The new Honda Jazz, parked and ready for action.
Yesterday, we tasted Honda’s latest and likely their most popular offering. We got behind the wheel of the all new 2014 Honda Jazz. Our Journey began from Mutiara Damansara and then all the way to the east coast, Kuantan.
Quick facts on the new Honda Jazz
- Zerotohundred: est. 12 seconds
- Power: 120ps
- Torque: 145nm
- Drivetrain: Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
- Price: RM72,800 for the 1.5S, RM79,800 for the 1.5E, RM87,800 for the 1.5V
The Car
The new Honda Jazz project was spearheaded by Hiroki Ishikawa and Yoshinori Maeno and was unveiled in Japan back in 2013. About a year later, in early July 2014, the new Jazz was teased on a truck around Malaysia, before making a local debut later that month.
The local variant of the Honda Jazz retains the same L15A engine from the previous generation Jazz, but Honda changed the 5 speed torque converter automatic to a new Earth Dreams Technology CVT gearbox. This new Earth Dreams Technology CVT gearbox uses a torque converter instead of a clutch.
Design has also vastly improved over the last generation, as the new Jazz looks much more meaner over the somewhat feminine predecessor. Called the Exciting H design, the new Honda City and Jazz are among the first new Hondas to feature their new design language.
Interior of the E spec Jazz.
Even on the interior, the new Jazz looks much more contemporary over the predecessor, as on the highest spec model, the front dashboard is occupied by a large 7″ touch screen head unit. Just below that, you’ll find a digital touch type air-con control system. Personally we would have preferred a conventional air-con knobs, as the touch type air-con does have a tendency of accumulating finger smudges in an alarming short period of time. Like previous Honda Jazz of the past, the new Jazz also feature their famed and versatile Ultra Seats.
The Ultra Seats is Honda’s unique implementation to make the most usable space out of the small Jazz. Man Maximum,Machine Minimum, Honda said, is their philosophy when designing the Jazz. With that philosophy, the new Jazz offers better cabin space and a redesigned central fuel tank.
Speaking of the Ultra Seats, we noticed a few units of the Jazz demonstrating their capability. Do check out the shots below.
Shopping for baby goods? The Jazz swallows all.
Tall Mode demonstrated. Yup, you can fit a plant there.
Refresh Mode. Going camping? The Jazz will assist you.
Refresh mode, looking at the insides.
Utility Mode. No bicycle rack? No problem.
Long Mode. Will it Fit? Yup, the kayak fits!
The Drive
Upon hitting the notorious Karak Highway, we were very impressed with the Jazz’s ability to track and stick to the desired lane, without any fuss. The twisty and long sweeping corners of the Karak Highway was easily tackled by the Jazz. Despite being powered by a modest 1.5L engine, against slightly higher capacity competitors, the Jazz is ever willing to rev its engine up to reach the optimum power band. Even more impressively, bodyroll was kept to a minimum, while the tires just kept gripping. The new Jazz, when pushed hard, did not break traction, nor did its traction control kick in. Impressive little car indeed.
16″ rims wrapped with 185/55/R16 Goodyear Excellence tires
The route, chosen by Ivan Khong, did give an excellent mix of trunk roads and highway driving, to properly asses the Jazz. Highway cruising barely tested the Jazz’s capabilities, as the car remain surefooted and composed throughout the whole stretch of the Lebuhraya Pantai TImur. Do bear in mind that we were travelling at relatively high speeds, and the car did not throw a fuss at all.
Wind noises were apparent above 120 km/h, but was not particularly intrusive, so talking to your passengers will not be an issue. Thanks to Maeno-san, the new Jazz benefits from his past experience developing the legendary Honda Civic Type R. The new Jazz, may not beat the Fiesta for it’s nimbleness, but is very surefooted through corners, even when going through uneven corners.
Further more, Honda also organized for a brief competitor test to allow competing cars of the same segment to be pitted against the new Jazz. Naturally, cars like the Ford Fiesta, Suzuki Swift and the Volkswagen Polo found their way against the new Jazz. Honda even threw in the previous generation Honda Jazz to be compared. After testing the Jazz back-to-back with the competitors and discussing with fellow motoring journalists, we do agree that the Jazz does outperform the competition.
It is clear then, at the end of the day, after driving the new Honda Jazz for 2 days and covering numerous kilometers, Honda does have a winner on their hands. The new Jazz is fun to drive, safe and very practical. Prices starts at RM73k for the S spec, all the way till RM87k for the top of the line V spec.
