Tokyo: Honda has taken the wrap off the fourth-gen Jazz (known as Fit in some markets such as Japan and the US) at the 2019 Toyota Motor Show. The model will replace the third-gen hatchback, which is also on sale in India, coming February in Japan and will subsequently go on sale globally.
Talking about design, the fourth-gen Jazz gets a more curved design theme for its exterior, interior and upmarket features. However, the most striking highlight of the new Jazz is its new dual-motor hybrid engine called the e:HEV that debuts with the car.
The new Jazz’s front end features larger, less geometric-shaped headlamps with square projectors and LED DRLs. While the Honda’s Wing Face grille is still around, the design has been simplified further. Infotainment-wise, the new Jazz gets a new LCD touch screen interface which includes Wi-Fi hotspot, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support.
The new Honda Jazz comes in five different variants Basic, Home, Ness, Luxe and Crosstar. While the Basic is the entry-level model and features a simple design, the Home is available with coordinated colours and materials, which includes natural-looking fabric seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel and soft paddings on the instrument panel.
The CR-V Hybrid pairs two electric motors with a 2.0-litre petrol engine and a CVT transmission. However, given its smaller dimensions, the Jazz supermini will use either a 1.0-litre of 1.5-litre petrol engine and have less power. Honda has yet to confirm any capacity, performance or economy figures for the new Jazz’s hybrid drivetrain, however.
The Jazz will be the first in the brand ‘s line-up to only offer a hybrid powertrain, with other models soon to follow suit. Honda announced earlier this year that all of its combustion-engined models in Europe will be offered with hybrid powertrains by 2025.
