Honda will be launching the new Jazz on July 8, 2015. Bookings are already underway, and you can make a reservation for one at Rs 51,000. Information gathered from some of the dealers suggests that the new Jazz diesel is garnering a good number of enquiries, and the CVT petrol variant too seems to be a favourite amongst prospective buyers.

Upon launch, the Jazz enters a very hotly contested premium hatchback segment. Here are some of the important things you need to know about the newest iteration of the Jazz:

• The new Jazz retains the same MPV-esque silhouette like the previous car, and it definitely does stand out a bit. Step inside, and you’ll find the cabin pretty similar to the City — the asymmetric setup of the dashboard, the touch-sensitive air-con controls, and the steering wheel, are all like the sedan’s.
   
• For a lot of customers, the standout point in the cabin is likely to be the space on offer. There’s loads of it and even the boot is the biggest in the segment. The Jazz also gets something called ‘magic seats’; the seats can be folded down in various combinations to allow for maximum comfort or space. But bear in mind, the feature is available only in the top trim.
   
• Speaking of trims, the Jazz will be launched in the familiar Honda trims — E, S, SV, V and VX. The top VX gets the touchscreen infotainment system and the ‘magic seats’, apart from dual front airbags, ABS, climate control, tilt-adjustable steering wheel, height-adjustable driver’s seat, powered wing mirrors, alloy wheels and powered windows.
   
• Engine options on the new Jazz include the 88.8bhp 1.2-litre i-VTEC petrol engine that’s been borrowed from the Brio, and the 98.6bhp 1.5-litre Earth Dreams i-DTEC diesel engine like on the City and the Mobilio. Transmission options include a five-speed manual and a CVT gearbox for the petrol motor; the diesel unit is mated to a six-speed manual.
   
• Buyers looking for added ease of driving will be pleased with the introduction of the CVT. What’s also nice is that it gets paddle shifters, so drivers looking to take a bit more charge won’t be disappointed.
   
• Honda has also claimed impressive fuel-efficiency figures for the new Jazz. The diesel variant is rated at 27.3kpl, and that makes it the second-most fuel-efficient car in the Indian market after the recent Maruti Celerio diesel. The petrol manual has a claimed efficiency figure of 18.7kpl, while in the CVT avatar it claims 19kpl. Impressive numbers for sure, but we’ll definitely wait for what figures our real world tests throw up.

The Jazz looks to make an impact by relying on its strengths of space, practicality and comfort, but going up against rivals like the Hyundai i20 and the Volkswagen Polo, a competitive price is paramount. With Honda claiming that a lot of content in the new Honda Jazz has been localised, this second coming for the Jazz, might just hold promise.

Suraj Kannan

New Honda Jazz review

New Honda Jazz photo gallery