New Honda Jazz – An All-New Generation Of Honda’s Hatchback, Which Will Also Get A Diesel Engine

New 2014 Honda Jazz

The JAZZ was Honda’s first hatchback in India. When it was launched here back in 2009, it was one of the best hatchbacks in the market and a great example of Honda’s packaging brilliance. But it was very expensive and the lack of a diesel engine suffocated the car's growth. Now, with this new Jazz, Honda will tread carefully, avoiding past mistakes.

The new Jazz will be powered by the same 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel and 1.2-litre i-VTEC petrol engines that power the Amaze saloon. Like its predecessor, the new Jazz will be assembled in India, but unlike its predecessor, it will be produced with a high percentage of locally sourced parts, so it will be much more affordable. Also, since the new Jazz will share its platform with the new City (our Star Car in this issue), the economies of scale will further help Honda to price it competitively.

The Jazz you see here is an all-new car but it retains the basic MPV-like proportions of its predecessor. Apart from that, there isn’t much that it has in common with the previous Jazz. As you can see in these pictures, it's a lot sportier to look at. The sleek grille looks a lot more aggressive and the large air vents on the bumper further inject its front end with some liveliness.

Strong character line and angular tail-lamps add sporty intent

Move to the side, and the new car is still very recognizable as a Jazz, though Honda’s new ‘H design’ styling adds nice touches. There are some aggressive lines and the windows are different now, with the shapes slightly altered from the old car. Just like the exteriors, the cabin has also gone through extensive changes. Yes, the interiors do sport a familiar layout, but the instrument cluster and the central console are completely new. The Jazz we drove was a Japan-spec car and it featured a large multimedia screen-based interface and digital climate control. Just like its predecessor, the front seats are comfortable and supportive, with adequate thigh support for even taller drivers. Moreover, ergonomics are spot on and items such as the cup holders and other commonly accessed bits are within easy reach, helping you concentrate better on the road. Regarding the dashboard, we noticed that Honda has toned down the quality of some of its components a notch, but you have to remember that the company is aiming to price this car a lot more competitively than its predecessor.

Enter through the wide-opening rear doors and you’ll love how spacious the rear bench is. Looking at the car’s exterior dimensions, it’s hard to imagine such a roomy rear bench. To begin with, there’s an abundance of knee room, giving even six-footers enough space. Also, the nicely cushioned seat squab has more than adequate thigh support, easily rivaling that of some larger saloons.

Centre portion on the bench may cause the third passenger a bit of discomfort over longer drives. The Indian car may get a flatter rear seat. Further back, you’ll also be impressed by the expansive boot (by hatchback standards) that can easily hold two large suitcases as well as a few medium-sized soft bags.

Interiors of the new Honda jazz has been improved a lot, now it brings touch screen in addition of new instrument which gives it a modern look from inside

What’s it like to drive?

The car we briefly drove was the Japan-spec 1.5-litre petrol-CVT gearbox, and this variant may not make it to India. It felt extremely refined, and due to the electric motor assistance, felt very punchy at lower speeds. We hope Honda introduces this version in India, at least as a limited run model.

It’s safe to say that the new Jazz is going to stir things up in the premium hatchback segment. If Honda launches it in the price range of around $ 8,947.95 – $ 9,273.33, it could make a huge impact. We think the Maruti Swift should be worried.