2014 Honda Jazz | new car sales price

Third-generation Honda Jazz arrives with more room, fresh tech and improved efficiency.

Twelve months after it first appeared in Japan wearing Fit badges, the all-new third-generation Honda Jazz has now arrived in Australian showrooms.

With a price tag $1000 cheaper than before, the $14,990 entry Jazz VTi is now the cheapest car on the Australian market to come with a standard reversing camera, along with LED headlights and Honda's Display Audio system which includes a 7-inch touchscreen and Bluetooth phone and audio. 

When connected via an HDMI cable, Display Audio also gives iPhone 5 users the ability to view and control their phone by the Jazz’s touchscreen, with swipe and scroll capability.

The VTi with the optional CVT automatic is expected to be the most popular of all Jazz variants though, and Honda is hoping to leverage this with an ongoing $16,990 drive-away pricetag.

The second-rung $19,790 VTi-S Jazz adds a standard CVT automatic transmission, 16-inch alloy wheels over the base model's steel items, front fog lights, electrically foldable door mirrors, climate control air-conditioning and six-speaker audio instead of the four-speaker system in the VTi. 

The range-topping $22,490 VTi-L adds black leather-appointed seat trim, heated front seats, rear parking sensors, proximity keys with push-button engine start and a tailgate spoiler.

DESIGN

The new Jazz is set to retain its predeccessor's reputation as one of the most spacious and practical models in its class, with its van-like profile and clever ‘Magic Seats’ rear seat arrangement which can flip, fold and stow in up to 18 different ways.

A compact torsion beam rear suspension also helps to extend seats-up cargo space by 13-litres to 350-litres VDA, while seats-down window-height volume has grown by 58-litres to total 906-litres VDA. Filled to the roof, the new Jazz will carry a massive 1492-litres VDA. 

Child seat anchorages are top-tether in all three rear positions, and a spacesaver spare sits beneath the boot floor. There is room for a full-size spare, but Honda has chosen to fill the void with a handy sub-floor storage tray instead.  

Compared to the outgoing model, the new Jazz is 96mm longer with a 30mm wheelbase stretch.  A lighter, more rigid body structure has helped the 1048kg manual Jazz VTi drop 27kg over its previous equivalent, despite adopting a larger engine.

ENGINE / TRANSMISSION

Sharing much of its design with the new Honda City sedan, the Jazz has dropped the previous entry 1.3-litre engine and is now powered by the new Earth Dreams 1.5-litre four-cylinder first seen in the City. 

With attention paid to internal friction and rotating mass, the unit delivers the same 88kW and 145Nm as the previous 1.5, but combined fuel consumption drops by 0.9L/100km (and by 0.8L/100km compared to the old 1.3 auto) to 5.8L/100km for automatic models thanks to the new CVT auto shared with the City.  

However, the five-speed manual available only in the VTi consumes 0.4L/100km more than the old 1.3-litre manual at 6.2L/100km combined, and the 1.5 is happy to run on Regular 91RON unleaded fuel.

A hybrid variant is currently available in some overseas markets, but it remains unclear when the petrol/electric variant will arrive locally. 

SAFETY

The new Jazz is expected to score a maximum five star safety rating, with dual front, side and full-length curtain airbags as well as stability and traction control systems which encompass ABS and EBD.

Further safety features include seatbelt reminders for all occupants, emergency hazard light activation following hard braking and multi-angle rear view camera.