Honda to produce a Fit / Jazz SUV?

[frv]

The next phase of the Jazz/Fit?

What Car? - July 3, 2012

Oh boy is this going to be good -- Ed.

There's no date yet but Honda is considering an SUV based on the Honda Jazz / Fit.

It will be rival for the Mini Countryman and the Nissan Juke.

More and more automakers are building SUV's based on subcompacts or what the Europeans call superminis.

Chevy is bringing out a new compact crossover called the Trax but will not be sold in the US supposedly due to price postioning of the Equinox. Fiat is bringing one out based on the 500L and Peugeot (who stopped selling into US 20 years ago) are joining in with a 2008 based which will be based on the 208 (the previous version, the 207 usually made it into the top 10 in Europe). Ford will be selling a Fiesta based SUV called the Ecosport in 2013.

The current Jazz / Fit is expected to be replaced within the next three years and the SUV will probably be launched in 2014 - 15.
There is speculation that a diesel model would make an appearance in the Jazz range and it would also be sold around the world with a 1.2L or 1.5L i-VTEC gas engine. The diesel would only be sold in Europe and Asian markets.

A Honda spokesman said the company wouldn't comment on future models, but conceded: 'Honda is always looking at different opportunities and at different sectors, and it's true that the Jazz is very popular in its current form... [Read More]

[CRT1]

On my last trip to Japan about 8 years ago I saw a lot of familiar cars and some that looked rather odd/unique to these American eyeballs. The ones that really stick in my head were like minivans on a FIT sized chassis. They almost look like tropical fish since they seem taller than they are wide (though they probably are not). The closest thing I can think of here is the Mazda 5 or the xB, but even these are not as extreme as I remember the ones in Nippon. It struck me at the time that these would be a hit with families in the US, but I guess that is why I am not an auto exec.

SUVs seem to get more and more car-like. The first iterations, were trucks, like my S-10 Blazer back in the day. I think as FE gets more important, SUVs are going to converge back into station wagons, just with a cooler name.

[NeilBlanchard]

The Fit already is one of the most practical cars, ever. How is this improved by making it into an "SUV"? What is an SUV -- a sport utility vehicle, right? The Fit is an SUV, already.

[CRT1]

I think SUV drivers really like the comfort of the armchair seating position and having their eye level above the roof-line of standard sedans.

The FIT has the utility (almost) of a small SUV, but you are still sitting on the floor staring at the tailgate of the pickup or SUV in front of you. I am used to it after 14 years in the '97 Civic and now almost a year in the FIT, but even I must admit that I enjoy the comfort and view from the perch in my wife's CR-V on occasion.

[RedylC94]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

What is an SUV -- a sport utility vehicle, right? The Fit is an SUV, already.

It's sold as a hatchback, but looks to me like a very small wagon, and can function as one. It's not ugly enough or tall enough to count as a S(tupid) U(gly) V(ehicle).

[NeilBlanchard]

Right -- the Fit sits fairly tall for it's size, and yet it is not tall enough to be a "sport utility vehicle". The contradictory thing is that tall(er) vehicles rollover, and they do not handle as nimbly as a lower car does. Just because other vehicles are (too) tall, doesn't make it good.

I think Honda is behind the 8-ball in several ways: they need to *sell* the Fit EV, and they need to go back to engineering R&D -- and stop worrying about the marketing image of their vehicles. We're generally a smart bunch of people and if the Insight (2) beat the Prius in FE, it would sell better. If the Fit Hybrid got better FE than the Prius C, it would sell by the boatload. If the Fit EV had a Cd better than the original Insight, it would just about double it's range.

[neogenesus]

There is a fit/jazz lookalike in asian market known as Honda Freed. It has sliding door for the back passenger and can seat up to 7 people (asian).

[xcel]

Hi Neogenesus:

WhatCar? is merely speculating. The 7-passenger B-segments in Japan are a joke as even C-segment 7-passengers are. They will not sell here due to their small size. Add 500 + pounds to the Fit's 117HP 1.5L I4 and it will be a laughing stock let alone try and use a 1.2L. That is here. Overseas a lot of things can happen. 7-passenger B-segments however are foolish at best just as the Fiat as a 4-passenger micro is.

This is a 500 with Chris up front. There is just enough room to drop a quarter between the rear seats lower seat cushion and the front seats backing. If your 5’-6” or less and squeeze yourself behind the wheel, you might gain another 4” at best.

Wayne