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Honda Jazz 2010 Review

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Adding a supercharger to a Jazz appears like a giant overkill, but there is method in the move
Neil Dowling
Contributing Journalist
19 Jul 2010
3 min read

As a shopping trolley, the Honda Jazz got it all - looks, function, features, price and frugal manners.  But insert the word ‘performance’ into any of these descriptions and you'll erase the words that have become firmly embedded in the Honda Jazz.

Adding a supercharger to a Jazz appears like a giant overkill, like adding an instruction label to a cup, but there is method in the move.  Perth-based Sprintex Superchargers - a division of publicly-listed Automotive Technology Group Ltd - let a current-model supercharged Jazz lose in my hands this week with the clear instructions that it wasn't a high-performance machine.

Sprintex's business development manager Jay Upton says it is one of five trial cars to test the supercharger's benefits of lifting performance while lowering fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

Driving

The Jazz starts like a Jazz and outwardly, the only difference is the subtle whine of the supercharger.  It feels a little more lively directly off the mark but won't reveal any power band surprises as the tacho needle hurries its way around the dial.

In fact, such is the conventional power delivery, it could just be a bigger-engined Jazz.  But it's definitely quicker, with 100kW heading towards the bitumen as compared with the standard model's 72kW - as measured by Sprintex.

What I expected, and didn't get, was a noticeable jump in torque. Given other Sprintex-equipped cars I've driven in the past, the low-end torque should bite hard and that leads to short-shifting the gearbox - which is one of the reasons for supercharged engines being so economical.

But it feels a little soft. Upton says it's a trial unit and the problem - to do with engine mapping and not the supercharger - was being addressed. 

Though there's a bit of work to do at the lower end of the rev range, there's no doubting this Jazz's strong midrange delivery.  Fifth gear can be held down to 1000rpm and the car will pull away smoothly. Corners can be taken in fourth and all this makes the drive easy and the engine similarly easy on petrol.

The trip computer shows 6.9 litres/100km which, after some heavy footwork, was pretty good.  Nothing changes inside the cabin or to the bodywork.  It's all under the bonnet where the weeny alloy-bodied supercharger sits just in front, and above, the cam cover.

It appears to be a snug fit and close to the Jazz's tiny bonnet, but the exposed drive belt shows it can easily be replaced without too much work.  Upton expects to continue to hone the unit before sales start into next year.

Honda Jazz 2010: GLi

Engine Type Inline 4, 1.3L
Fuel Type Unleaded Petrol
Fuel Efficiency 6.6L/100km (combined)
Seating 5
Price From $6,380 - $9,020
Safety Rating

Pricing Guides

$9,119
Based on 36 cars listed for sale in the last 6 months.
LOWEST PRICE
$3,990
HIGHEST PRICE
$12,990
Neil Dowling
Contributing Journalist
GoAutoMedia Cars have been the corner stone to Neil’s passion, beginning at pre-school age, through school but then pushed sideways while he studied accounting. It was rekindled when he started contributing to magazines including Bushdriver and then when he started a motoring section in Perth’s The Western Mail. He was then appointed as a finance writer for the evening Daily News, supplemented by writing its motoring column. He moved to The Sunday Times as finance editor and after a nine-year term, finally drove back into motoring when in 1998 he was asked to rebrand and restyle the newspaper’s motoring section, expanding it over 12 years from a two-page section to a 36-page lift-out. In 2010 he was selected to join News Ltd’s national motoring group Carsguide and covered national and international events, launches, news conferences and Car of the Year awards until November 2014 when he moved into freelancing, working for GoAuto, The West Australian, Western 4WDriver magazine, Bauer Media and as an online content writer for one of Australia’s biggest car groups. He has involved himself in all aspects including motorsport where he has competed in everything from motocross to motorkhanas and rallies including Targa West and the ARC Forest Rally. He loves all facets of the car industry, from design, manufacture, testing, marketing and even business structures and believes cars are one of the few high-volume consumables to combine a very high degree of engineering enlivened with an even higher degree of emotion from its consumers.
About Author
Disclaimer: The pricing information shown in the editorial content (Review Prices) is to be used as a guide only and is based on information provided to Carsguide Autotrader Media Solutions Pty Ltd (Carsguide) both by third party sources and the car manufacturer at the time of publication. The Review Prices were correct at the time of publication. Carsguide does not warrant or represent that the information is accurate, reliable, complete, current or suitable for any particular purpose. You should not use or rely upon this information without conducting an independent assessment and valuation of the vehicle.
Pricing Guide
$3,990
Lowest price, based on third party pricing data.
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2010 Honda Jazz
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