Honda's new Jazz, which debuts at Frankfurt and goes on sale in Europe early next year, is without doubt one of the most important launches for Honda on this side of the world. It will give the marque its first real contender in a market dominated by Ford's Fiesta and VW's Polo.
At 3.8 m in length, the 5-door Jazz falls at the upper end of the B-segment. It features a unique centrally mounted fuel tank ensure a roomy interior more like that of a C-segment contender. As well as accommodation for up to five occupants, Jazz also offers an extremely flexible rear seat design that can be used to create either a totally flat load floor or a second, independent load area.
The i-DSI (Dual Sequential Ignition) engines use twin spark plug technology and compact combustion chambers to achieve fuel frugality and compact dimensions. Currently, only provisional fuel consumption figures are available but tests suggest a combined cycle figure of 53.3 mpg for the 1.2 model and 51.4 mpg for the 1.4 model. Both the 78 PS 1.2 and 83 PS 1.4 engines conform to the EU2005 emission regulations with CO2 emission levels of 126g/km for the 1.2 and 131g/km for the 1.4 engine. These levels are comparable to those of most recent turbo direct injection (TDI) diesel engines.
Jazz has a relatively short nose section, so freeing up further cabin space, and made possible by the compact nature of the engines. Inside, the tandem distance (measured from the hip point of the front seat passenger to that of the rear seat passenger and a key indicator of in-car roominess) is 935 mm, a figure on a par with many larger C-segment contenders. Similarly, load volume with all seats in a standard seating arrangement, is a capacious 380 litres (VDA), also on par with C-segment vehicles. This space is large enough to accommodate four large Samsonite suitcases in an upright position.
The load area is accessible by a wide-opening tailgate, a cargo floor located at 470 mm and a loading lip at just 620 mm above ground level (unladen). Usefully, there is also sufficient space beneath the rear seats to accommodate small packages.
The innovative retraction mechanism of the 2:1 split rear seat means that collapsing either section completely into the deep footwell requires just three steps. The result is a perfectly flat load floor, a maximum 1740 mm in length and able to accommodate large objects such as a mountain bike. In addition, by sliding the front passenger seat forward and fully reclining it, a long 2.4 metre long space is realised.
The floor-mounted centre console incorporates a deep storage pocket and two cup holders ahead of the gear lever. There are also two additional cup holders positioned behind the gear lever. Furthermore, a storage undertray beneath the instrument panel runs across the front of the car.
Jazz’s styling follows a theme established in the larger Civic and Stream models. Flared, muscular wheel arches give the car a broad, purposeful stance. At the front, large tapering light covers flank a steeply rising, scalloped bonnet that features a central crease line.
The rising lower edge of the side windows is complemented by the gradually falling roof line to give a hint of coupe-like styling. The small quarterlight ahead of the front side window, and a further side window behind the C-pillar, in addition to the large-sized front windscreen, add to Jazz’s excellent all-round visibility. At the rear the tailgate has a crease running across its width at taillight level.
The car is expected to achieve Euro NCAP ratings of four stars for occupant protection and three stars for pedestrian protection.
To reduce the likelihood of whiplash injuries during rear impacts, a new front seat design has been adopted. The headrests have been moved slightly forward, while the bending characteristics of the upper seat structure provide a more controlled energy-absorbing role to lessen the forces exerted on the neck of the occupant as he or she is pushed back in such situations.
The i-DSI - or Dual and Sequential Ignition - engines represent the second phase of Honda’s ‘next-generation’ i-Series of petrol engines. Low emissions and frugality have been made possible by providing each cylinder with a pair of spark plugs mounted diagonally opposite one another and within a compact, high-swirl design, combustion chamber. This arrangement accelerates flame propagation to achieve intensive, extremely rapid and highly efficient combustion which generates high pressure and thus high output.
Initially both the 1.2 and 1.4 models will be offered with a 5-speed manual transmission, but a new Honda CVT option, equipped with a 7-speed semi-automatic shift control system will be introduced at a later date.
August 2001
by Bill Trapman