Honda Jazz does not have the cheap cost cuttings like most of its other competitors and it shows in the passenger area beginning with the huge space. The car has most of mechanical parts from the Honda City but this is hardly noticeable as the car has an identity of its own. The drive wheels, dials and the gear knob do show some resemblance to the City but apart from that the car is in a world of its own. The quality of the insides is clearly notches higher than the existing City. Even the plastics and the cloth materials used in the car carry a rich feel with the doors too giving a thumping sound when you shut it close.
Everything in the Jazz is nothing like anything. The dashboard and its practicality are not like your usual cars. The ac knobs are quite a fit and show their finesse with some awesome cooling. The dashboard design and functionality is very different from the norm. The chunky air-con knobs have a solid feel and function superbly although the low-rent fresh air re-circ slider is a bit of disappointment. Most of the functional controls are keyed up the central console making for a free storage space below. The Jazz is also low on the music with a CD player instead of the memory stick or iPod. Steering audio controls, real-time fuel consumption, airbags and ABS are a compulsory in the Jazz. The wheels are no alloy but have their own stand with the dull silver wheel caps on steel which actually looks quite good.
Honda cars were usually a run of the mill without much style statement but this one makes an exception with the stubby, pointed nose with large triangular headlights which is particularly stunning. The bonnet with a slight paunch gives that extra shine when the sunlight falls on the car and looks really cool with the strong chin and the aggressive tipped stance at the wheels. The car has similar paunch at the rear wheel arch and is highlighted by some strong creases that spread across the entire mass of the car till the rear. The flush windscreen in a mounted position also makes the car look unique.
The Jazz comes with an 1198 cc petrol engine for the desi market while for the global markets the car is available in more variants. The small but powerful engine delivers a robust power of 89 bhp. The Honda would have surely come with an engine of higher displacement if not for the huge savings in the excise duty that is applicable only for engines below the 1.2 litre capacity which is the main reason why the Jazz and most other hatchbacks come with engines under this limit.
The car hits the triple figure mark in 13.2seconds and reaches the top speed of 120 with a time of 18.6sec. This easily makes the Jazz the fastest in the 1.2 petrol category along with some quality refinement. The Honda engine is dead silent at Idle and the motor purrs at low engine speeds and only when you really start revving it, does the engine get slightly louder.