Honda Jazz Diesel Long Term Review
The Honda Jazz offers sedan-like comfort along with outstanding fuel economy
The car which started the premium hatchback trend in India, the Honda Jazz is one of the most practical cars in the segment and offers everything a sedan does, and more. Truly a premium hatchback as far as space and driving feel goes, the Jazz is quite an under-rated a car but how is it to live with?
The Jazz still looks modern and upmarket
The Honda Jazz got a facelift not too long ago (exactly one year back to be precise) but nothing really changed. However, the car doesn’t look dated at all and still looks quite well balanced, although it does have a mini MPV appearance. The few cosmetic changes that have been done to the car with the facelift, just go unnoticed. It’s not a car which attracts attention but the design has the traditional Honda elements, it’s unmistakably a Jazz!
Feature-loaded interiors with great space are strengths of the Jazz
I like the fact that the passive entry works flawlessly, without having to press any button to unlock the car. The new infotainment system is a fresh lease of life, yes it’s a big deal as I wasn’t happy with the old unit. The new one though gets Apple CarPlay which is a boon. The other great thing about the Jazz are the seats, there are comfy while there is plenty of space on offer, making one believe this isn’t a hatchback at all. And it’s just not the interior space but even the boot which is quite generous.
Lagless motor makes driving in the city a breeze
The diesel engine is extremely fuel-efficient and offers good drivability
Our Honda Jazz long-termer is powered by the 1.5-litre diesel engine which I really like for two reasons – city drivability and fuel economy. The turbo motor doesn’t have low-end lag, making it apt for daily drive duties although it doesn’t rev much in the top-end and does get vocal. There is a good amount of performance on offer from the 100 BHP motor but it’s linear. Fuel economy is the talking point here, we have been getting a mileage of 18 km/l which is very frugal indeed.
The steering offers exceptional feel and feedback
Being a Honda, the suspension is on the stiffer side but still, the balance is great between ride and handling as the damping is firm enough to offer good compliance over bad roads. That said, sharp bumps do filter through. Body roll is well contained but it’s really the steering wheel which is a true delight as it offers good feel and feedback, weighing up quite well at higher speeds.
The Jazz is the most practical premium hatchback
The Honda Jazz is a premium hatchback in the true sense, it offers the big car feel while being compact. A few things can be better like more features (a sunroof will be a great addition but the WR-V already has it) and magic seats which would make the car even more practical. While the diesel engine is great in terms of performance and efficiency, Honda should consider offering a limited edition run of the car with the City’s 1.5-litre i-VTEC powerplant, that would be quite something!
The next-generation Honda Jazz is already on its way
What’s Cool
* Feature-equipped interiors with great space
* Punchy performance and excellent fuel economy
* Feedback-rich steering
What’s Not So Cool
* Still lacks some features
The premium hatchback segment has way too many competent offerings
Further Reading –
2018 Honda Jazz Facelift Review
2018 Honda Jazz vs Hyundai Elite i20 – Shootout
2018 Honda Jazz vs Hyundai Elite i20 – Video
Honda Jazz Pros & Cons – Video