2005 Honda Jazz ES 1.4
Summary:
An excellent small car with big space that just lacks a little something on long journeys
Faults:
Very awkward flat spot below 2000 rpm. A brief turbo-like surge occurs thereafter. The problem is most evident on hills and in second gear, when it stifles any pulling power. Yet this is not an engine that aspires to rev. Is this a fault or do they really 'all do that'?
Rear view mirror vibrates.
General Comments:
A hugely practical and intelligent car for the size.
Easy and fun to drive despite the slow steering and a bouncy though not jarring ride.
Very economical in a variety of use, but it could do with a bigger petrol tank.
Despite the search for light weight, impressively solid and precise build quality.
However I am still uneasy about the service and the engine.
And why didn't Honda bring the 1.5, which is offered everywhere else, to Europe?
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know
Review Date: 1st August, 2006
21st Dec 2006, 12:54
Purchased 1.4 SE Honda Jazz 56 plate in Sept 06. On going problem with flat spot and a feeling of accelerator not connected to engine revs. In low gears engine revs go up in stages instead of smoothly. When accelerator is release engine revs surge. A menace in heavy traffic where one requires to keep a steady speed. Even worse when trying to exit from junctions and flat spot kicks in. Dealer up to now has not fixed it. Love the car apart from this and rough ride on poor roads. Think I have a dummy as on delivery windscreen seal was adrift needing new windscreen, bolt missing from wiper bottle and steering box needed replacing due to very stiff steering.
6th Feb 2007, 17:09
The flat spot is due to 2 things:
1- The automatic gearbox is trying to get the best fuel mileage from your engine. Try to disable Overdrive or put the gearbox in the #2 setting when accelerating from traffic lights.
2- The engine's peak torque is at 2800 RPM. Anything below that or above that will give you not much torque and waste your fuel under load (i.e. going up hills, demanding heavy acceleration). So keep the revs from 2000 to 3200 RPM.
If you have a manual, always shift at a point so that the revs in the next gear will be just above 2000 RPM. This way you don’t labor the engine, and always ensure the most efficient combustion, which give the best mileage for performance.
I have tried this in my car, and my mileage actually noticeably improved!
1st Aug 2006, 16:16
The flat spot can described as "your 1.4's got no balls in the torque department".