Honda’s top-selling hatchback- the Jazz has bagged the Budget Car Award at the 2014 Women’s World Car of the Year Awards. The new Jazz will be launched in the Indian car market in the first half of 2015. The Jury comprises of female journalists from 15 countries, including the Sue Baker and Maggie Barry. The awards considered ten different criteria including design and function, style and appeal, comfort, storage, and drive quality.
Additionally, the panel also considered the ‘wow’ factor, sex appeal and value for money as key factors for female car buyers. Sandy Myhre, CEO and founder of the Women’s World Car of the Year comments: “Honda can be very proud of this achievement. It is very difficult for any car to be on our shortlist, women motoring writers are very discerning and to win a category is a significant accolade.”
Available in two economical choices- 1.2 and 1.4 i-VTEC petrol engines or Honda’s super-efficient hybrid IMA technology, the all-new Jazz will go on sale in Summer 2015 in the European nations. For the Indian market, the hatchback will be offered in both petrol and diesel fuel options. While the petrol motor is the tried & tested 1.2-litre i-VTEC motor producing 88PS and 109Nm of torque, the oil burner is the fuel efficient 1.5-litre i-DTEC unit that is good for 100PS power and 200Nm of torque. A five-speed manual transmission and CVT transmission will be on offer.
Unlike the previous-generation model, the new Jazz would see around 90 per cent of local components. This would help the company price it aggressively in the market. It will compete against the likes of Hyundai Elite i20, Volkswagen Polo and Fiat Punto Evo.
