Skip to content

DBA-JE1

Honda Zest JE1 specs

JE1 is the model code of the Honda Zest / Zest Spark, a kei car. Japan’s transport ministry lists it in its fuel economy lists from 2007–2012 under the model type DBA-JE1. A genuine car’s chassis number starts JE1-.

JE1 at a glance

Make
Honda
Model
Zest, Zest Spark
Model code
JE1
Model types
DBA-JE1
In MLIT’s lists
2007–2012
Engines
P07A 658 cc petrol
Gearboxes
4-speed automatic
Drive
front-wheel drive
Kerb weight
880–930 kg
Official fuel economy
17.4–21 km/L (49–59 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.

DBA-JE1

Listed 2007–2012. The DBA prefix (our explanation, not MLIT’s) means petrol passenger car certified to Japan’s 2005 emissions rules, 75% below their limits. Check DBA-JE1 against ULEZ and clean air zones.

EngineGearboxDriveWeightSeatsFuel economyListed
P07A658 cc petrol4-speed automaticfront-wheel drive880–930 kg417.6–21 km/L50–59 mpg, Japanese 10-15 mode test2007–2012
P07A658 cc petrol4-speed automaticfront-wheel drive880–930 kg417.4–18.6 km/L49–53 mpg, Japanese JC08 test2009–2012

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 JE1 before you buy

Make sure the car is what the advert says: the chassis number on the V5C should start JE1-, 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 Zest model codes

Questions

What engine does the JE1 have?

MLIT lists the Honda Zest / Zest Spark JE1 with P07A 658 cc petrol.

What fuel economy does the JE1 get?

Officially between 17.4 and 21 km/L (about 49–59 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 JE1?

Between 880 and 930 kg kerb weight, depending on the version.

Is DBA-JE1 the same as JE1?

Yes. DBA-JE1 is the full model type: the letters before the hyphen are Japan’s emissions code, which changed as the rules were tightened, and JE1 is the model code. The chassis number starts with JE1-.

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.