It gives me immense pleasure in owning this car

 

Exterior I have lived in Singapore for four years prior to this and must admit that during the last year of the stay, whenever I saw the jazz passing by, I would just go .. WOW! Imagine my delight when I learnt they will be launching it in India. I loved the looks from day one, and since I bought it a year ago, my appreciation for the styling of the car has only increased. From the aggresive V-nose bonnet to the strong shoulder lines and ending with the immaculately designed tail lamps, this is one very proportionate and sporty car.  I will say now that the punto beats the jazz hands down in styling and I personally think that the punto is the most beautiful car in the country, but then again looks are not everything, and especially in the punto's case they can be very deceptive! As far as the other car's are concerned, the i20 according to me, has some confusing styling details, especially when viewed in profile. The Polo although a solid car on its own, is just too dull and straightforward, and the fabia just looks a bit outdated. All in all Honda has done a splendid job, considering the cab-forward stance and I would go as far as saying this is the best looking Honda currently on sale.

 

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) Due to the cab-forward design of the Jazz, the Honda engineers have managed to unearth massive amounts of interior space. It's surprising how oher manufacturers haven't followed this trend, but it's an art that Honda has perfected. The front seats are the best in class, I have tested all the others, and the driving position coupled with the lovely steering wheel just feels right. The visibility is terrific and the large front quarter glasses really helps especially when taking right hand bends. I really like the design of the centre console, and although some people might think it is a bit eccentric, I feel the design is very functional. All the important controls, like volume control, A/c temp control have are big and easy to operate on the move. The quality of the interiors is on par with the polo, and that is really saying something. I just love the way the interior lights up at night and it is really a special feeling and really gives u a sense of driving in a much more expensive car.A very very tiny gripe I have is the lack of Auto Climate Control. Honestly I don't feel the lack of it, but I am sure other users would feel a car of this price should have that feature and that thought is justified. The audio system gets a special mention here, because in a word it's fantastic. Sounds great and is very well integrated with the rest of the dashboard.

Honda excels in the practicality department and this car is a very good example of that. Twin-gloveboxes, 10 cup-holders(not just cups, but properly sized 1 litre bottles!), the amazing 'magic' seats. and the massive, just massive amount of bootspace. I am sure many people think that they may never really need folding seats and that this is a marketing gimmick. But look at it this way. The rear seats work perfectly when carrying 2 or more people. Best in class legroom, and is really comfortable over long trips. I have done many, hence I know! :) But when needed it can transform into a loadlugger. And this flexibility is its USP. You get the best of both worlds. This brings me to the important question of value for money, which I will deal with later.

In comparison, I was genuinely shocked by the quality of the Punto's interior. The panel gaps, the cheap plastic, dull colours. And this shock was amplified considering how gorgeous the car is on the outside. It was a big turn-off. The I20's interiors although offering more features is far less practical. The quality in the fabia and polo is slightly better, not surprising considering they're owned by VW, but in my opinion they're too dull(more so the polo)  and cramped, especially at the rear.

 

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox The i-VTEC engine on the Honda is brilliant and the reason many people love this car is because of the engine, and surprisingly also why many people hate/dislike the car. There is a reason for this, and that is ... i-VTEC. If only people really understand what this is, and how does it work, they will understand the reason for the lack of low-end torque. Honda has found the perfect balance between power(lots of it!) and fuel efficiency. And as an offset, a slight lack of low end grunt is very acceptable. Gearbox is silky-smooth and the ratios are perfectly spaced-out.

Of special note is the accelaration in 2nd gear. It is mind-blowing. No car in it's class can match it. You can make the engine scream all the way to 6 and a half thousand revs and go up to 84kmph!! Yes, 84! As a result I think it is the perfect city car as you can zip in out of tight places. And it very very addictive and satisfying  to take the sweet sounding engine to the redline! Try it and tell me it isin't! :) 

I'll let some numbers do the talking. And these are actual numbers observed by me over a 1 year ownership period:

• Max speed: 170 Kmph(could've gone a bit more, but for annoying trucks)
• Highway F/E: 16.0kmpl( these are true calculated figures and not the reading on the digital display, with A/C)
• City F/E: 13-13.5 kmpl( sensible driving with A/C) and around 12-12.5 ( mad mad driving with A/C!)
• Most efficient crusing speed: 110 kmph @ 5th gear.

So there you have it, cruise along all day long at 110kmph and still get unbelievable fuel figures.( what more can you ask for?.

In comparison, Punto is once again let down, this time by its engine, Fabia and Polo surprisingly have quite unrefined engines. Sounds like a truck when you sit inside. And the I20 just isin't exciting or fast enough.

 

Ride Quality & Handling The car does feel a bit jittery around town at low speeds. Nothing spine-breaking, but certainly not as good as the fabia or polo. In contrast is the stability and ride quailty at moderate-high speeds. It is very composed at speeds in excess of 140kmph, and the handling is confidence inspiring as well. But definitely manouevering in the city is a breeze with it's very pointy and direct steering.

 

Final Words I'm aware that the fabia and polo now come with a 1.6L engine and are as a result faster. If out and out performance is your requirement, then they win over the jazz. But as a complete product, nothing comes close.

Now coming to the value for money bit. This is a very picky subject and THE most important reason for the Jazz not selling as much. Do you get value-for-your-money?

Yes. Beautifully designed car, Engine that feels it belongs to a much pricier car, Painstaking attention to detail inside and out, Massive interior space(more than the city too!), Quality interiors, flexibility of a hatchback and fuel efficiency of a car belonging to a much lower price range.

Now if you have to pay more compared to other cars, then why not? At the end of the day, and in my case, after a year of ownership, I can safely say it gives me immense pleasure in owning this car, and not for one moment do I think I've paid upwards of 7 lakhs.  That, is real value- for-money! :)

 

Areas of improvement Oooh. Maybe the 1.5L from the city as an option? Mugen body kits offered as an option ?? :)

 

Beatifully styledl, Great engine, Top-notch interiors, Space EfficiencyMaybe, just maybe, the lack of Auto Climate Control. That's it!