Honda entered the Indian market with the City back in 1998. The sedan segment was conquered. Now it was time for the hatchback segment, which was overshadowed by the like of Hyundai Santro and Maruti Suzuki Alto. People were looking for a premium offering, but with a promise of quality, comfort and performance. And that is when Honda Jazz came into existence. So let’s take a look at the different generations of Jazz through ages. But before that, let’s take a brief look at the premium hatchback segment in India.
Indians and Premium Hatchback segment
India’s automotive industry has seen plenty of hatchbacks since its inception. Even now, some of the top-selling cars are hatchbacks. But there was no premium in this segment until the Hyundai i20 and Honda Jazz were introduced. So, the rise of premium hatchbacks can be credited to these two cars. Let’s save the Hyundai i20 for some other day. It’s time for Jazz!
2009: Honda Jazz Launched in India
Boring cars were becoming a sight on the roads. The sedan segment had a premium in the form of City. So Honda decided to give Indians something to remember in the hatch too. And the Jazz was launched. The globally sold Honda Fit is what Indians know as Jazz.
It was a feast to the eyes of those who were fed up with seeing the boxy designs of hatchbacks. The sloppy bonnet in line with the front windshield gave a perfect view for the driver. The front sported long headlamps with bulged out indicators.
Under the hood was the 1.2-litre i-VTEC petrol engine which could churn out 90ps of power @6,200rpm and a peak torque of 110Nm @4,800rpm. It was mated to a 5-speed Manual transmission.
At the features front, Jazz was pretty equipped. It had dual-front airbags, ABS with EBD, steering mounted controls and OEM fitted music system. The best part was the versatile seats, or how Honda loved to call it ‘Magic Seats’. These seats could be lifted, bent in a 40:60 ratio or a total lowered position. Jazz had made a statement!
2010: Honda Jazz X Variant Introduced!
Although it was premium, the 2009 Honda Jazz did lack some features such as alloy wheels, parcel tray, fog lamps and height-adjustable driver seat. Honda was quick to understand the need and Jazz X was launched with all these features. There were no changes on the mechanical or the design front though!
2015: 2nd Generation Honda Jazz
Things were going good for the Jazz. But it was time for something great. So Honda launched Jazz again in 2015 in a new avatar. And this time, Jazz had a 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel engine under the hood capable of churning 100ps @3,600rpm and a peak torque of 200Nm @1,750rpm. The diesel engine had the best in class fuel efficiency of over 27.3kmpl. On the transmission front, a CVT was introduced with the diesel engine and first-in-class paddle shifters were introduced. Yes, the Paddle Shifters!
The paddle shifters are not the only first in segment feature on the Honda Jazz 2015. It also featured Auto AC with touchscreen control panel, advanced Multi-information combination meter, 5-inch infotainment with iPod connectivity and much more.
It also had features like a Rear parking camera with first in segment Rear camera top-down view, centre console power and USB ports, best-in-segment 354-litres boot space, tailgate spoiler and what not. Jazz was more premium than ever.
2018: New on Entertainment Honda Jazz
Nothing changed on the mechanical front. But when it came to infotainment, the new Jazz had a 6.9-inch Digipad 2.0 touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Now the Jazz had entertainment which everyone demanded. The Digipad 2.0 came with features like Voice Command, Bluetooth for handsfree telephone and audio support and rear camera display for easy parking.
2020: The BS6 Jazz
The BS6 era began in 2020. The cars had to undergo up-gradation in order to meet the BS6 emission norms. The all-new Jazz has been recently launched and the premium segment is once again set on fire. But the major missing is the diesel engine. Honda has not offered any diesel variant this time. It does get sunroof this time, first-in-segment. Read here to know everything about the all-new updated Honda Jazz.
On the exterior, you will find a Chrome Accentuated High Gloss Black Grille, advanced LED headlamps with DRLs, advanced LED fog lamps and signature rear LED wing lights. These are the major changes that the all-new updated Honda Jazz boasts.
Also, read 10 Reasons why India loves Honda Cars!
So, this is what it took the Jazz to become one of the most sought-after premium hatchbacks in India. Do you own the first-gen Honda Jazz? Share your thoughts with us at gomechanicblog@gomechanic.in and do let us know your experience.
FAQs
1. Why was Honda Jazz discontinued?
Honda stopped the Jazz in India mainly because sales were tapering off, and updating it for the stricter BS6 Phase-II / RDE requirements was not worth the investment. It was part of Honda shrinking its India line-up at the end of 2022. In simple terms, the numbers didn’t justify the upgrade cost.
2. Is Honda Jazz still available?
Not as a new car in India anymore. Honda has phased it out, and the current official line-up is City, Amaze, and Elevate, so Jazz is not on sale. You can still buy it in the used market, depending on city and condition.
3. Which is better, Toyota Yaris or Honda Jazz?
Depends on what you want, because these are different cars and both are discontinued in India. Jazz is easier to live with in the city, more practical cabin, and the hatchback format makes it less stressful. Yaris was a calmer sedan with a more mature feel, but parts and resale can be a bit niche now. So, pick Jazz for usability, pick Yaris if you specifically want a sedan setup.
4. Is Jazz coming back to India?
As of now, there is no official confirmation of Jazz returning to India. Yes, the Fit/Jazz continues in some markets and even got updates overseas, but Honda India’s stated direction is SUVs and their upcoming product plan doesn’t mention Jazz. So for India, treat it as unlikely, at least for now.
5. What is the disadvantage of Honda Jazz?
The engine is reliable, but it isn’t exciting and performance feels just adequate, especially with load. Ground clearance can be limiting on bad speed breakers if you’re not careful. Also, compared to Maruti or Hyundai, service reach and resale is slightly less aggressive. And now since it’s discontinued, you buy it only if you’re okay with the used-car route.
