Honda Jazz – Hits & misses

In Malaysia, Honda remains the undisputed champion among all foreign carmakers and is one of the most popular and well-liked brands. The Japanese auto giant has a robust line-up of cars, catering to a wide variety of buyers across a broad spectrum of segments. One of the most highly coveted and profitable segments in Malaysia belong to the B-segment family car.

To cater to this audience, Honda launched the Jazz hatchback in the early 2000s. Today, the Honda Jazz is in its third iteration and is one of the best-selling models in its segment. The outgoing third-generation Jazz reached our shores in 2017, and rivals the likes of the Toyota Yaris, Mazda 2, and Kia Rio. So, what makes the Honda Jazz so good? And does its armour have any kinks? Let’s answer that with some of the good and not-so-good aspects of this hatchback.

Honda Jazz Hits

Styling

Compared to the outlandish styling of some of its competitors, the Honda Jazz’s exterior looks mature yet exudes a sense of class and sophistication. The Jazz has just the right amount of creases and contours, and along with its long, stretched-out proportions, it manages to pull off the big, small car routine quite admirably. The well moulded front fascia of the Jazz wears a pair of sleek headlamps which are connected by a thick bar that runs along with the grille. The chiselled and single-piece bumper features a honeycomb-pattern central air intake and incorporates the Jazz’s LED daytime running lights (DRLs) inside some flamboyant trim extensions.

The steeply-raked A-pillars lead to a gently sloping roofline, while the rising beltline is highlighted by a striking character line that runs along with the door handles. The multi-spoke alloy wheels look chic and manage to fill up the wheel well adequately, while the swanky C-pillar design and mildly flared rear haunches add a touch of flair. The rear of the Jazz features vertically-stacked, stylish tail lamps, a large chrome bar on the tailgate, and a sculpted bumper with some faux vents and diffuser arrangements.

Space

The Honda Jazz is 3,989 mm long and boasts a wheelbase of 2,530mm - this pays dividends when it comes to cabin space. The Jazz’s interior can effortlessly seat five adults, and there’s no shortage of legroom or knee room. Meanwhile, the high roof also opens up loads of headroom. As for the cargo capacity, the Jazz’s boot is rated at an impressive 363 litres - making it larger than some of its rivals.

Safety

The third-gen Jazz scored five stars at its ASEAN NCAP crash safety trials and comes loaded with several essential features to protect its occupants. The base 1.5S trim comes with two airbags, Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA), ISOFIX anchor points, and reverse parking sensors. Meanwhile, if you opt for the fully-loaded 1.5V variant, you’ll also get Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), Hill Start Assist (HSA), a Multi-Angle Reverse Camera, and a full complement of six airbags.

Fuel Economy

While the petrol-powered versions of the Honda Jazz can average around 17 kmpl, it’s the Hybrid variant that truly impresses. The hybrid powertrain in the Jazz has a combined output of 137 hp and 170 Nm of torque, which is more than that of the regular variants, though it doesn’t come at the cost of low fuel economy. If anything, the Jazz Hybrid is capable of achieving an incredible 25 kmpl. Of course, do keep in mind that the real-world figures may never be this good. But, if it’s maximum fuel economy that you seek, the pricier Jazz Hybrid will see you visiting the pumps less often.

Honda Jazz Misses

Performance

Under the hood of the standard Honda Jazz is a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine that develops 118 hp and 145 Nm of torque. The Hybrid variant, as pointed out, makes more. However, neither are quick on their feet - both will take well north of 10 seconds to hit 100 kmph from a standstill, while top speed is around 180 kmph.

Transmission

The Honda Jazz with the conventional internal combustion powertrain comes fitted with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). And while the 7-speed dual-clutch unit in the Hybrid isn’t tuned for snappy performance, it’s an alright gearbox. However, the CVT in the petrol-only variants of the Jazz is not only slow to respond to sudden throttle inputs, but it also comes with the characteristic ‘drone’ that these transmissions are infamous for. Yes, it’s smooth and works well on slow to medium paced jaunts within the urban jungle. But, it’s merely not tuned for spirited driving. Moreover, this CVT does make itself heard if you push the Jazz too hard - especially at full throttle.

No LED headlamps

Despite costing the same as an equivalent Honda City, the Jazz doesn’t offer LED headlamps even on the top-of-the-range 1.5V variant - which the City does. So, even if you pay RM 83,633 for the fully-equipped Jazz 1.5V trim, you still have to make do with old-school halogen bulbs.