Honda reveals all-new Jazz at TMS

Honda Motor Co. Ltd unveiled the all-new Jazz (aka Fit) hatchback at the 46th edition of the Tokyo Motor Show, on Oct. 23, 2019. The new Jazz sports a friendlier face and overall utilitarian vibe, while still keeping a sense of playfulness. The Jazz was created in 2001, and became the benchmark for spaciousness and versatility in subcompact hatchbacks. Thanks partly to its central fuel tank layout, the Jazz has ample space for up to five adults. It also has a versatile rear seat that allowed reconfiguration for long and tall cargo.

The Jazz went on to become a hit in Japan and major world markets. After three generations of the model, Honda has sold more than 7.5 million units of Jazz.

Honda CEO Takahiro Hachigo said during the launch: “What we strive to do with this all-new Jazz is to establish the standard for compact cars suited to this new era. We believe this car will be able to become an industry standard for the new era only if it can win admiration in the Japanese market where fulfilling customer needs for compact cars is especially difficult compared to other parts of the world.”

For the first time, the Jazz will be available in five distinct variants with different “personalities,” varying from basic to sporty to luxurious. The Basic model, well, carries the most basic equipment and styling. The Home adds coordinated colors inside and better-quality fabric seats, and leather steering wheel. Ness, aimed towards fitness enthusiasts, features water-repellent seats and soft padding on the instrument panel. Crosstar is a Jazz with SUV-look: 16-inch alloys, fender cladding, and roof rails. The Luxe has leather seats, platinum-look chrome plating, and 16-inch alloys.

Honda promises “four dimensions of comfort” that were the basis of the new Jazz’s design. First is the expansive view out the front, thanks to a sharply-sloped front pillar with added forward windows, similar to some minivans. Honda says that despite the slim pillars, the Jazz’s structural design allows for efficient dissipation of crash energy. The instrument panel is low and flat, and windshield wipers are tucked away out of sight.

Jazz promises more comfortable seats. The front buckets will have a “body stabilizing” design similar to those in Honda’s high-send sedans. This will reduce stress and make long driving less tiring. Jazz will continue to have the easily-configurable rear seats that have been the nameplate’s trademark. The rear seats will have larger and thicker seat pads, too.

The third aspect of new Jazz is ride comfort, thanks to the available with Honda’s new two-motor hybrid system. The system will allowing smoother driving with full electric driving mode, with expected high fuel efficiency and enhanced acceleration.

The fourth is utility, with the Jazz’s large interior space and multiple storage spaces allowing for user comfort during short and long-distance driving.

Honda Sensing is the company’s active safety system that includes collision-mitigation automatic braking using front camera and sonar sensors front and back.

Hachigo continued, “We developed the Jazz not merely as a means of transportation for our customers. We strived for a vehicle which will become a part of our customers’ daily lives and make their daily lives more comfortable and enjoyable. This is a compact car for the new era, and this vehicle will set a new standard for Honda automobile development.

The author (6th from left) together with the Honda Cars Philippines contingent at the 46th Tokyo Motor Show

“The all-new Jazz features the latest functions of the Honda Sensing safety and driver-assistive system, the most advanced Honda e:Technology, as well as a simple and endearing design. We filled this compact body of the all-new Jazz with our strong passion and latest technologies. Moreover, starting with this all-new Jazz, Honda will begin providing new services which utilize an on-board communication module named Honda Connect, and we are planning to sequentially evolve them to future new models and models undergoing a full model change in Japan.”

The all-new Jazz will be launched to the market in February 2020.

Also on the Honda stand at the Tokyo Motor Show are the production version of the Honda e all-electric hatchback, the Benly e and Gyro e electric scooters, and a display of Honda’s awesome racing machines, including historic Formula 1 cars and MotoGP motorbikes.