Old JDMs out of reach? You can still be cool with the new Honda Jazz, yours from RM 127k
Sanjay Ā· Sep 10, 2022 03:45 PM
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A few years back the Honda Jazz plied its trade alongside the City, catering to Malaysians who didn't quite fancy the analogous Toyota Yaris or Vios duo. That changed late last year, when the City Hatchback took the mantle where the Jazz once sat.
Porting over the entire front end + interior from the sedan to the hatchback = cheaper to make, cheaper to sell
Though its Bulbasaur looks and super-duper-ultra minimalist interior definitely had something to do with its non-appearance here, things like degree of parts commonality and buyer behaviour also play their part. All in, this means Singapore is the only country in our part of the world that can buy a Fit brand-new.
But to those who still want to drive to a Jazzy tune, Prominent Motor Sdn. Bhd. along the MRR2 have two units on hand, the first of which being this Ness variant, as well as the jacked-up Crosstar.
Unmistakably JDM
Named the Fit in Japan, its rumpy body looks like nothing else on our streets. It's cute for a city car – but looks are deceiving as you'll see – and it's gained a reputation as a favourite among the fairer sex. At least those I've asked, concur.
This Ness is not the e:HEV hybrid variant, but rather driven by a regular combustion 1.3-litre inline-four engine paired to an Earth Dreams CVT-type automatic.
E10/ETBE22 is roughly equivalent to minimum RON 94, so our RON 95 is perfectly suitable
98 PS and 118 Nm aren't hair-raising figures, but that's not the numbers you'd care for – the 5.2 litres/100 km fuel consumption is more apt.
No matter if it isn't a hybrid, all the good stuff aren't paywalled there anyway, and it won't leave you feeling shortchanged. A taxi spec it is not...
On the outside, you get standard LED head- and tail lights as well as LED foglamps, disc brakes all round, this quirky silver/green two-tone paint, and 16-inch wheels to complete the look.
And lest we forget it's crowned a Red Dot Design Award winner for automobile design by people smarter than us so hey, that's got to stand for something.
Cabin aesthetics might take some rumination, but once you're in it, it really is rather roomy. Slightly surprising, considering the body is slimmer than the City Hatchback's, measuing 1,695 mm wide against 1,748 mm.
Perhaps its the choice of colours and relatively simpler interior presentation. But does it matter? If you're gunning for this you're probably not looking for space anyway – its asking price is just RM 3k less than the far more spacious Honda Civic 1.5 E – but just know there's enough room for a small family trip.
Yes, some cues are shared with our City/Civic/HR-V, but that's as far as its ties go. It's got a two-spoke steering wheel – we like, it's very Ioniq 5 – and the simple digital instrument cluster is a treat. Though using it can be a bit like stabbing in the dark as it's all in Japanese, and that's the foible of most recond cars.
The Gathers' infotainment is a personal favourite. Inconspicious as it looks, it's got one neat 2 Fast 2 Furious trick – hit the 'eject disc' button and...
...it folds out like this! Slap in your disc or memory card, hit close, and watch the player slide back into place. Sugoi!!
No armrest nor a storage box either, just this one long grippy pad for your possessions
As this is a regular Ness variant, the seats and upholstery are water-resistant fabric (manual adjustments only), there's no heating/ventilation for them, nor rear air-cond vents. Though it's a rather simple car, it's charming in its own way.
+10 points for JDM swagger with the buit-in ETC toll reader, and mandatory emergency flare
This particular unit has 10,806 km on the clock at the time of writing, and is asking for RM 127,700. View it at Prominent Motor Sdn. Bhd., details here.
With humble beginnings collecting diecast models and spending hours virtually tuning dream cars on the computer, his love of cars has delightfully transformed into a career. Sanjay enjoys how the same passion for cars transcends boundaries and brings people together.
