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TAKE HER FOR A SPIN

My beloved first-gen Jazz comes with a 1.4-litre engine which produces approximately 61 kW of power and 119 Nm of torque (and wonderfully low fuel consumption figures). As expected from the larger 1.5-litre engine, the FIT kicks up the power to 89 kW with 145 Nm of torque (and a bit more money at the petrol pumps). And you can certainly feel this on the road, where the FIT was responsive and took on suburban streets and highways with equal ease, its slightly lower frame ensuring great cornering on the many Winelands passes we sailed over during the launch drive.

The one downside is its CVT transmission. The auto ‘box felt “sticky” on occasion when shifting gears. It also sounded perpetually agonised when placed under the strain of climbing a hill or overtaking at speed.The resultant engine noise had me itching to switch gears manually. Sadly, though, the FIT doesn’t come with a manual option – unlike my little Jazz, whose manual gearbox has given me years of dynamic gear changes and spirited driving.

Autos have surged in popularity in the last decade or so.Thus, it’s understandable why Honda opted for only auto transmissions – if only there was a dual-clutch or torque converter option thrown in to give buyers an alternative to the CVT.

FINAL SAY

The FIT is available in several eye-catching new colours and promises competitive pricing.You’ll pay R319,900 for the entrylevel Comfort petrol variant, and – at R469,900 – Honda claims the FIT Hybrid is one of the most affordable hybrid passenger vehicles on the market. But has this newcomer kept enough of its original practicality to keep the long time Jazz drivers happy while adding enough tech wizardry and innovative design to appeal to a new demographic? I believe it has. As to my OG Jazz, the mechanic who serviced her last declared that she’d easily do another 200,000 km – by then, I have no doubt that the FIT will still be a firm favourite with buyers, and who knows, it may even have a better gearbox.