The i20 has had a good run in the premium hatchback segment in India, with both the previous generation and the Elite i20 being well received. Hyundai recently announced that the new Elite i20 has sold more than 1,00,000 units in the 11 months since its launch. But the Elite i20 won't have things easy in the segment for long, as competition is set to arrive on July 8 in the form of Honda's new Jazz.
The previous-generation Jazz was discontinued by Honda as it failed to meet the automaker’s expectations due to its steep pricing, easing things up for the earlier i20. Probably a case of once bitten, twice shy, Honda is likely to price the new Honda Jazz — built on a new platform — competitively this time around. Moreover, it will now be offered with a diesel engine, hottening up the competition further. We pit both cars against each other and see how they stack up on paper.
Under the hood
| Engine specifications | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Jazz diesel | Honda Jazz petrol | Hyundai i20 diesel | Hyundai i20 petrol | |
| Displacement | 1498cc | 1198cc | 1396cc | 1197cc |
| Power | 98.6bhp | 89bhp | 89bhp | 82bhp |
| Torque | 20.4kgm at 1,750rpm | 11.2kgm at 4,800rpm | 22.4kgm at 1,500 - 2,750rpm | 11.7kgm at 4,000rpm |
The diesel engine in the Honda Jazz is the same 1.5-litre i-DTEC engine running the Amaze and City. Peak power is 98.6bhp at 3,600rpm and peak torque is 20.4kgm at 1,750rpm. The engine comes mated to a six-speed manual gearbox that helps this version of the Jazz deliver a class-leading ARAI-tested fuel economy of 27.3kpl.
Also powering the Jazz is the 1.2 i-VTEC petrol engine which produces 89bhp and 11.21kgm of torque at 4,800rpm. The engine is mated to a five-speed manual transmission or a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) gearbox.
On the other hand, the diesel and the petrol version of the Hyundai Elite i20, powered by the 1.4-litre CRDi diesel unit and 1.2-litre Kappa Dual VTVT motor respectively, makes around 10bhp and 7bhp lesser than the Jazz diesel, but gain slightly in the torque category. However, the Elite i20 does not get the option of an automatic gearbox like on the Honda Jazz.
In terms of fuel efficiency, once launched, the Honda Jazz will be the second-most fuel-efficient car in the country, after the recently launched Maruti Celerio Diesel, which has an ARAI-tested fuel-economy figure of 27.62kpl and is powered by the automaker’s homegrown two-cylinder diesel. The Elite i20 is less fuel efficient of the two, with the diesel variant having an ARAI-claimed figure of 22.54kmpl.
Space on offer
| Dimensions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Honda Jazz | Hyundai i20 | |
| Length | 3,955mm | 3,985mm |
| Width | 1,694mm | 1,734mm |
| Height | 1,544mm | 1,505mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,530mm | 2,570mm |
| Ground clearance | 165mm | 170mm |
| Boot space | 354 litre | 285 litre |
The Honda Jazz measures 3,955mm long, 1,694mm wide, and 1,544mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2,530mm. When compared to the outgoing car, the new Jazz gets an added 55mm on the length and 30mm on the wheelbase.
However, in this category, the Honda Jazz falls behind. The new Hyundai Elite i20 gets a 2,570mm space between the front and rear wheels, which is a substantial 40mm more than the Honda Jazz. The Elite i20 is also 30mm longer and 40 mm wider.
During our review of the Honda Jazz, we noticed that passengers in the rear might find the seat low on thigh support. The upward sloping floor (on account of the fuel tank being positioned under the front seats) may not be to everyone’s liking either.
Moreover, the Hyundai Elite i20 has a slightly higher ground clearance of 170 mm as against the 165 mm on the Honda Jazz. However, the Jazz is higher by 39mm. But despite losing out on paper to the i20, the Jazz is still one of the most spacious cars in its class with ample head, leg and shoulder-room for five occupants.
The Honda Jazz also scores by a huge margin in terms of space with a 354-litre boot, as against the Elite i20’s 285 litres.
Equipment
It was a close contest between the Honda Jazz and the Elite i20 premium hatchbacks, in this category. While Hyundai has proved to be an all-rounder with a spacious and premium cabin, lots of features with impressive overall refinement in the Elite i20, Honda has upped its ante with the second-generation Jazz that comes loaded with features.
As in the City, the Jazz gets a dial-operated 5-inch colour screen for the rear-view camera and an infotainment system with a 6.2-inch touchscreen offered on top variants. A touch-operated panel for the climate control system as seen on the City, is offered here. There are also steering-mounted buttons for audio and telephone functions.
The Jazz also comes with as many as nine cup holders and more than a few cubbyholes and offers more than adequate storage space as compared to the Elite i20.
The Elite i20 features Hyundai's new design language and top-of-the-line trim gets automatic headlamps, reversing camera, dual airbags, ABS, rear air-con vents, electrically folding wing mirrors, climate control and keyless entry.
While the Honda Jazz loses out to the superb looking-dual tone interiors of the i20, the rear air-con vents and an automatic start-stop ignition, the top-spec versions boast of ,magic seats' at the back. These seats split, fold flat and flip upwards to make space for all shapes and sizes of cargo. The seats can also go into recliner mode now, by pushing the front seat backrests fully till they meet the rear seat base, providing a comfortable seating position.
However, in order to compete with the new Honda Jazz, Hyundai will soon start offering its i20 with a touchscreen infotainment system. The factory-installed system will include satellite navigation as well as Bluetooth and telephone functions.
So with the new Jazz, Honda has enough firepower in its arsenal to give the award-winning Elite i20 a hard time — that is if the Japanese car maker gets its pricing right. The huge success of the i20 in India has also proved that small cars needn’t come cheap.