Honda Jazz

The Honda Jazz is probably the cheapest Honda car in Australia and also one of the affordable options available in the segment. This Thai-made Honda hatch will soon leap into the fourth generation. As for the existing model, it is offered in four trims-VTi, 50 Years Edition, VTiS, and VTi-L. These variants come in seven exterior colour options including platinum white, phoenix orange, crystal black, lunar silver, modern steel, brilliant sporty blue, and rally red. Power on the Honda Jazz is drawn by a four-cylinder engine with a choice between a manual and an automatic gearbox. Layered with comfort and connectivity tech, Honda Jazz offers top-notch safety and comes with a 5-year warranty. Honda’s comfortable city hatch is priced from $16,990, while the 50 Years Edition is priced around $ 3,000 more than the base trim at $19,990. The VTi-S is retailed at $ 23,056 and the VTi-L at $26,146 (MLRP). 

Sporting elements such as a bold dual-slat chrome grille in front with integrated sleek headlamps, the Honda Jazz looks every bit a Japanese car. The face features sculpted lines, air-intakes and side skirts to add-up a sporty flair to its stance. Alloy wheels are standard save for the base VTi variant, albeit some bits such as black mirror caps and black finishing on the wheel arches are restricted to the 50 years Edition grade. LED headlamps with LED daytime running lights come with the higher variants only. There is a hint of honeycomb mesh in the upper, lower grille and housings accommodating fog lamps. Moving to the side, the sharp lines characterize the funky semblance. The rear sports vertically stacked tail-lamps, a roof spoiler and a thick chrome bar which runs across the boot lid. 

Honda Jazz’s cabin is spacious and it wouldn’t be wrong to say, if offers the best-in-class interior space, leaving behind rivals including Hyundai Accent, Suzuki Swift, Toyota Yaris and Mazda 2. This apart, the cabin has been styled in typical Honda fashion and it packs in an array of comfort and connectivity bits. Magic rear seats with 60:40 split with fold down and tip up functions, a 7-inch colour display with Bluetooth connectivity, are standard across line-up, whereas automatic climate control, smart entry with push-start button, etc. are all reserved for the top-spec grade. 

Honda has plonked its tried and tested 1.5-litre i-VTEC, in-line, four-cylinder petrol engine in the hatchback which makes 88kW of peak power and 145 Nm torque. The choice of gearboxes on the Jazz comprises a five-speed manual unit and a CVT auto box with steering-mounted paddle shifters on the range-topping trim. 

In terms of safety, Jazz gets a cusp over rivals with a 5-star rating in the ANCAP crash test. The standard safety kit on the vehicle comprises ABS with EBD and brake assist, hill start assist, emergency stop signals, traction control system, vehicle stability control, child-resistant anchorages, and 3-point seatbelts among several others. Honda’s reliable hatchback takes on models such as Hyundai Accent, Mazda 2, Toyota Yaris and Suzuki Swift in the segment.