I’ve at all times had a passion for the Honda Jazz, significantly the second- and third-gen iterations of the nameplate. Form apart, of which the second-gen GE stays my decide, there was at all times a component of enjoyable and lightheartedness to it, a hatchback that didn’t take itself too severely however did what it was speculated to do, faultlessly.
Certain, it wasn’t good, however it had nice practicality and, most significantly, character, sufficient that it resonated with greater than 100,000 consumers right here over three generations. So when the fourth one appeared on the horizon three years in the past, the expectation was that it could stick with it flying the flag for the small runabout.
That in fact by no means occurred, the automotive being changed within the scheme of issues by the automobile we’re discussing immediately, the Metropolis Hatchback, which made its native debut final December. The reasoning behind the swap, as the corporate put it in an interview with the automotive’s giant venture chief, was all the way down to enjoying on the recognisable imprint of the Metropolis nameplate within the area and maximising effectivity by constructing each sedan and hatchback variants based mostly on the identical platform.
It’s laborious to argue in opposition to one thing just like the economies of scale, however simply how does the Metropolis Hatchback measure up? Does it ably fill the slot left vacant by the Jazz? Is it a greater automotive than the one it replaces? An invite by Honda Malaysia to place the automotive via its paces in Langkawi earlier this month answered a few of the questions.
A change in projection
The place the final iteration of the Jazz had an avant-garde really feel to it (and the brand new one, much more so), the identical can’t be mentioned of the Metropolis Hatchback. For probably the most, the strains mimic the sedan, with the identical entrance finish and doorways. The lopped off rear implies that there’s a brand new tail meeting, full with new tail lights, the design of which appears to be like such as you’ve seen it someplace earlier than.
It’s not a nasty wanting automotive, very straightforward on the attention from sure angles, however it’s moderately conventional in its strategy as to how a hatchback ought to form up. The bottom type appears to be like a tad plain by itself, as exemplified by the V. The RS e:HEV, particularly with the Modulo parts, exhibits what slightly dressing up can do.
Granted, that is meant to be a purposeful, sensible automotive, one that may meet the billing of household necessities as properly that of youthful drivers, however right me if you’ll, a hatch has at all times been geared in direction of consumers searching for a sportier proposition – by no means thoughts that it doesn’t go quick, it simply has to look that. Decked out, the Metropolis Hatchback passes muster on that depend – you received’t mistake it for a barnstormer, however it’s not dowdy.
Inside format from the sedan retained
As beforehand said, measuring in at 4,345 mm lengthy (4,349 mm for the RS), 1,748 mm vast and 1,488 mm tall, the automotive is longer and wider than the Jazz, however not as tall because the latter’s 1,524 mm peak. Regardless of this, there’s loads of area the place rear occupants are involved – intelligent packaging and Extremely Seats from the Jazz means there’s loads of legroom, greater than that of the sedan, even with the entrance seats slid again to accommodate lankier entrance occupants.
The place the hatch falls barely brief is in boot area. Dropping 200 mm to the sedan implies that the 519 litres seen on that may be a pipe dream for the Hatchback – it delivers 289 litres of boot area with the seats up, which is lower than that of the Jazz (363 litres).
With the rear seats folded down, the out there quantity (till the window line) goes as much as 841 litres, however even on this depend, the Jazz trumps it by providing 40 litres extra. On the drive, the cargo area was in a position to accommodate smaller cabin-sized luggage with out fuss, however it appears to be like just like the intention of the design has been to maximise area for occupants.
The shortage of tail-end acreage is barely into consideration if cargo hauling area is important – I’ve a sense that for the meant viewers, this can be of little consequence; these wanting extra would have already got opted for the sedan.
In any other case, the cabin is a useless ringer for the sedan, together with the dashboard, three-spoke steering wheel and entrance seats. In Langkawi, solely the V and RS hybrid have been offered on the drive, and tools specs for the previous embody leather-based upholstery, soft-touch sprint trim in black, an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity and an eight-speaker audio system.
Additionally on the package listing are a reverse digital camera, distant engine begin, single-zone automated local weather management, paddle shifters and cruise management. The RS provides on leather-based and suede mixture upholstery, alloy pedals, black headlining, purple illumination for the air-con controls in addition to a seven-inch TFT instrument show and rear air-con vents, the one variant within the hatch line-up to have it.
Normally, the cabin is a snug place to be in over lengthy durations – I spent greater than per week with the RS sedan late final 12 months and significantly preferred the sense of spaciousness within the cabin and the way most issues are offered – this was mirrored by the hatch throughout the drive. There’s nonetheless some low-cost plastic really feel to some bits, however fortunately they’re largely away from main contact factors.
Similar engines and security package
No change to the powertrain and drivetrain line-up – the Grade S, E and V variants all function an L15B1 1.5 litre DOHC i-VTEC four-cylinder, paired with an Earth Goals CVT and providing 121 PS at 6,600 rpm and 145 Nm at 4,300 rpm.
