
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Engine
1498cc, 4 Cylinder, DOHC, i-DTEC, Diesel
1198cc, 4 Cylinder, SOHC, i-VTEC, Petrol
Transmission
6-speed manual
5-speed manual
CVT Automatic
Power
98.6 bhp@3600 rpm
88.8 bhp@6000 rpm
Torque
200 Nm@2000 rpm
110 Nm@4800 rpm
Economy
27.62kmpl
Boot space
354 litres
Ground clearance
165mm
Suspension
Front: McPherson strut with coil spring
Rear: Torsion beam axle with coil spring
Kerb weight
1007~1044Kg (MT)
1062~1066Kg (CVT)
Price (ex-showroom Delhi)
TBA
I wake up to a dreamy Friday morning and for a moment I am struggling to understand why the blessed alarm is ringing at five in the morning. Then it hit me, I had to leave early to review the new 3rd generation Honda Jazz. Without another complaint I hop out of bed and am ready in a jiffy. Believe it or not I’ve been a huge fan of the Jazz ever since I first laid my eyes on it. When Honda launched the Jazz in India it was definitely ahead of its time and when I saw the next generation of the Jazz, the first thought that crossed my mind was “this is perfect”.
At first sight the Honda Jazz is a hatch to fall in love with, the smooth flowing lines, the aerodynamic design, the subtle chrome finishing will woo your senses. Many aspects of the Jazz are still quite futuristic and give the car a distinct identity. Honda has used a combination of sporty aggressive lines and an elegant design philosophy to make the Jazz a head turner. The rear features LED tail and stop lamps which extend into the tailgate, while the front has new edgy looking headlamps which resemble the ones on the new Honda City. The new front grill adds a touch of class with a single wing shaped plate in high gloss finish bearing the Honda logo.
On the inside the Jazz is quite like its other siblings and now boasts of more space. While the new Jazz has the same height and width as the previous version of the car, the length has increased by 55mm and the wheel base length has gone up by 30mm. All of this has resulted in a substantial increase in space. While front shoulder room has gone up by 35mm, the overall cabin volume has gone up by 139 litres. Rear tandem distance has increased by 80mm, knee clearance has gone up by 65mm and the overall rear legroom has increased by 115mm. Well all of this has been achieved without compromising boot space which stands at 354 litres.
The new Jazz will be available with two different engine options, a 1.2L Petrol and a 1.5L Diesel. While the petrol engine is available with a 5-speed manual or a CVT automatic, the diesel version is available with a 6-speed manual transmission. The gear shifts are seamless and a smooth flow of power reminds you of Honda’s engineering excellence. The 1.2L petrol produces 88.8 bhp@6000 rpm and churns out 110 Nm of torque @4800 rpm. The petrol motor is smooth and zippy from the word go and is ideal for city driving conditions. The 1.5L diesel motor produces 98.6 bhp@3600 rpm and 200 Nm of torque @2000 rpm. While the petrol motor is as silent as a winter night in the North Pole, the diesel motor is a tad bit noisy but then again which diesel motor isn’t. In terms of performance the diesel motor is slightly better than average and the turbo kicks in anywhere north of 2500rpm. But once you get to higher gears it’s all smooth sailing. The major influencer for me to lean towards the diesel motor is economy. The 1.5L diesel engine returns 27.3kmpl while the petrol manual returns 18.7kmpl and the CVT automatic returns 19kmpl.
The Jazz is now 3955mm long while the wheelbase measures 2530mm. The ground clearance is 165mm, which is better than before and potholes or abnormally large speed breakers should not be an issue any longer. The suspension provides for a very smooth and comfortable ride. In terms of handling, the Jazz feels planted to the road even at speeds in excess of 120kmph. The 175/65 R15 tyres provide phenomenal grip on tarmac and driving on the ‘twisties’ of the Western Ghats was a treat. The steering is mildly stiff but loosens up as you gain speed and you will never feel the need to over steer.
The new Jazz is equipped with a sophisticated touch screen air condition control, 5 inch audio entertainment system monitor which also doubles up as a parking camera with 3 different viewing modes, internally adjustable and foldable ORVMs, Eco Assist light in the speed-o-meter to display economical driving patterns, USB and AUX input slots, Bluetooth connectivity and many smartly placed cubby holes and cup holders. The top spec of the Jazz also comes with Honda’s new Magic Seats which can be adjusted in 4 different modes i.e. Tall, Long, Utility and Refresh to increase storage space and convenience of transporting goods.
The Jazz is a global car, it has not necessarily been designed for the Indian market but yes the 1.5 litre Diesel version has specifically been brought in for the Indian consumer. Fitting perfectly in its segment, the Jazz definitely has what it takes to impress buyers and should be a worthy contender for the ever competitive premium hatch back segment. We expect the Jazz to be priced somewhere around Rs. 6,00,000 (ex-showroom Delhi).
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