Honda Fit
The Honda Fit or Honda Jazz is a small car manufactured and marketed by Honda since 2001 over four generations. It has a five-door hatchback body style and is considered a supermini in the United Kingdom, a subcompact car in the United States, and a light car in Australia. Marketed worldwide and manufactured at ten plants in eight countries, sales reached almost 5 million by mid-2013. Honda uses the "Jazz" nameplate in Europe, Oceania, the Middle East, Africa, Hong Kong, Macau, Southeast Asia and India; and "Fit" in Japan, Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan and the Americas.
Sharing Honda's global small car platform with the City, Airwave, first-generation Mobilio, Freed and HR-V/Vezel, the Fit is noted for its one-box or monospace design; forward-located fuel tank; configurable seats that fold in several ways to accommodate boot space in varying shapes and sizes— and boot volume competitive to larger vehicles.
Honda released hybrid petrol-electric versions of the Fit in Japan in October 2010 and in Europe in early 2011. In 2012, Honda released the Fit EV in the United States and Japan, a limited-production all-electric version based on the second-generation, widely regarded as a compliance car.
The fourth-generation model released in 2019 is currently sold in Japan, Europe, China, Taiwan, South Africa, Brunei and Singapore. Starting from 2020, the model was phased out in most Southeast Asian and Latin American countries, to be replaced by the larger City Hatchback, while it was withdrawn entirely from the North American market due to falling demand within the subcompact segment.
First generation (GD/GE; 2001)
The first-generation Fit debuted in June 2001 in Japan and subsequently was introduced in Europe, Australia, South America, South Africa and Southeast Asia, China, and Mexico. Confusingly, in Europe this Jazz is typically referred to as Mark II Jazz, especially by automotive part suppliers, the Mark I Jazz being the 1981-86 Honda City, named 'Jazz' in Europe at the time, as Opel already had rights to use the City name after having used it on a hatchback version of the Kadett C.A production model for the United States and Canada debuted in January 2006 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The car was released in Canada and the U.S. in April 2006 as a 2007 model year.
The first-generation Fit uses Honda's Global Small Car platform, which is also used by Fit Aria/City, the Airwave, the Mobilio, and Mobilio Spike. Depending on the region, the Fit is available with a 1.2-, 1.3-, 1.5-litre i-DSI engine, or 1.5-litre VTEC engine. All four engines are based on Honda's L-series engine family.
Second generation (GE/GG; 2007)
The second-generation Fit/Jazz debuted on 17 October 2007 at the 40th Tokyo Motor Show. At its introduction in 2007, it won the Car of the Year Japan Award for the second time. The vehicle offered a longer wheelbase than its predecessor and is wider and longer overall.Two engines were offered in the second-generation Fit. A 1.3-litre i-VTEC produces at 6,000 rpm and at 4,800 rpm. A 1.5-litre i-VTEC engine was also offered and produces a maximum output of at 6,600 rpm and at 4,800 rpm. The hybrid version was launched October 2010 in Japan. The Fit Hybrid featured a 1.3-litre engine and electric motor, with an estimated fuel economy of measured in accordance with Japanese 10–15 cycle.
Honda also showed a concept electric vehicle based on the second generation Fit in 2010. It was mass-produced as the Fit EV in 2013–2015. The 2013 model year production Fit EV was unveiled at the November 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show.
For the first time, it was also available in a station wagon body style called the Fit Shuttle. This variant was only available in the Japanese home market.
Third generation (GK/GH/GP; 2013)
The third-generation Fit/Jazz retains the overall design concept of previous generations, notably the centre-located fuel tank and multi-configuration interior concept, marketed as "Magic Seat". The model also debuted Honda's updated design language dubbed "Exciting H Design".Honda's all-new Global Small Car Platform employs ultra-high strength 780 MPa yield steel for 27 percent of the bodywork and has a shorter overall length by, a longer wheelbase, increased rear legroom by and passenger volume increased by compared to the previous generation.
