In the Indian automotive market, there are many takers for hot hatches, such as the Volkswagen Polo and Maruti Suzuki swift, and these manufacturers are making a nice chunky profit out of the sale of these hatchbacks. Being one of the top car-makers in India, Honda didn’t want to be left behind and hence they revealed the third-generation Honda Jazz at the auto expo earlier this year.
After the reveal, it wasn’t long before we saw spy-pictures of the new Jazz testing. Pictures of the third-generation Jazz, in the avatar of a test mule, have surfaced on the internet. The exact location of the place where it was spotted is not known, but it appears to be a Honda stockyard, and we can see the amaze, the brio and the second-gen Jazz alongside the new Jazz. Irrespective of whether it was spotted in India, or elsewhere, we know for sure that the third-gen Jazz will be making it to the Indian market.
This is not Honda’s first try at hatchbacks in the Indian market. They had on sale the second generation Jazz for a few years, but the sales numbers didn’t match their expectations, they eventually stopped the production of the second-generation Jazz, and they even tried launching a smaller, cheaper hatchback with the Brio. Even though the Brio is still on sale today, it isn’t selling in great numbers. There is only one cause for the above to happen: the absence of a diesel power plant under the hood, in a country filled with love for the fuel.
This time though, Honda has made sure that this thirst for diesel is quenched. Honda will equip the Jazz with the same 1.5 liter turbo-diesel i-DTEC engine, found under the hood of the latest Honda City and the also the Honda Amaze. It has a maximum output of 100 PS and 200 NM of torque, but what impresses most about this engine is the frugal nature of it. In the City and the Amaze, there have been instances where this engine has given 25+ kilometres to the liter, and that really is an achievement for Honda. Also available will be the 1.2 liter, i-VTEC petrol engine with an output of 88 PS and 109 NM.
Being a Honda, it is obvious that the Jazz will handle very well indeed, and at the same time be comfortable for its occupants. The new Jazz will also have more spacious and higher quality interiors which is a must-have for any car to be successful in India. Honda has a great prospect in the jazz, and this car has the capability to be the best selling hatchback when launched. It will come with a price tag of Rs. 4.7 lakhs for the base petrol variant, and will go all the way till Rs.7.5 lakhs for the top-end diesel variant.
It is expected to hit showroom floors by the end of this year, or early 2015.
