Honda’s New Jazz Is The First Model With A Center Airbag In Its Segment

The new Honda Jazz will become one of the brand’s first models in Europe to offer a front-center airbag as standard, as part of the model’s comprehensive safety package.

The new front-center airbag is fitted within the back of the driver’s seat and expands into the space between the driver and the front passenger. In case of a side-on collision, the airbag helps to avoid direct contact and to reduce the impact between the two.

Read More: All-New Honda Fit Goes On Sale In Japan With Two Powertrains, Optional AWD

The airbag itself uses three attachment tethers in order to guide it around the driver in a curve and deliver maximum protection. The new Jazz -also known as Fit- combines the new front-center airbag with special seat belt pre-tensioners for both the driver and front passenger to reduce lateral movement. Honda claims that their new approach can reduce injury to the head by 85 percent for the near-side passenger and 98 percent for the far-side passenger.

In addition, the new Honda Jazz comes with a new double-structure airbag for the rear passengers, protecting them from impacts against the door and C-pillar in case of a side-on collision. Honda was able to integrate the new airbag system into the rear seat pad without losing the model’s ‘magic seat’ function.

Honda will also offer the new Jazz with the Sensing suite of active safety systems as standard, which has been updated with a higher-definition, wider-angle camera in order to recognize a wider range of road surfaces and traffic characteristics. The Honda Sensing includes systems like Collision Mitigating Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keep Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition, Auto High Beam, and more.

European customers will be offered the new Honda Jazz exclusively with a hybrid 1.5-liter four-cylinder powertrain that produces 107 HP (109 PS) and 187 lb-ft (253 Nm) of torque. Honda claims a combined fuel economy of just 62.8 mpg UK (4.5 lt/100km) and CO2 emissions as low as 102 g/km. Honda will also offer the new Jazz in a crossover-like Crosstar variant that features an increased ride height and rugged styling but power will still go to just the front wheels.