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CBA-JB8 · UA-JB8

Honda Life JB8 specs

JB8 is the model code of the Honda Life, a kei car. Japan’s transport ministry lists it in its fuel economy lists from 2004–2009 under 2 model types CBA-JB8, UA-JB8. A genuine car’s chassis number starts JB8-.

JB8 at a glance

Make
Honda
Model
Life
Model code
JB8
Model types
CBA-JB8, UA-JB8
In MLIT’s lists
2004–2009
Engines
P07A 658 cc petrol
Gearboxes
4-speed automatic
Drive
four-wheel drive
Kerb weight
930–960 kg
Official fuel economy
16.2–17 km/L (46–48 mpg)

Fuel economy is from Japan’s official tests and is usually better than you’ll see on UK roads. MLIT doesn’t list power or torque.

CBA-JB8

Listed 2004–2009. The CBA prefix (our explanation, not MLIT’s) means petrol passenger car certified to Japan’s 2005 emissions rules, 50% below their limits. Check CBA-JB8 against ULEZ and clean air zones.

EngineGearboxDriveWeightSeatsFuel economyListed
P07A658 cc petrol4-speed automaticfour-wheel drive930–960 kg416.2–17 km/L46–48 mpg, Japanese 10-15 mode test2004–2009

UA-JB8

Listed 2004. The UA prefix (our explanation, not MLIT’s) means certified to Japan’s 2000 emissions rules, 75% below their limits. Check UA-JB8 against ULEZ and clean air zones.

EngineGearboxDriveWeightSeatsFuel economyListed
P07A658 cc petrol4-speed automaticfour-wheel drive930–960 kg—16.2–16.8 km/L46–47 mpg, Japanese 10-15 mode test2004

Each row is one version as MLIT lists it. A version can appear twice when MLIT gave figures on two tests that year. Low-emission stars and trim names aren’t shown. MLIT gives fuel economy in km/L; the mpg figures are our conversion to UK gallons. Japanese tests are gentler than real UK driving, so expect less.

Check a JB8 before you buy

Make sure the car is what the advert says: the chassis number on the V5C should start JB8-, and the engine and gearbox should match one of the versions above. Our free check reads the UK MOT history and compares it with the chassis code.

Other Honda Life model codes

Questions

What engine does the JB8 have?

MLIT lists the Honda Life JB8 with P07A 658 cc petrol.

What fuel economy does the JB8 get?

Officially between 16.2 and 17 km/L (about 46–48 mpg), depending on the version, on Japan’s own tests. Real-world figures are usually lower, especially against the older 10-15 mode test.

How heavy is the JB8?

Between 930 and 960 kg kerb weight, depending on the version.

Is CBA-JB8 the same as JB8?

Yes. CBA-JB8 is the full model type: the letters before the hyphen are Japan’s emissions code, which changed as the rules were tightened, and JB8 is the model code. The chassis number starts with JB8-.

About these figures

The model types, engine codes, capacities, gearboxes, drive, weights, seats and km/L figures are copied from MLIT’s yearly lists of cars on sale in Japan each March, so “listed” years are list years, not exact production dates. The English model names, mpg conversions, emissions code explanations and chassis number matching are ours. Lists before 2013 were printed as PDFs that we read by machine; where an older list gives an engine code that doesn’t match its capacity, we’ve used the figure the same model type has in other years. Check anything that matters against the car’s own papers. Spotted a mistake? Email [email protected]. All Honda model codes.

Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), Japan, fuel economy lists 2004–2026, used under the Public Data License 1.0. Edited and translated by JDM History.