Honda At 2019 Tokyo Motor Show: 2020 Jazz Revealed, 2019 Accord Hybrid and E Electric Hatchback Previewed

• Honda has revealed the 2020 Jazz at the Tokyo Motor Show.
• The 2020 Honda Jazz debuts the carmaker’s new dual-motor hybrid powertrain.
• Apart from that, Japan also got a first hand experience of the 2019 Honda Accord and the e electric hatchback.

Honda is out in full force at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show. With the automotive world going greener, the manufacturer has showcased a host of hybrid and electric cars. Starting the list is the 2020 Jazz that’s bound for India and debuts the new dual-motor hybrid powertrain. Honda also previewed the tenth-generation Accord which is on the other end of the spectrum. It comes with a 2.0-litre hybrid motor and a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine. Then there’s all the all-electric ‘e’ which Japan got to witness for the first time. Unveiled at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show, the ‘e’ comes with an insane five-screen dashboard. Let’s have a look at all the models in detail:

2020 Jazz:

Honda has taken the wraps off the 2020 Jazz at the Tokyo Motor Show. And the good news is that it is coming to India after the Auto Expo 2020. The fourth-gen Jazz’s main talking point is the dual-motor hybrid powertrain that’s called the e:HEV. While technical specifications are yet to be revealed, we expect a 1.5-litre engine to be mated to an electric motor. Other expected engine options include a 125PS 1.0-litre turbo-petrol variant. Closer to home, we expect the India-spec Jazz to retain its 89PS 1.2-litre i-VTEC engine and 100PS 1.5-litre i-DTEC engine.   

Visually, the fourth-gen Jazz has evolved over its predecessor and comes with a softer design. You get a flat nose with a body-coloured grille that merges onto the projector headlamps. The Jazz’s trademark tall boy profile has been retained. However, the roof flows down smoothly at the rear, a new design element. At the rear, the Jazz comes with split LED tail lamps. Inside, the Jazz comes with a new dashboard that looks more premium than its predecessor. 

It also gets upmarket features like digital dials, a bigger touchscreen infotainment system and electric parking brake with auto hold. You also get other features like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, cruise control, a multi-info display, keyless entry with push-button start as well as a sunroof. Safety features include multiple airbags, ABS with EBD, parking sensors with rear view camera, Honda's SENSING (collision mitigation system) and electronic stability program (ESP). 

2019 Accord: 

Honda gave Tokyo showgoers a first hand look at the 2019 Accord, which was first shown to the world at Bangkok back in March 2019. The tenth generation Accord features revamped looks that mimic the Civic. This includes restyled headlamps, grille and the ‘C’ shaped tail lamps. You also get 17-inch/18-inch wheels depending on the variant. Inside, the 2019 Accord comes with a new dashboard with the main design highlight being the floating infotainment system.

Features onboard include a digital instrument display with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, keyless entry with push button start and a heads-up display. Safety features include collision mitigation braking system, lane keeping assist, lane and road departure warning, auto high beam as well as cruise control.  

Under the hood, the 2019 Accord comes with two engine options: a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol and a 2.0-litre hybrid. The turbo petrol unit develops 190PS of power and 243Nm of torque and comes mated to a CVT transmission. On the other hand, the 2.0-litre unit comes mated with twin electric motors and develops a combined output of 215PS. Fuel efficiency for the hybrid variant stands at 24.4kmpl thanks to an e-CVT transmission. The 2019 Accord is priced at Rs 40 lakh in Thailand and we hope this sedan makes it way to India considering the green initiative our government is taking. 

All-electric ‘e’ Hatchback: 

Honda has showcased the all-electric ‘e’ hatchback at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show. First unveiled at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show, the e is based on the Urban EV concept. It comes with an electric powertrain that can be had in two states of tune: 136PS and 154PS. Both variants develop an identical 315Nm at the rear wheels. A 35.5kWh battery pack supplies juice to the motor and is capable of 220km before running out. The battery pack also supports fast charging and can charge from 0-80 percent in 30 minutes.  

Another talking point about the ‘e’ is its insane five-screen dashboard. Features on board include connected-car tech, voice command based feature activation, digital instrument display, Honda’s Lane Watch camera, climate control, cruise control, steering-mounted audio controls and push button start. Safety features include collision mitigation braking system, lane departure warning, low speed braking system and blind spot detection. 

Considering India’s rapid plans to go electric, we would like to see the e in India. At least a pared down version of it. Honda, are you hearing us?