Modern Jazz gets Aussie airing

Honda has released the second generation of its Jazz light car Down Under

Honda's new Jazz is on sale officially Down Under. Launched in Melbourne concurrently with its official on-sale in dealerships around Australia, the new car seeks to build on the success of the first-gen Jazz with evolutionary styling and packaging.

The second-generation Jazz hits the local market with the same three model variants as the previous model (GLi, VTi and VTi-S) and a choice of five-speed manual or automatic transmissions in each case. The new auto model eschews the current Jazz's CVT transmission.

Though this means there's an increase in ADR81 tested fuel consumption on all models (see below), Honda claims 'real world' consumption is line-ball. The maker says the change is aimed at enhancing the drive experience of the Jazz. Indeed, improved dynamics were one of the key drivers of the team that developed the new car. Additionally, Honda's R&D boffins focussed on producing a sportier looking car as well as improving refinement and usability.

Jazz fans will celebrate the retention of the original car's two-box mini-MPV proportions, centre-mounted fuel cell (located under the front seats) and the retention of the car's flat folding 60:40 split-fold second row.

Around those key elements Honda has built a car that's longer (55mm) and wider (20mm) car, but no higher -- one that delivers more space to the occupants of both rows, thanks to a 50mm longer wheelbase and a cabin width increase of 30mm. Honda claims rear kneeroom has been boosted 40mm and there is more footwell space up front. The effective cabin width has been boosted to yield more than 40mm increase in shoulder room front and rear.

In the evolution to Jazz v2.0, the front screen has been pushed forward 120mm and the quarter lights increased threefold in area. A-pillar's that are 20mm thinner and uncoupled external mirrors help increase visibility. Rear sight lines, meantime, are improved by headrests that slide into the rear seatback, says the maker.

The new car is heavier -- around 50kg depending on variant, according to our sums -- but Honda R&D claims the bigger, stronger and stiffer body-in-white that delivers "five-star" crash performance weighs the same as the outgoing model.

It's put on weight somewhere, therefore... Perhaps thanks to the better seats, four-wheel disc brakes (the rears were drums) or the myriad other changes. Assistant chief engineer on the program, Toshiyuki Harada, says less than 10 per cent of the new Jazz's parts are carried over. Those that are "would be considered at a nut and bolt level", he claims.

It should be noted Honda's "five-star levels" safety claim relates to Honda's own testing -- not any crash testing by ANCAP or EuroNCAP. As the Jazz does not offer stability control -- even as an option -- the car is ineligible to score the crash labs' top rating.

Honda Australia sources say stability control will not come to Jazz Down Under until 2010. This is disappointing given some Japanese and European variants of the Fit (the Japanese and US model name for the Jazz) already feature this important safety system. That said, two of the three trim levels offered in Australia do feature six airbags (front, side and curtain) as standard and all models get antilock brakes.

It's the base GLi model that comes with front driver and passenger bags only. An optional safety kit ($1000) adds side and curtain bags plus a multi function display which includes a speed alarm, trip computer and seatbelt reminders for all passenger positions.

Still priced from $15,990 ($17,990 auto), the entry-level Jazz GLi model is powered by a new iVTEC-equipped SOHC Euro IV compliant 1.3-litre four that develops 73kW and 127Nm. This is a worthwhile jump of 12kW and 8Nm from the twin-plug iDSI engine of the previous generation.

Combined fuel economy of the five-speed manual 1.3-litre is 5.8L/100km (was 5.7) with the auto increasing 0.8L/100km to 6.6L/100km.

Standard equipment includes power windows and mirrors, central locking and a single-disc four-speaker MP3-player compatible audio system with speed sensitive volume control. There's no shortage of storage with twin gloveboxes and 10 (!) cupholders and luggage capacity is claimed at 337 litres with the rear seats in place, and 848 litres with them stowed.

Checking our specifications of the outgoing model, that's a significant decrease -- from 380 and 1323 litres respectively... Perhaps the measuring standard has changed.

Both the midrange Jazz VTi and flagship VTi-S are powered by an all-new 1.5-litre SOHC i-VTEC engine that has an output of 88kW (up 7kW) and 145Nm (up 2Nm). Combined fuel economy is 6.4L/100km for the manual (up 0.4L/100km) and 6.7L/100km for the auto. This too is thirstier than the CVT-equipped 1.5-litre it replaces which was rated at 6.1L/100km.

The VTi is priced from $19,170 ($21,490 auto) and adds steering wheel audio controls and minor trim items to the GLi's base specification. The main changes therefore are safety upgrades including side and curtain airbags, the GLi Safety Kit's multi information display and a security alarm system.

Both the VTi and GLi roll on 15-inch steel wheels with trim rings.

The top of the Jazz tree is the more-aggressively styled VTi-S priced from $21,590 ($23,920 auto). In addition to 16-inch alloys, the VTi-S gets a unique sports grille and front and rear bumpers (think Type-R shape and treatment). Side skirts complete the picture.

Inside there are retrimmed seats and a leather steering wheel. The auto version gets paddle shifts, a la Euro Accord, as well as a driver's armrest. Cruise control is also standard on both VTi-S variants -- the only Jazz to get what has in these days of speed cameras become almost a 'must-have'.

Honda's launch of the new Jazz range included a short urban loop around bayside Melbourne. It was enough to get a taste of the car, but far from a real evaluation.

First impressions are the car is more wieldy than the Jazz it replaces, thanks to better resolved electric power steering and attention to the Macpherson strut/torsion beam suspension set up. It's also a significantly quieter car than the outgoing model.

Vision is a strong point in the urban environment.

Honda's drive program included an economy run component so the consumption figures achieved will be at the most abstemious end of 'normal' use. Driving the 1.5-litre models only, the writer logged 5.9L/100km for the auto and an impressive 4.3 for the manual.

It must be said the latter included some real economy-focussed practices. Real world numbers should be close to the maker's claimed figures.

Modern Jazz gets Aussie airing

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