Honda Jazz: Manual vs CVT

Looking at a practical hatchback, there isn't anything better than the Honda Jazz. Be it with whatever nameplate it sells (Fit in the US), this Honda has earned rave reviews. Most of the markets that it has been to have already seen the third generation model while the facelifted version is expected shortly in other parts of the world. Honda offers the Jazz with both petrol as well as diesel engines. These engines can be optioned with either a 5-speed manual, 6-speed manual as well as a CVT exclusively for the petrol. In the Philippines, given the low affinity to diesel motors in small cars, Honda offers only the petrol engine here. There, however, is only the petrol engine available albeit with manual as well as CVT options. So, is the petrol manual better or the CVT? We break it down for you in this story.

First up, Honda offers the Jazz in the Philippines market in four trims. Out of this, the manual can be asked for only in the V trim. The Honda Jazz V manual gets a 15-inch steel wheel. Honda doesn’t offer steering wheel mounted controls but has a 2-DIN CD player system that also accepts USB-in, AUX-in, & Bluetooth. Through the last option, one can also stream music as well as make and receive calls. In terms of safety, dual airbags, as well as ABS along with vehicle stability assist, are standard.

The automatics have a wide range of options with respect to trim - V CVT, VX CVT, Navi CVT, RS Navi CVT. The Navi stands for navigation that is available with these models. The RS trim is the stand out one here with a length of 4,035 mm while the other trims duck in under the 4m mark. It gets all the niceties like additional airbags, LED headlights, guide lamps done in LED and more. Moreover, it gets 16-inch alloy wheels too.

 

If you’re going to primarily drive around in the city, the Jazz automatic makes sense. The CVT gearbox is up to the mark and while it may be a tad noisy, reigning those 120 horses and 145 Nm from the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine is a tad easy with the automatic. However, the CVT loses steam whilst on the highways and even while overtaking. The rubber band effect is pronounced here and can get kind of tiring if one has to accelerate constantly on the highway. Thank god for cruise control. The fuel efficiency is also a tad lower than what one will get in the manual - 15.4 kmpl vs 16 kmpl. But what the CVT does is ensure hassle-free driving. There are also paddle shifters behind the wheel that help take care of any drudgery involved.

The manual in the meanwhile gets away with a light clutch action and a short throw box.  i-VTEC engines are well known for their peaky nature and the Jazz’s motor is no less. Using it along with the manual means you are exploiting the full potential of the motor. We achieved a higher top speed of 185 kmph with the manual than the automatic’s 172 kmph. Efficiency, as discussed before, is higher too.

If you were to ask us which one to go for, our suggestion will be based on your budget. If you are willing to spend more, the CVT makes sense as the RS has got more equipment on board and also looks the part. However, if you are on a shoestring budget, prefer roving throw your own gears and must absolutely get a Jazz, the manual is the one to go for. Personally, we love the manual but wish it had one more ratio.