Honda Jade (2019 Minor Change)

The Honda Jade MPV has been on the road for three years now and with the latest facelift, there's a lot of catching up to do with this Fit-based questionable MPV that was criticized for being less spacious with third-row seats present at the back. Anyway, what's new on this 2019 minor change Honda Jade, you may ask?

2019 Honda Jade

For the 2019 minor change, the Honda Jade now boasts a new front grille, new front lamps, and new front bumpers as well as updated rear lamps and redesigned wheels. In the RS version, now available in both turbo and hybrid variants, you can see only the RS badge on the front black side mirrors, black rear wing, darker metallic details, and some sporty 18-inch 5-spoke aluminum wheels.

2019 Honda Jade interior

2019 Honda Jade interior

The interior of the Jade's almost untouched, meaning there's still the same cubby holes to store stuff, the same choice of five or six seats, where the latter has two on the back that eats away boot space, a big problem for the Jade, the same digital instrumental panel, and so on, meaning there's no slight changes around here.

2019 Honda Jade

On the driving side, the 2019MY Jade still retains the choice of a 1.5L VTEC TURBO engine mated to a CVT and a hybrid with a 1.5L petrol engine connected to an electric motor and lithium-ion battery while mated with a seven-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox. Turbo variants have a JC08 Mode-calculated fuel economy of less than 18kmpl while hybrid variants get 24.2kmpl. Honest but irrelevant in today's trends where WLTC Mode is soon becoming a thing on Japanese roads. Apart from that, handling's refined with the addition of double wishbone suspension at the back while RS variants get sporty front and rear dampers. Plus, on the turbocharged RS variants, they made it more responsive with the addition of a fully open acceleration step-up shift control that allows drivers to feel direct acceleration by letting the engine reach high rpm earlier with the smoothness of its CVT. Then, there's the brake-operated step-down shift control which increases the deceleration by applying the engine brake according to the brake above a certain level, which is handy while going downhill, and lastly, the Agile Handling Assist that promises smooth running with less steering operation while driving through curves.

Promising to be the safest MPV in its class, the 2019 Jade's advanced types of Honda SENSING suite of safety tech are now standard such as CMBS, false start suppression function, pedestrian accident reduction steering, out-of-road departure suppression function, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist System, front car departure notice function, and road sign recognition, making it a certified "Safety Support Car S Basic+" for use on Japanese public roads.

The 2019 Honda Jade now starts at 2,398,680 Japanese Yen (around $24,000 or 1,200,000Php) for turbo variants with hybrid variants start at 2,898,720 Yen (around $29,000 or 1,540,000Php).

Photo: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Honda launches Jade RS with 1.5L VTEC Turbo

2016 Honda Jade RS

A few months ago, Honda launched the Fit-based Jade MPV, which served as the replacement for the Civic-based Stream MPV, only in hybrid with the 1.5L i-VTEC engine coupled with an electric motor and Li-ion battery. For those who are not interested in the hybrid version, wait no more, because there is now a petrol version of the Jade and here's the kicker; it's powered by the brand new L15B 1.5-litre VTEC TURBO engine you get from the recently-launched StepWGN. That new variant of the Jade is called the Jade RS.

The new L15B VTEC TURBO engine produces 150PS of power and 203Nm of torque. Mated with a CVT gearbox (with a Manual Mode feature where the driver can use its paddle shifters to shift gears), the fuel consumption is a reasonable 18.0km/L.

It even comes with a new Agile Handling Assist which adds brake vectoring through corners, reinforced chassis, and a more stiffer suspension.

The new RS version starts at 2,530,000 Japanese Yen.

URL: www.honda.co.jp/JADE/

Honda Jade

2015 Honda Jade

The all-new Honda Jade MPV served as the replacement to the Stream, which was discontinued last year along with the 1.8L VTEC engine in it, and although it doesn't look as decent as the Stream it replaces as well as the fact that this is a hybrid MPV, there's some potential going on with Honda's brand new people carrier fit enough to carry your friends or family on your next day-off or holiday or vacation, whatever you're dealing on your planner right now.