In the meantime, the RS has the identical i-MMD system as seen on the hybrid model of the sedan, consisting of a major electrical traction motor with 109 PS and 253 Nm offering drive via a single-speed transmission, with an Atkinson-cycle model of the 1.5 litre mill appearing as a generator to recharge the battery. The mill, which has 98 PS from 5,600 to six,400 rpm and 127 Nm between 4,500 and 5,000 rpm, also can clutch in to supply mechanical drive at increased operating speeds.
As for security, as much as the purpose of the drive, solely the RS e:HEV got here geared up with the automaker’s Sensing suite of driver help package. Since then, the corporate has introduced the V-Sensing, which now sits in between the usual Grade V and RS by way of placement.
On the Metropolis, the suite is made up of adaptive cruise management, autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian, bicycle owner and oncoming automobile detection, ahead collision warning, lane hold help system, street departure mitigation, lane departure warning and auto excessive beam. As it’s with the sedan, there’s no Low Pace Comply with perform.
All that bit firmer, sure
When you imagine the promote made on the on-paper {qualifications} for the i-MMD, you’ll have it being pretty much as good as a 2.5 litre mill by way of pull. The fact, nevertheless, says in any other case. What’s on name within the RS hatch (and sedan) offers respectable tractability, however nowhere as blistering because the shout makes it to be, particularly if you ground it from standstill.
Certain, it’s a bit sooner than the V off the bat to the century, however in a system geared extra for effectivity (and gasoline financial savings) moderately than pure efficiency the variations are marginal. The most important distinction is that the hybrid does really feel extra natural – and quieter – in the way it climbs up the pace scale underneath acceleration.
Ground the V and there’s a wall of noise, each from the engine and CVT, the latter displaying the whine related to the sort. Parity comes if you’re on the transfer, and at intermediate speeds, the in-gear motion coming off the petrol variant really feels snappier, the response cleaner. Truly, for those who’re not the type to ground the accelerator on a regular basis to get the place you wish to go, you in all probability received’t discover the petrol-only model missing, as a result of it’s tractable.
The place the distinction lies is within the economical nature of the hybrid, as attested by earlier long-stint runs with the Metropolis RS sedan. Matthew and Danny averaged round 26 and 25 km per litre, the latter over an intra-urban run. Even with a extra lead-footed strategy, all solely over brief haul drives inside the Klang Valley, I obtained a 22.5 km per litre return, one thing that might be unimaginable to match with the petrol variant. In fact, whether or not it’s price forking out the additional dosh for this skill is one other matter solely.
When it comes to journey, each the V and RS provide the identical stage of consolation, which is finest described as nuggety. It’s not jarring, however the distinctly firmish really feel in its secondary journey follows the meant projection scoped for it, which is to supply the automotive a sportier really feel.
That doesn’t fairly translate all the best way to dealing with, which is competent and composed, however not terribly participating – on this regard it feels extra civilian than sport. A lot of the detachment comes from a steering devoid of really feel, however the chassis responds properly sufficient to maintain issues tidy and impartial, if slightly nostril heavy at occasions.
About the one actual minus is with street noise picked up from the tyres. Hondas aren’t significantly identified for his or her isolation from this, and it’s the one factor that stored surfacing throughout the drive.
Whereas consideration has been paid to insulating the cabin from different aural intrusions, particularly sound deadening mats within the engine bay and polyurethane foam injected into particular areas of the automotive’s metal construction to cut back NVH ranges, the absence of dampening materials within the wheel wells implies that you do get a good bit of tyre roar, made all of the extra obvious due to the discount of noise from elsewhere.
What’s the decision then?
By mimicking a lot of the workings of the Metropolis sedan however packaging it in a sportier (properly, a minimum of perceived) physique sort, the automaker is hoping to catch youthful consumers wanting the practicality of a Metropolis however for which the additional boot area isn’t a necessity, and for which a hatchback is seen as one thing that initiatives a extra free-spirited nature.
Will it work? Effectively, given the rising variety of Metropolis Hatchbacks on the street, it appears to be, and Honda can be banking on the newfound similarities closing the gross sales hole between sedan and hatch that was fairly vast (in favour of the previous) when the Jazz was round.
The decide of the lot from a technical viewpoint can be the RS, given its inexperienced leanings, very a lot in step with the present ethos. Nonetheless, at RM107,783, it’s almost RM20k greater than the RM87,856 Grade V, which manages what the RS does for probably the most half. Even with Sensing added in, the actual V remains to be over RM16k cheaper at RM91,708. If it appears like a tricky ask, it in all probability is.
Away from that, it’s a well-presented and sensible automotive, the Metropolis Hatchback, and it feels all grown up from earlier than. Nonetheless, to reply the query posed at the beginning, it’s not essentially higher, simply totally different. Take that how you’ll.
GALLERY: Honda Metropolis Hatchback RS e:HEV
GALLERY: Honda Metropolis Hatchback 1.5 V
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