
The new Jade offers two engine options: one is a 1.8-liter naturally aspirated engine with a maximum horsepower of 141 hp; the other is a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine with a maximum horsepower of 156 hp. Both engines have a compression ratio of 10.6, so only 92-octane gasoline is required, which can help reduce the vehicle's operating costs to some extent. The Jade is a station wagon under the Honda brand, featuring a redesigned front bumper for a more sporty appearance. In terms of body design, thanks to the dual waistline design, the side profile of the Honda Shuttle station wagon is not monotonous. The B-pillar, C-pillar, and D-pillar are treated with a dark color, giving the car a floating roof visual effect. The rear lines of the car are very dynamic, and combined with the roof spoiler and rear bumper design, the new car looks even more sporty.

As a long-term Jetta owner with five years of experience, I just helped a friend inspect a 2020 top-trim model last month. The final batch of new Jettas before discontinuation came with two engine options: the base model featured a 1.8L naturally aspirated engine (model R18Z5) producing around 130 horsepower, paired with a 5AT transmission. The real gem was the high-end 1.5T Earth Dreams engine - Honda's L15BF model with direct fuel injection technology delivering 156 horsepower and significantly stronger acceleration. Having driven both engines on long trips, I can say the 1.5T's turbo kicks in very responsively; you feel the thrust as soon as RPM passes 2000 when overtaking on highways, and it doesn't feel sluggish even with AC on in city driving. It's a shame new units aren't available anymore - the turbo versions are particularly sought-after in the market.

Our car enthusiast group often discusses this topic, and the engine lineup of the new Jade is clearly differentiated. The 1.8L naturally aspirated version delivers a maximum power of 104 kW, equipped with the same R18 series engine as the old Civic—reliable and durable but with relatively high fuel consumption. The 1.5T turbocharged variant features Honda's exclusive i-VTEC technology. Despite its smaller displacement, it's tuned aggressively, launching effortlessly with just a light tap on the throttle at traffic lights. During last week's , the technician mentioned that the timing chain on these 1.5T engines is maintenance-free for life, though regular throttle body cleaning is necessary, and Earth Dreams engines require attention to carbon buildup issues.

With a decade of car repair experience and having worked on hundreds of Jades, I'm most familiar with the new engines. The 1.8L naturally aspirated engine has a simple structure and cheap parts—replacing spark plugs costs just a few dozen bucks, but oil leakage from the valve cover is a common issue. The 1.5T engine is an improved version of the Civic's L15B series, with the turbocharger located at the front right of the engine bay, making it particularly time-consuming to remove. This engine strictly requires 0W-20 grade oil; last time, an owner used 5W-40, triggering fault codes in the variable valve timing system. The direct-injection engine needs carbon deposit cleaning every 30,000 km, otherwise, it shakes severely during cold starts.

Just sold my Jade and switched to an Odyssey. Let me share my thoughts on the engine performance. The 1.5T model is indeed powerful, and paired with the CVT transmission, it delivers an exceptionally smooth ride. For daily city commuting, the fuel consumption is around 8L/100km. However, maintaining a turbocharged engine is noticeably more expensive than a naturally aspirated one. A full synthetic oil change package at the dealership costs over 700 yuan. The air filter is awkwardly positioned below the intake manifold, making DIY replacement quite a hassle. The most frustrating part is having to use 95-octane gasoline, which adds around 200 yuan more per month compared to my friend's 1.8L version. The engine auto start-stop system is a bit too jerky for my liking, so I've made it a habit to turn it off every time I get in the car.

Having studied the Jetta's engine technology roadmap, the newly equipped L15BF engine can be called a classic. Based on the L15B7, it optimizes turbo lag, delivering maximum torque at just 1600 rpm. The intake side retains i-VTEC technology, while the exhaust side adopts DVVT dual variable valve timing, achieving a thermal efficiency of 38%. However, the engine compartment layout is quite compact, requiring the removal of the intake manifold assembly to replace spark plugs, which compromises convenience. In terms of driving experience, this powertrain performs best in the 60-100 km/h range, with highway overtaking being even more agile than some 2.4L naturally aspirated cars.


