i-VTEC and

i-VTEC Engine
Honda Jazz has been fitted with a 2L i-VTEC engine (Intelligent Variable Valve Timing and Electronic Lift Control), which promises to deliver a power of 90ps @ 6200rpm, almost effortlessly. As for the torque, you can expect to receive a maximum of 110nm @ 4800rpm. The supple 5-speed manual transmission of the car helps it attain the perfect balance between sporty driving and fuel efficiency. The smaller module gear, which the hatchback has been laden with, makes sure that the drive is smooth and quiet.

VTEC engine

Honda's all-new 16-valve, 1.5-litre inline four-cylinder engine is the big daddy in the range, and together with the 1.3-litre job (which offers less power, but astounding fuel efficiency), both are LEVs or low-emmission vehicles.
The single-overhead camshaft 1497cc engine makes use of VTEC, which among other things changes the profile of the intake and exhaust valves to provide more power at higher revs, while at low engine revs it can also close one intake valve in each cylinder, which is how the Jazz VTi attains such impressive fuel cycle numbers.
The Jazz has peak power of 81kW @ 6000rpm, which is actually quite a low peak for a Honda engine. Meanwhile, maximum torque of 143Nm arrives @ 4800rpm, and while this doesn't sound too appealing, in real world terms the Jazz is quite a sprinter.
While torque peaks @ almost 5000rpm, there is a good amount of pulling power from as low as 2000rpm, and when you throw the CVT into the mix, the Jazz starts to make a lot of sense - even for large Aussie car lovers like myself.
The CVT has three modes, if you will. The first is standard mode, where you plant your foot and watch the revs rise to 4000rpm - and stay there as the car's speed increases. Think of it as having one infinitely variable gear.
The next mode is activated by pushing the 'Sports mode' button, which is located below the right-most spoke of the steering wheel. As the name suggests, this puts the car into sports mode, where it'll accelerate and decelerate like a traditional auto - slam the throttle and you'll steadily wind out seven ratios.
The final mode is activated by again pushing the 'Sports mode' button, followed by the plus/minus gear change buttons found on the steering wheel spokes.
It sounds like a good idea and is quite fun too, and the fact that the Jazz will hold the revs and not change up (until you hit the redline, that is) makes for a good amount of engine control.
But when concentrating 100 per cent on the next apex, I found that manually shifting through seven gears wasn't exactly intuitive.
Granted, there is a time and place for the system (when you want to show off to your friends), but for me, the standard 'auto' sports mode felt a lot better, and allows you to focus more what's coming up in front of you, than what gear you are in/would like to be in.