India-bound Honda Jazz shows its colours in Geneva

Honda has displayed the new Jazz at the Geneva Motor Show. The Jazz is one of the most anticipated launches of the year in India and was unveiled at the 2014 Auto Expo too. 

Honda introduced the Jazz in the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) in late 2013 and there were speculations that it might be launched in India last year. However, the big H has waited for this car and we believe it will be one of the first launches of the company this year in India. 

The European model gets a 1.3-litre VTEC engine making 101 horses mated to a six-speed manual box or a CVT automatic gearbox. The Indian market is most likely to see the Jazz in two engine options – 1.2-litre i-VTEC petrol and the 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. Honda won’t launch it with an automatic gearbox as currently they have been using a five-speed torque converter AT. 

The new Jazz is based on the same light and rigid platform as the upcoming HR-V. It is also longer than its predecessor by 95mm and has a wheelbase that is 30mm longer too. This would make it more roomy than the old Jazz which was in itself very spacious for its size. Also additionally it has a 354 litre boot space making it the largest in its segment in India. 

Honda Jazz didn’t do well in India until the company slashed its pricing. However, our market is more mature now, cars like the Hyundai Elite i20 and the VW Polo are premium hatchbacks that are doing well. The Jazz might not be sporty as the Polo, won’t have the brand credibility of the i20, but it will certainly be the best utility premium hatchback when it goes on sale. We expect it to be priced from Rs 6 – 8.5 lakh.