Oct 15, 2016 09:58 PM
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We’re sure that most of you are familiar with the name Jazz. It was on sale in India for quite a while. But as a segment – the premium hatchback – was a bit ahead of its time. Back then, we weren’t ready to shell out north of ?8 lakh for a hatchback. Honda killed off the product after it struggled to move examples off showroom floors fast enough. But now, things have changed, and India has matured as a market.
World, welcome to the new Jazz. This one is all-new, from the ground up. It’s been overhauled, and now it offers even more space, utility and a safer body structure. Unlike the previous Jazz and like all new Hondas, it comes with the option of a diesel engine, too.
It’s the same 1.5-litre all-aluminium block that churns out 99 horses and 200Nm. Turbo lag has been taken care of, and the Newtons start pouring in right from 1500 revs. It’s not a very high-revving engine. It tops out at about 4200rpm. Like in the other Hondas, there’s loads of clatter from the aluminium block, and despite Honda claiming that it has paid special attention to the NVH levels, a lot of noise seeps into the cabin; you can even feel the coarseness as the revs start climbing. The good part is that the diesel engine is mated to a six-speed manual and not the five-speeder you find in the Amaze and the Mobilio. This adds flexibility and boosts highway efficiency.
The petrol on offer is the same 1.2-litre engine that powered the previous Jazz, the Brio and the Amaze. Typical of Honda engines, it is amply refined, but the power is all high up in the power band. There's not much to be had till the needle shows 4000 revs, which is when the power comes in hard.
Though the powertrain isn’t the Jazz’s strongest point, let’s talk about something it could teach a lesson or two to its rivals about – space. The cabin is airy, and there's truckloads of space. The rear, too, has plenty of room for you to stretch your legs, and three adults will fit in comfortably.
