Honda Jazz - Is it a good option for first-time car buyers?

Buying a car in Malaysia is an expensive affair. In fact, it is considered to be the third most expensive country in the world for buying a car. With conditions like such a first-time car buyer had a lot of research and thinking to do before putting hands on one. A first-time car buyer looks for an option that’s easy to maintain, consumes less fuel, packs significant safety features and of course looks great. One car that we believe leads the pack is the one from the stable of the Japanese automaker, the Honda Jazz.

Getting into the details, here’s why the Jazz is an ideal option for the first-time car buyers.

It’s a head-turner

Although, it is not the priority for first-time car buyers it is certainly one of the main aspects a buyer looks for when purchasing a new car. And who doesn’t want a car with a sophisticated design? Honda Jazz comes with a Crossfade monoform design that makes it stand out from the rest of the cars in the segment. With chiselled exteriors and youthful character, it has the looks to turn several heads along the way.

It is efficient and reliable

Next up in the consideration list of a first-time buyer is fuel efficiency because he doesn’t want a car that digs pocket frequently. Honda Jazz fits the bill in cases like such. It comes with an efficient 1.5-litre SOHC i-VTEC engine with 120PS of power at 6,600 rpm and 145Nm of peak torque at 4,600 rpm, mated to a CVT gearbox for smooth and responsive gear shifting. The engine returns a fuel economy of 17.2 kmpl. The Jazz is available in a hybrid version too which extends the economy to 25 kmpl and is designed especially for Malaysian driving conditions that include heavy traffic jams with stop-start traffic and curvy hill ranges.

It’s highly practical and versatile

Practicality refers to the cabin space and comfort levels a hatch dedicatedly provides to the driver as well as to the passengers. Step inside the Jazz and you’d feel the luxury of a big car. The cabin is craftily designed to fit your knicks and knacks and offer comfort during long journeys. It comes with a large glovebox and a total of 9 cup holders. Even at the back, it offers tremendous space without letting you feel cramped up, which is often the case with other hatchbacks.

Space is never less in the Jazz. It allows you to recline the front and lower the rear seat to fit a long surfboard or completely fold down the rear seats to fit inside a bicycle for your next adventure trip. Not just that, it equips tall items like furniture and plants easily, just flip the rear seats to extend the ceiling space.

It is feature-perfect

The features set is terrific and you can only feel glad to have them in your first-ever car. Some notable ones include touch panel AC, power retractable door mirrors, cruise control, multi-functional steering wheel, audio system with 4/6 speakers and a 6.8-inch display and support for HDMI, AUX, USB, Smart Entry with Push Start Button and ECON Button. It also has LED DRLs and LED tail lights in addition to a rear wiper system which comes in handy in a rainy season.

It breathes safety

As a first-time car buyer, safety must be on top of your consideration list, isn’t it? Then why look for another option when you can bank on the capabilities of the amazing Honda Jazz. It comes loaded with safety and security features that give you a sense of satisfaction and add to your carefree attitude. Some of the popular and standard features in its specs sheet include dual front SRS airbags, Rear Seatbelt 3-Point ELR (X3), Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Reverse Sensor, Rear Seat ISO Fix and Security Alarm with Immobiliser. Other bits include Multi-Angle Reverse Camera, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), Hill Start Assist (HSA) and Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) which are a part of the Jazz E, Jazz V and Hybrid variants.

Finishing up, we believe Jazz ticks all the boxes that are usually on a list of a first-time car buyer - space, practicality, fuel economy, engine reliability, comfort, safety and performance. What we haven’t considered until now is the price. And it’s not very expensive either. In fact, it is one of the most affordable buys in the market considering the amenities it provides.

There are four Jazz variants available namely,

• Honda Jazz 1.5L S - RM68,082.00 (Selling Price Inclusive 0% GST)
• Honda Jazz 1.5L E - RM73,770.00 (Selling Price Inclusive 0% GST)
• Honda Jazz 1.5L V - RM80,572.00 (Selling Price Inclusive 0% GST)
• Honda Jazz 1.5L Hybrid - RM79,751.00 (Selling Price Inclusive 0% GST)