2020 Honda Jazz Hybrid has more torque than a Civic Turbo

Several weeks ago, Honda officially revealed the international version of the all-new Jazz. Shown in left-hand drive (LHD), it looks no different than the one shown during the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show. From its cutesy exterior design to the minimalist cabin, the Japan-spec Fit will look the same as the international version shown in Europe.

Now, Honda has revealed new details about the 2020 Jazz, including its hybrid powertrain that they have kept a mystery since its debut. Called e:HEV, the hybrid is comprised of a 1.5-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine with i-VTEC, a lithium-ion battery pack, and what Honda calls a fixed gear transmission via an intelligent power control unit.

It has a total system output of 109 PS along with a meaty 253 Nm of torque. This allows the Jazz to go from 0 – 100 km/h in 9.4 seconds, and reach a top speed of 175 km/h. With its efficient hybrid setup, Honda claims the Jazz can average over 22 km/l while only emitting 102 grams of C02 per kilometer.

A total of three driving modes are available on the 2020 Jazz: EV Drive, Hybrid Drive, and Engine Drive. EV Drive solely relies on electric power via the battery pack in order to power the electric motor. In Hybrid Drive, the engine suppliese power to the electric generator motor, which in turn supplies it to the electric motor. Finally, there's Engine Drive wherein the engine is connected directly to the wheels via a lock-up clutch.

The intelligent system can easily switch between modes seamlessly which makes for a more efficient and comfortable driving experience according to Honda. In addition, when decelerating, the system automatically switches to EV Drive to save on fuel. As mentioned earlier, the 2020 Jazz Hybrid uses a fixed gear transmisson instead of a traditional eCVT. Honda states that the single fixed gear ratio creates a direct connection between the moving parts, resulting in a smoother transfer of torque and a more linear feel during acceleration.

But with the hybrid system in place, has luggage space been affected? It has but not by much. With the rear seats up, the Jazz can carry 298 liters worth of cargo (current model can carry 384 liters). Fold the second row seats and the all-new Jazz can hold over 1,200 liters worth of luggage. Despite the addition of a battery pack and electric motor, Honda was able to keep a flat floor design through clever packaging of the hybrid components into the chassis and within the engine bay.

For the first time, Honda Sensing will also be available on the new Jazz. This means the hatchback can come with a suite of advanced safety features and driver aids that include front collision mitigation braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, road departure mitigation, intelligent speed limiter, and blind spot monitoring with cross traffic alert.

With Europe getting a hybrid powertrain for their Jazz, does this mean the Philippines will also have one? We're not entirely sure yet, but the PH-spec Jazz will supposedly not get the 1.0-liter turbo from Thailand. Instead, both the City and Jazz will apparently have an improved 1.5-liter i-VTEC with DOHC instead of SOHC. Since there is no exact date as to when the Jazz or City will arrive in the country, all we can do now is wait and speculate what variants will eventually arrive here.