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New 2015 Honda Jazz petrol / diesel India review : Canny Jazz

Engines & Performance

The Jazz will launch with petrol and a diesel engine. The petrol engine is the 1.2-liter i-VTEC four-cylinder unit borrowed from the Brio and Amaze, while the diesel is the 1.5-liter i-DTEC also seen on other Honda cars in India. The diesel will come exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission whereas the petrol variant can either be had with a five-speed manual transmission or a CVT (Constantly Variable Transmission) with paddle shifters.

Diesel

2015 honda Jazz India

The diesel engine delivers a maximum power of 100 PS at 3600 rpm, and a maximum torque of 200 Nm at 1750 rpm.

Claimed fuel efficiency stands for the Jazz diesel stands at an impressive 27.3 km/l. Honda says this figure has been attainable due to an offset oil supply crankshaft, use of low viscosity oil, and an overall reduction in friction, apart from other small applications in the motor that contribute to the cause.Emission levels have been contained by the low compression ratio (16.0), high swirl and head port and high intake flow.

release  gear shifter

The diesel engine is exclusively mated to an improved, lightweight and compact six-speed manual transmission.

Performance is carefully honed for tractability and making the power accessible throughout the band. The dirty fueled Jazz drives pragmatically, with a very predictable lay of performance, which arrives in a very linear fashion.

There is no in-gear, blower assisted rush or a discernable, grin inducing build of shove, neither is there lethargy. In fact, the torque curve beyond 2000 rpm is so flat, that even a bowling ball placed at the center will not roll on either direction.

New 2015 Honda Jazz rear (3)

Getting off the mark with some spirit, however, needs a generous prod on the accelerator, and the i-DTEC wakes up from its slumber, as the needle shows past the aforementioned figure. Cruising capabilities are effortless in the higher gears, with the engine ticking at a leisurely 2,500 rpm, and the fuel efficiency indicator throwing up promising figures.

The clutch action is light, and shifts on the six-speed manual transmission feel a bit gravelly and coarse. But that said, it feels quite mechanical and enjoyable, with the ratios being pleasingly spaced out, being a good mate to the engine.

New 2015 Honda Jazz side  (2)

Tractability and efficiency are the USPs of this motor – a sixth gear attests to that, outright performance being adequate for all intents and purposes.

Noise containment could have been better, as a noticeable amount of diesel clatter makes its way into the cabin, although Honda says that cabin quietness is the best in class.

Petrol

New 2015 Honda Jazz front (2)

The 1.2-liter i-VTEC four-cylinder petrol engine develops 90 PS at 6000 rpm and 110 Nm of torque at 4800 rpm. Mated to the CVT, the Jazz petrol promises a claimed, class-leading, fuel efficiency figure of 19 km/l, while the MT delivers 19.7 km/l.

More than the performance, it’s the CVT that demands attention. Designed to extract maximum efficiently, the CVT has a 19 percent wider ratio range and lightweight components, the latter making it 16 percent lighter than the standard five-speed manual transmission.

New 2015 Honda Jazz CVT Auto

If driven hard, responsiveness is commendable, and it has surprisingly more alacrity than one’s average CVT. Something called the G-design shift adds to this cause. It employs control during kick down, enabling the box to select an optimum ratio when the given the beans – the box being neither too aggressive, nor too lazy, allowing for sustained acceleration.

Added involvement comes from the steering wheel mounted dual mode paddle shifters, and an additional S mode. The latter holds on to a gear till intervened with the application of the paddle shifters. If not, it automatically upshifts at about 6000 rpm to prevent overstressing the engine. .

New 2015 Honda Jazz pedal shifters (2)

The paddle shifters put to use the 7 ratios to make it feel like the CVT has gears and is more pleasant to drive fast rather than the engine just sitting at the one RPM. Though it behaves like a conventional automatic, the inherent, performance sapping rubber band effect can be felt seeping through the accelerator. The matte aluminum finished paddles shift ratios with a definitive click, and feel nice to the touch. Shift times are pretty quick, and make the experience quite enjoyable.

Though D mode is fully automatic, paddle shifters can be used to dictate upshifts and downshifts, especially on steep inclines and while descending a steep hill. Also, it makes things marginally more enjoyable than a regular CVT.

New 2015 Honda Jazz front (4)

When compared to the diesel variant, the petrol powered Jazz feels incomparably well refined, with NVH levels being contained respectably well. Performance from the Brio sourced i-VTEC motor is dampened a tad due to the CVT, so don’t expect Brio like responses from the same.

