You can scratch your head all you want but one thing we guarantee you is that you will never recall anything fundamentally faulty about the Honda Jazz. It was fit for purpose in every respect: technology, aesthetics, market competence and value for money.
So why did Honda SA decide to discontinue the Jazz after three successful generations? Well, after the long wait for the latest model, which was extended by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Japanese compact hatch finally arrived but with a new name – Honda Fit.
Honda SA says the change is in line with the reality of the international market, where the Fit is well established.
Dinesh Govender, general manager of Honda Motor Southern Africa, further explains: “The all-new Japanese-built Honda Fit represents a new generation of cars for Honda Motor Southern Africa focused on reasserting Honda’s position as a brand that is synonymous with outstanding quality, durability and technology. Our rebranding strategy for the all-new Fit aims to rebrand the image of the model from one that has always appealed to customers’ rational side due to its space and practicality, to one that appeals more to customers’ emotional side with an exquisite design, exceptional drive and brand-new technology.”
The rebranding of Fit has a lot more in terms of changes from Jazz. Firstly, the Fit comes directly from Japan and not India as it was the case with the Jazz. Secondly, the Fit boasts a larger interior, with better rear legroom, because it is 88mm longer. Thirdly, the Fit comes with hybrid option, the flagship e:HEV FIT Hybrid.
The fuel-driven models come in Comfort, Elegance and Executive derivatives, and all are powered by an internal combustion engine. The 1.5-litre normally aspirated petrol engine delivers 89kW of power and 145Nm of torque, via front wheels drive.
Honda gave its new Fit a fresh new interior, with the improved quality and thought-through design coming to the fore. Immediately noticeable is the new 9-inch HMI touchscreen interface, which is standard on Elegance and Executive models, including the new hybrid model.
Interior
Like in all modern cars, the Honda Fit’s interior is held up by the dash and its features. There’s no mistaking the 9-inch LCD touchscreen, so easy to use to minimise driver distraction. So technologically advanced is the screen that it can be configured to suit the needs of the owner, by adding customisable shortcuts and apps. By the way, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard.
The fuel derivatives have a luggage capacity of 309-litre and 209L for the hybrid model, which spreads out to 1,210L (1,199L) when the rear seats folded down.
The hybrid model
Despite Honda’s excitement about adding the e:HEV FIT Hybrid among the new Fit models is somewhat subdued, the automaker knows the importance the of this inclusions, which explains why it made it its flagship model. Though it also comes with the 1.5-litre engine, which in practice acts like a generator for the lithium-ion battery that powers two electric motors. A fixed gear transmission, or the electronically controlled Continuously Variable Transmission (e-CVT), does the business with a single fixed-gear ratio to create a direct connection between moving components.
The system automatically selects from three drive modes as you drive it:
EV Drive: the lithium-ion battery supplies power to the electric propulsion motor directly.
Hybrid Drive: the engine supplies power to the electric generator motor, which in turn supplies it to the electric propulsion motor.
Engine Drive: the petrol engine is connected directly to the wheels via a lock-up clutch and drive force is transmitted directly from engine to the wheels.
Driving
Honda FIT 1.5 DOHC i-VTEC Comfort CVT R319,900
Honda FIT 1.5 DOHC i-VTEC Elegance CVT R359,900
Honda FIT 1.5 DOHC i-VTEC Executive CVT R389,900
Honda FIT 1.5 DOHC i-MMD e-CVT Hybrid R469,900
All with a five-year/200,000km warranty and a four-year/60,000km Service Plan. The Hybrid version’s high-voltage battery pack is taken care of with an eight-year/200 000km warranty
New Honda hatch is Fit for purpose
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