History, they say, repeats itself. Perhaps, that is why Honda organised the first drive of the third-generation Jazz in scenic Goa, the locale for the first drive of the first-ever Jazz nearly six years ago. We were there, and here is our first impression of the new Jazz
Story: Aspi Bhathena
Photography: Sanjay Raikar
The first drive of the last Jazz was held in Goa and this time too Honda Cars India decided to organise the first drive of the new Jazz in Goa once again. Last time it was a case of the Indian car market not being as mature as it is today. At that time people were not willing to pay Rs 8 lakh-plus for a premium hatchback. Today there are a number of hatchbacks priced in excess of Rs 9 lakh, and some of them even have a waiting period of more than four months.
The new Jazz is a third-generation model. Honda have already sold 5.5 million units globally since this car first went on sale in 2001. The new car looks a lot like the previous one, since it is more like a cross between a hatchback and an MUV rather than a straightforward hatchback. From the front it looks very similar to the new Honda City. The grille at the front has a Piano Black bar running across with a curved chrome trim below and a Honda logo in chrome on top. The narrow grille merges into the wrap-around headlamps, giving the car a sporty look at the front. It is from the side that the Jazz looks a little like an MPV. At the rear it gets LED tail- and stop-lamps. To go with the front sporty design there is a spoiler on the rear tailgate.
From the interior one can make out that this is a global car, and not just an India or Asia model. The quality of plastic and fabric used in the interior is far superior as compared to its siblings, the Brio and the Amaze. The three-meter display expresses a clean and sporty design. To the left is the tachometer and gear-position indicator. The centre is dominated by the speedometer, which also incorporates an Eco assist light that changes from green to blue-green to blue based on how efficient your driving style is. On the right you have the current fuel economy, time and outside temperature.
The audio system has a five-inch screen that can interface with a host of gadgets such as your iPod, USB, MP3-player, screen for the rear camera and navigation system with DVD player. The air-conditioner is operated by the touchscreen. The sporty steering gets audio and hands-free control.
