Honda have launched the 3rd-generation Jazz, touted as the ‘World’s Best Functional Compact Hatchback’. The Jazz is available with petrol and diesel engines as well as an optional CVT in the petrol version, and is priced at Rs 5.3-7.2 lakhs (petrol with manual transmission), 6.9-7.8 lakhs (petrol with CVT), and 6.4-8.5 lakhs (diesel with manual transmission), all prices ex-showroom New Delhi.
The petrol Jazz is powered by the 1.2-litre i-VTEC engine developing 90 PS at 6,000 RPM and 110 Nm at 4,800 RPM, mated to a five-speed manual transmission or an optional CVT equipped with paddle shifts. The company claims a mileage of 18.7 km/l (manual) and 19.0 km/l (CVT) under test conditions.
The diesel Jazz is powered by the 1.5-litre i-DTEC engine from the Earth Dream series, developing 100 PS at 3,600 RPM and 200 Nm at 1,750 RPM, mated to a six-speed manual transmission. The company claims a class-leading mileage of 27.3 km/l under test conditions.
Speaking on the occasion, Noriaki Abe, President and Director, Asian Honda Motor Co Ltd, said that the Jazz had sold more than 5.5 million units in 75 countries since the launch of the 1st-generation model in 2001. Katsushi Inoue, President and CEO, HCIL, said that the new Jazz “will offer a unique value to its customers with its styling, versatility, packaging and performance”. He also said that the car would be “instrumental in driving the growth for Honda Cars in India”.
The Jazz has been developed at Honda’s R&D centre in Tochigi, Japan. Exterior highlights include 15” alloy wheels, integrated turn indicators on the ORVMs, and LED tail and stop lamp. The interior includes auto AC with a touchscreen control panel, steering wheel with controls for audio and handsfree control, integrated audio system with 12.7 cm screen, and rear parking camera with multiple views. The boot space is 354 litres and ground clearance is 165 mm.
The top variant of the Jazz is equipped with an integrated 15.7 cm touchscreen audio visual navigation (AVN) system with camera display and DVD playback as well as sporty black seats (beige fabric sears in other variants). The Magic Seats offer a choice of four adjustment modes (Utility, Tall, Long and Refresh) to create different options for carrying passengers and/or cargo. Safety kit includes dual SRS airbags, ABS with EBD, and impact mitigating headrests.
The new Jazz will be available in five grades each for the petrol and diesel engine options with manual transmission, as well as two grades for the petrol CVT option. There is a choice of seven exterior colours – Sunset Orange, Carnelian Red Pearl, Orchid White Pearl, Golden Brown Metallic, Urban Titanium Metallic, Alabaster Silver Metallic, and Taffeta White. The car will come with a two-year or 40,000 km warranty as standard.
