Honda Jazz - Should you buy or go for its rivals?

The Honda Jazz is now in its third generation. While the first generation, in 2001, was restricted to a few countries around Japan and the domestic market; the second generation onwards have been steadily exported as well as manufactured at different locations. Popular as the Honda Fit in the American market, the Jazz has seen success to a large extent. From what we hear, a fourth generation is already being planned and should be out by 2020. It will most likely be an Electric Vehicle or an EV as they call it. Honda also recently introduced the Jazz Hybrid in Malaysia. While there are folks going gaga over it and the fact that it is the least priced hybrid (goes for under RM 90,000) has got the public interested.

However, should you still go for the Honda Jazz or consider its competition like the Ford Fiesta Sport, Volkswagen Polo, Mazda 2, Peugeot 208 or the Kia Rio? We help you with the buying decision.

In terms of looks, the Jazz isn’t the best looking car out there for sure. However, the design is inoffensive and we have seen how well it ages with the likes of the second-generation Jazz. Honda has mixed nostalgia with a dose of modernism while designing the car and it has worked for them. This third generation car is expected to age well. That thought cannot be said about the other cars mentioned in this story, except for perhaps the Volkswagen Polo.

In terms of cabin and features, Honda is known to be quite stingy when it comes to the latter. We have seen Honda offering bare basic cabins for vehicles which surprisingly claim a premium over their peers. The Jazz’s cabin isn’t bare basic though but we still don’t get the full list of features like the North American market. This being said, it is hard to find fault with the cabin just as if you like the exterior of the car. There is a 6.8-inch touchscreen music system, multi-information display, black upholstery and height adjustable driver’s seat (Hybrid only). Ignore the lack of creature comforts as it is mostly possible for one to fit these as aftermarket add-ons.

However, when it comes to space in the cabin, there is no beating the Jazz. Bigger sedans and MPVs too don’t have an answer to the Jazz’s versatility when it comes to space management as well as seating configurations. The Magic Seats at the rear can swivel and convert to a station wagon in no time. This compact 5 seater hatchback can afford to carry around 1000 litres of luggage in the right configuration. One can even keep the rear seats home. This flexibility with the Jazz’s rear seat was introduced in the second generation and has been appreciated worldwide. A few magazines around the world have declared the Jazz as one of the best subcompacts out there, beating even MPVs that cost twice as much.

The handling of the Jazz is also its forte. Lane change manoeuvres even at high speeds are done with relative ease and that’s a good thing, isn’t it? The handling is also precise and one that will keep that smile plastered on your face. It may look like a tall boy but then the Honda Jazz’s ground clearance of 150 mm isn’t all too much either. This keeps the centre of gravity low, thereby aiding the brilliant handling. The ride quality at city speeds is nice but could have been better when the digits on the speedometer climb. That small steering wheel too deserves to be praised for its directness.

We did mention that the Jazz now gets a hybrid powertrain. This was introduced just last year in Malaysia and co-exists with the 1.5-litre petrol unit. Let’s speak of the latter first. The 1.5-litre i-VTEC naturally aspirated engine makes 120 PS of power at 6,600 rpm and 145 Nm of torque at 4,600 rpm. This engine can be optioned with a CVT and sends power to the front wheels. In the top trim, one can also avail of paddle shifters behind the steering wheel.

At the same time, the hybrid engine boasts the same cubic capacity but brings along an electric motor that can help the Jazz move around without any assistance from the petrol engine. During coasting, the Jazz can be driven in pure electric mode up to 70 kmph. Speaking of numbers, the Honda Jazz Hybrid’s petrol engine makes 110 PS of power at 5,000 rpm while the torque is 134 Nm at 5,000 rpm. The electric motor makes 160 Nm and the combined output of both the motors is rated at 137 PS and 170 Nm. The result is a claimed mileage of 25.1 kmpl from the hybrid Jazz whereas the pure petrol Jazz returns 17.1 kmpl. Honda gives one a warranty of eight years with the hybrid powertrain whereas the petrol gets a five-year warranty. Both are available with unlimited mileage on the odometer.

So, back to the question. Is the Honda Jazz worth buying over its rivals? In a nutshell, yes. However, if you prefer more style and features then look elsewhere. This vehicle, like the Fiesta, is about pure driving pleasure and very few can achieve that with the versatility the Jazz offers.