All That Jazz Gets An All-new Model

Sydney Morning Herald

Saturday August 30, 2008

Joshua Dowling

THE light-car market is poised to get a boost with the arrival in showrooms this week of a new Honda Jazz. At a glance, the second-generation model looks much the same as the original but every panel is new. Indeed, the new version is slightly longer and wider - and has a roomier cabin. It also has more available safety equipment.

These improvements also mean the new model is heavier and thirstier, although still on par with the competition.

As before, there is a choice of two engines but they have more power (the 1.3-litre is up 20 per cent and the 1.5 is up 10 per cent). Depending on the model, fuel consumption has gone up by between 2 and 13 per cent and ranges from 5.8 to 6.7 litres/100km.

Three models remain in the line-up, which is priced from $15,990 to $23,920. The $15,990 GLi is powered by a 1.3-litre four-cylinder engine and the $19,170 VTi and the flagship $21,590 VTiS are powered by a 1.5.

All models are available with either a five-speed manual or a new five-speed automatic. This makes the Jazz the first car in its class with a five-speed auto, which adds $2000 to the cost of the GLi and about $2300 to the VTi and VTiS.

All models come equipped with dual airbags and anti-lock brakes as standard. Side and curtain airbags are standard on the VTi and VTiS models. On the base model it is a $1000 option but this includes a seatbelt reminder and a speed warning alert function.

Nevertheless, this price may seem expensive compared with the competition. Side, curtain and driver's knee airbags are a $750 option on the Toyota Yaris. Side and curtain bags are $1100 on the Mazda2 - but that package includes stability control.

Stability control, which can prevent a skid in a corner, is not available as an option on the Honda Jazz - despite reductions in road crashes being attributed to this technology in Europe and North America, and with Australian authorities considering making it compulsory in the next few years.

This week Honda Australia executives said they were working to make stability control and curtain airbags standard on all models sold in Australia by the end of 2010.

The new Honda Jazz is made in Thailand and is covered by a three-year/100,000km warranty and has 10,000km service intervals.

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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