2015 Honda Jade

Of course this is a brand new MPV from Honda but underneath, it's just the third-generation Fit just like what the Vezel crossover and the Grace sedan had. Because it's based on the latest Honda Fit, it comes with the 1.5L petrol engine connected to an electric motor and lithium-ion battery while mated with Honda's ambitious but rubbish seven-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox. Not just that, it was the next Honda to be equipped with the revolutionary Honda Sensing safety system first applied on the flagship Legend saloon and the updated version of the latest Honda Odyssey luxury minivan. I'll talk about those later but first, the design.

The design is more of a mixed reactions of good and bad but overall, it looks somewhat average. Not too good but not too bad either. It even comes with Honda's signature "EXCITING H DESIGN!!!" language that tries to mask this MPV into something exciting but in truth, wasn't as exciting as drivers would hope for but never mind about that because that doesn't bother that fact of being a people carrier that offers practicality for all.

2015 Honda Jade interior

2015 Honda Jade interior

The inside view also comes with mixed reactions between good and bad. The dashboard's all futuristic and really means business for the driver in charge. Once more, you can seat up to six people inside and what's more clever is that the 2nd row seats can be arranged V-wards back and forth.

Space is a big issue here for the Jade and because of the third-row seat occupied the entire rear, there's no room for your groceries you've shopped and there's going to be some situations you'll be facing with. You can either fold the rear seats (if you don't have someone at the back) or you can tell them (if they're seating in the back) to hold it for them. Wow. This is definitely not your kind of MPV if you have mates going out with you on an outdoor trip to Mt. Fuji or Hokkaido so what now? Looks like the rear space is a big issue for the Jade when the third-row seats are present.

2015 Honda Jade

Now, let's examine the Jade's hybrid powerplant and since this is based on the Fit hatchback, it comes with the 1.5L petrol engine connected to an electric motor and lithium-ion battery while mated with Honda's ambitious but rubbish seven-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox. With this powerplant, the combined power output of the Jade is a modest 152PS, the equivalent of what most 2.0L petrol engines produced. Fuel economy, 25.0kmpl.

The Jade's fuel economy is somewhat 1.2kmpl short than its chief rival, the Toyota Prius Alpha, but don't slack off because while the Prius Alpha is focused to be a fuel-efficient MPV for the masses, the new Jade is focused to be an engaging hybrid MPV you can enjoy driving as much as you like and because it has that double clutch gearbox rather than CVT, it feels like a normal car for a stop. My only worries is the quality of the gearbox because just like what its siblings faced in the past, looks like this double-clutch gearbox doesn't last long. Who knows, there's going to be a possible glitch or failures but let's forget about it and keep our fingers crossed. Who knows, this gearbox will run smoothly as usual...I think.

With handling features such as the double wishbone rear suspension, dual pinion electronic power steering, and some special 17-inch noise reducing aluminum wheels, the new Jade feels somewhat to the okay zone I think. It may not be the most fun MPV to drive today but it's more refined, quiet, and somewhat comfortable as well. When driving carefully, it feels fine but when the going gets tough, looks like the Jade feels like it's not made for beating. I was talking about understeering issues, if you know what I mean.

Now, the new Honda Sensing safety system. First applied on the Legend flagship, this new system includes Collision Mitigation Braking, Road Departure Mitigation, Lane Keeping Assist, and Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow. Sadly though, the Pedestrian Collision Mitigation Steering System on the Legend isn't present. But still, this hybrid MPV really proves that the future of car safety really is now thanks to science and common sense.

Should you buy one? The new Jade starts at a reasonably priced 2,920,000 Japanese Yen, cheaper than the 5-seater Toyota Prius Alpha so that is quite a bargain but is it worth money well spent for this hybrid MPV that is less efficient than the Prius Alpha but overall more engaging to own? The rest is up to you.

Available colors: White Orchid Pearl, Modern Steel Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl, Super Platinum Metallic, Mandarin Gold Metallic, Premium Deep Rosso Pearl. and Premium Blue Opal Metallic.

Photo: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.