Body panels are both welded and bolted to the frame in a hybrid monocoque and spaceframe fusion — and rear torsion beam suspension is more compact, no longer using an anti-sway bar to maximize interior and boot space. The second-generation HR-V shares its platform with the third-generation Fit/Jazz.
Hybrid
The Fit/Jazz Hybrid was only marketed in Japan and Malaysia for the third-generation model. It is the first model to be equipped with the "Sport Hybrid" Intelligent Dual Clutch Drive system, Honda's lightweight and compact one-motor hybrid technology for small vehicles that replaces the previous Integrated Motor Assist hybrid system.The system uses an Earth Dreams 1.5-litre Atkinson cycle DOHC i-VTEC direct injection engine rated at and paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission and an internal high-output motor, IPU with lithium-ion battery, electric servo braking system with variable servo ratio control. The electric motor, a Honda H1 motor, is rated at and. The system is shared with the first-generation Vezel and Grace Hybrid.
Compared to the outgoing IMA hybrid, the new hybrid can run fully on electric while driving, making it on par with Toyota Prius. Japanese cycle fuel consumption is rated for the initial model, a 35 percent improvement over the predecessor model, while its boot capacity is 470 litres.
Markets
Thailand
The third-generation Jazz was launched by honda automobile on 18 June 2014. It is equipped with the non-direct-injected 1.5-litre L15Z2 i-vtec SOHC engine with 5 speed manual transmission and new earth dream CVT Transmission. offered in five trims: S, V, V+ SV and SV+India
The third-generation Jazz was released in India on 8 July 2015. The Indian market third-generation Jazz is powered with a 1.2-litre L12B i-VTEC motor rated at, and a 1.5-litre N15 i-DTEC diesel engine rated at. In 2015, the Indian Jazz contains 95% local parts. The updated model was released in August 2020. Production and sales of the Jazz in India ended in late 2022.Indonesia
The third-generation Jazz was launched by Honda Prospect Motor on 26 June 2014. It is equipped with the non-direct-injected 1.5-litre L15ZC engine and offered in three trims: the A, S, and RS, with either manual or CVT transmission, and a special edition called Black Top Limited Edition which was launched at the 22nd Indonesia International Motor Show in September 2014.Japan
Japanese models went on sale in September 2013. Models available in Japan range from the 13G, 15X, RS and hybrid.Non-hybrid models include the 13G, 15X, RS.
Malaysia
The Malaysian-market third-generation Jazz is available in S, E, and V trims. Regardless of trim level, all variants get a non-direct-injected 1.5-litre L15Z SOHC i-VTEC engine paired to an Earth Dreams CVT.Honda launched the facelifted Jazz and its Hybrid version in June 2017. Malaysia is the only country other than Japan to sell the Jazz Sport Hybrid. Honda gives 8-year unlimited mileage warranty on the battery.
Production in Malaysia ceased in October 2021. Like in most Southeast Asian countries, the new City Hatchback served as the Jazz replacement for Malaysian market.
North America
The U.S. model debuted at the 2014 North American International Auto Show and went on sale in June 2014 for the 2015 model year. The third-generation model replaced the previous SOHC engine with an 1.5-litre DOHC i-VTEC engine featuring direct injection and an intake cam using continuously variable cam phasing with a variable lift dual cam lobe profile. Transmission options include a 6-speed manual or continuously variable transmission with available paddle shifters adopted from the Civic.Unlike the previous generation, the third generation was marketed in four trim levels: LX, EX, EX-L, and EX-L with Navigation. The Canadian trim levels included the DX, LX, EX, and EX-L with Navigation. For the first time, leather seating was introduced to the North American Fit through the EX-L trim. The facelift in 2018 also added the Sport trim which sits between the LX and EX trims, with underbody spoiler, exhaust finisher, and orange stitching to cloth seats. All Fit trim levels included a multi-angle rear-view backup camera; higher trims include dynamic guidelines. Honda's LaneWatch passenger side-view mirror camera was also optional.
This was the final generation of the Fit marketed in North America. A commemorative edition for the Mexican market named "Final Edition" was launched on 1 December 2020 in Azul Sport colour, with side wings, a rear spoiler, and a commemorative plaque.