2018 Honda Jazz First Drive

Design and Styling of Honda Jazz

It was a bit disheartening to see that not much has changed on the exterior of the car. It sports the same look as it always used to, except for some additions. Along with the chrome slat on the front and rear of the car you now get chrome door handles. The rear also has the LED wing lights which give the rear a handsome look about it. The tail-lamp extends vertically along the edge of the boot lid and has a honeycomb like design inside. Apart from this the car retains its simple looks that are not essentially bad or bland in any way. I would have liked to see LED DRLs in the wraparound headlamps. The 15-inches alloy wheel look smart and in my opinion the rear section is the most busy and interesting to look at.

Interiors of Honda Jazz

The interiors have been treated to more changes when compared to the exterior. The most notable of them is the new 7.0 inches touchscreen infotainment system which Honda calls as DigiPad 2.0. This new screen is compatible with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Touch response is smooth and while it might not be the most vibrant looking screen in the business, it does its bidding. The 2018 Jazz also comes with satellite navigation and that is definitely a plus in today's time. In our limited time with the car, the navigation system worked great and found correct routes to places we wanted to go. You also get a smart key with the new Jazz and if you opt for the top end model then you even get an engine start/stop button. There is also an armrest present in the Jazz now that can be used to perch your arm. Underneath it, is a large area for storing things. Speaking of storage, Honda Jazz has always had lots of places to store things and this new avatar is no different in that regard. There are cavities with all four doors for storing bottles, cubby holes and cup holders on the centre floor console and a special cup holder for the driver. This time around, the driver also gets a vanity mirror. The ORVMs are now electronically controlled and can be adjusted, retracted and opened with the controls on the driver side door. The seats remain comfortable and the cushioning is adequate. The side bolsters keep you held in place and as a 6 feet tall person, I had no lack of headroom or legroom. Even the thigh support was great.

In the second row you get a bench that can easily seat 3 people thanks to the mostly flat tunnel. Even with the driver seat set to my preference, I had plenty of legroom and kneeroom in the second row. Thigh support, however, could have been better. Altogether the Honda Jazz has a lot of space inside. But what I felt was missing in the second row were seatback pockets and adjustable headrests. While there are no dedicated AC vents for the second row occupants, that is hardly a problem as the automatic climate control unite at the front is more than capable of regulating the temperature of the cabin even on a hot day.

Engine & Performance of Honda Jazz

The 2018 Honda Jazz is available in both petrol and diesel options. The 1.2L petrol engine comes mated to either a 5-speed manual transmission or and 7-speed CVT. The diesel on the other hand can only be had with a 6-speed manual as of now. We drove the petrol automatic and found that there is not much that has changed. This is the same refined i-VTEC engine from Honda and it packs 88.7hp and 110Nm of torque. The car can easily take on city traffic and perform everyday overtaking maneuvers. There is now a cruise control option that will be liked by those that take on the highways regularly. The Jazz can easily reach and maintain triple digit speeds without breaking a sweat. The 7 step CVT is smooth and you do not notice the gear changes until you stomp on the gas pedal. Honda has also added paddle shifts into the mix along with a sport mode. The combination of these two definitely turns the driving dynamics of this car a lot more exciting and controllable.

As I mentioned earlier, it was raining continuously while we were testing the Jazz and I was quite impressed by the grip of the tyres and the bite from the brakes despite the wet weather. The wheels provided loads of contact with the wet tarmac and inspired a lot of confidence in me. Taking turns at high speeds was just as fun as it is on a normal day. The disc at the front and drum at the rear, combined with ABS and EBD (which have become standard now) brought the car to a halt without locking the wheels. The suspension setup also feels soft enough to soak in almost all the bumps that the roads had to offer.

Verdict

This new update of the Jazz adds a few extra notes to an already jazzy tune. The touchscreen infotainment system with navigation is perhaps the best of the new additions and the armrest is also appreciated. The move to make dual airbags, ABS and EBD standard, enhances the safety factor. By no means is the Jazz a bad pick. It definitely will have a lot of takers in the form of people who like space and a funky ride.