Ride and dynamics

Suspension duties on the Jazz are handled by a strut type setup in the front and torsion beam setup at the rear – a similar arrangement had featured on the previous generation, but this time, it has a revised geometry and a completely new, lightweight design.

New 2015 Honda Jazz side  (11)

Up front, the setup allows an increased amount of caster trail, and features a low-friction stabilizer link, along with a thicker stabilizer bar. At the back, the damper mounting angle has changed, while rigidity of each section has been improved. All of this translates into a ride quality that is above average, and even at low speeds the Jazz quietly filters out bad roads with ease. The petrol version being lighter (at 1066 Kgs-CVT) rides a smidgen more firmly than the diesel version. Weight figures for the diesel variant haven’t been announced yet.

Stability and compliance at higher speeds is confident assuring, and encourages quick driving. Though we didn’t fling it around much, the Jazz also feels eager and agile enough in corners, in spite of a touch of a body roll. The ride and handling balance has been well perfected for its intended audience.

2015 Honda Jazz steering wheel

The new electric power steering offers decent feedback, as far as these types of setups go. It’s incredibly light at low speeds, well trained for intense urban usage. The higher limits of its capabilities were not reached in this test. Also, U-turns and small runabouts are dispatched with a turning radius of just 5.1 meters. The ABS assisted front disc and rear drum brakes drop anchor at the drop of a hat – no complaints here.

In terms of safety, the Jazz features a hood that is designed to absorb and reduce the impact for the unlucky pedestrian. For its occupants, it offers front seats with mitigating headrests which reduce the possibility of neck injury in rear impact at low speed.

New 2015 Honda Jazz side  (8)

Dual SRS airbags are there to save lives upfront, while ABS and EBD ensure that the Jazz stops in the shortest distance possible. Besides the new Jazz also employs an Advanced Compatibility Engineering body structure, which, according to Honda, enhances self-protection while mitigating damage to other vehicles.

Verdict

New 2015 Honda Jazz front (8)

The new Honda Jazz is an extremely competitive package wrapped around a fresh dose of evolutionary style. The diesel variant is a methodical runabout, with a frugal engine offering linear and tractable performance. However, in-cabin engine noise should have been contained better. Think of it largely as a Honda City i-DTEC sans a boot, but with added practicality, versatility and more efficiency.

The extremely refined petrol variant with the responsive CVT makes a strong point for itself too, especially in town. Pure performance is marred by the inherent rubber band effect, but it does away with having to row a gearbox in sticky traffic, something that its intended clientele wants. The paddle shifters certainly makes things playful. Both ride and handle with poise as well, and are comfortable places to be in.

New 2015 Honda Jazz front (1)

In terms of interior space and versatility, the new Jazz has it covered by cavernous innards, the ingenious Magic Seats system and generous interior storage space. Quality all around is top-notch too, and if the claimed fuel efficiency figures are anything to go by, things in the premium hatchback space will start to get interesting. The new Jazz will be sold in 12 variants, with the petrol version missing out on the top-end VX trim, along with the Magic Seats system. Prices and variant specific details will be announced at launch.

To be manufactured at Honda’s Rajasthan facility, the new Jazz benefits from more than 90 percent localization; up by 72 percent from the preceding generation. While prices start from a reasonable INR 5.30 lakh for the basic petrol variant, the top-end diesel variant retails for a rather lofty INR 8.59 lakh, dearer by a lakh rupees from its arch rival – the Hyundai Elite i20. Now the i20 is wonderfully packaged and equipped, and easily one of the segment leaders, but the price not withstanding, we believe that Jazz is the more polished, refined (petrol), stylish (subjective) and practical choice.

All New 3rd Generation Honda Jazz Prices – (Ex-Showroom Delhi)

PETROL DIESEL
E          : 530,900

S          : 594,000

SV        : 644,900

V          : 679,900

VX       : 729,000

S CVT  : 699,000

V CVT : 785,000

E          : 649,900

S          : 714,000

SV        : 764,900

V          : 809,900

VX       : 859,000

 


New 2015 Honda Jazz rear (6)

Honda Jazz Image Gallery

6 thoughts on “New 2015 Honda Jazz petrol / diesel India review : Canny Jazz”

  1. Guys may i know which colour vehicle we have in the picture gallery is it metallic golden brown or Urban Titanium Metallic ??

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