I bought a Honda Jazz (Sherbet Blue) from Pinnacle Honda, Kolkata almost two months ago. I was actively considering either the Jazz or the i20 because I wanted a comfortable, spacious and fun to drive hatch which could also be taken to the airport, unlike other hatchbacks with no boot space whatsoever, if required. I had test driven both and must admit that the i20 was also a good drive not to mention the fact that it comes in numerous more variants compared to the Jazz. But when I found out that there was a one-two month backlog on the i20, I immediately placed an order for the significantly more expensive Jazz. The car cost me around Rs.7, 40, 000 at the old excise rate and was delivered in less than a week. After owning and driving the car for around two months, I have encapsulated my opinion below.
1) Pre-sales : The salesperson from Pinnacle Honda was helpful, reliable and sensitive to my requirements and pretty much promised only what he could deliver so no complaints there. Although I was a little surprised that the dealer, Pinnacle Honda, did not stock the customizable kits for the Jazz.
2) Post-sales service : The car has also undergone the first free service which was planned and executed professionally.
3) Product design (exterior) : The Jazz is a good looking car, at least to me. I specially like its flowing lines as well as the sharply sloping hood. The fact that its rear end does not look like it received a cosmetic surgery after a truck collision, unlike most small Suzukis, also appeals to me.
4) Product design (interior) : Now, to me the interiors seem more important than the exterior because you spend more time looking at the interior of the car unless its your neighbor who owns the car. And here is where I think the Jazz pretty much outperforms any and all competition. The dash is sleek, elegant and well put together. It looks and feels quite posh! The steering comfortable to hold with audio controls mounted on it. There are two glove compartments which make storage easier and more uncluttered. There are plenty of cup holders which is useful for me as I drink a lot of coffee and normally prefer to have one while on my way to work.
5) Comfort & space : The AC vents can also be used to chill soft drink cans which is another useful aspect of the Jazz, now that summer seems to be creeping in. Front seats are comfortable with adequate padding at the right places. Rear seats also seem to have plenty of leg space. My only issue here is the rear seat bench size which seems to be short and results in part of your thigh left hanging. The boot is quite big and can easily hold two suitcases. The cabin is very well insulated from exterior as well as the cars own engine sound. It is in fact so quiet that initially I used to turn on the ignition key at intersections even when the engine was already running.
6) Performance : The car is much larger compared to other hatchbacks but rides and handles fine with a 1, 200cc VTEC petrol engine which is pretty adequate for overtaking in the city although it feels slightly underpowered while on the highway. 110 Nm of peak torque at 4800 rpm leaves you gunning the accelerator for a tad longer than you would like in order to get the desired acceleration. Gear throws are sharp and slot nicely save for the transition from first to second which feels a little patchy to me.
7) Mileage and VFM : I am getting anything between 11-14 kpl while driving in Kolkata depending on whether the AC is on or not. At around 7.5 lacs this car is quite expensive for a hatch specially when better VFM packages like the Fabia and i20 exist giving you more options, including diesel engines as well. However, if you are the typical well-off urbanite, looking for a semi-luxurious hatchback which is comfortable, fun to drive and very practical in the city, then this car makes a lot of sense.