Honda reveals pricing for new Jazz

Pricing and specifications have been revealed for the new Honda Jazz, with the hatchback available from £13,587.

The 2018 Honda Jazz, the latest version of the practical and popular sub-compact hatchback, retains a unique blend of space, versatility, refinement and technology in the B-segment.

The new Jazz builds on the strong reputation of its highly successful predecessors. The global car, also known as the ‘Fit’ in some markets, has sold over seven million units worldwide since the first-generation model was introduced in 2001.

While the new model retains the classic Jazz silhouette, it exhibits distinctive sporty styling upgrades, including a bold new ‘family face’, strong character lines and the addition of a new Sport grade.

The Jazz follows Honda’s ‘man maximum, machine minimum’ design concept. This concept aims to achieve a compact yet highly efficient package through maximising the space for occupants, while minimising the space utilised by the car.

The four-metre-long Jazz employs a centre-mounted fuel tank to allow for class-leading interior space and Honda’s innovative packaging solutions. Honda’s Magic Seats system ensures the interior offers unmatched versatility, with a range of configurations for carrying cargo and passengers.

Occupants also benefit from impressive refinement and advanced safety and infotainment technologies, as well as a highly efficient and dynamic driving experience.

High-quality soft-touch materials and thoughtful interior design provide a sophisticated ambience, complemented by a seven-inch touchscreen in the centre of the dash on higher grades, featuring Honda’s infotainment system, Honda Connect.

A refined ride is allied to responsive and engaging handling thanks to a rigid and lightweight chassis, plus sophisticated suspension that has been specifically tuned for European roads.

As with all new Honda vehicles sold in Europe, the Jazz is fitted with active and passive safety technologies designed to make driving both easier and safer, including Honda’s City-Brake Active system (CTBA) that helps to avoid or mitigate low-speed accidents.

Starting the range is the Jazz S, which includes air conditioning, cruise control and automatic lights as standard. Next in the line-up is the SE trim, adding front and rear parking sensors, electrically adjustable heated door mirrors and 15-inch alloy wheels.

Topping the standard Jazz range is the EX model. With prices from £16,087, this comes with automatic climate control, a reverse camera, 16-inch alloy wheels, front fog lamps and LED headlights as standard.

All three trim levels are powered by a 1.3-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine developing 101 bhp and 123 Nm of torque, taking the car from 0-60 mph in 11.1 seconds and up to a top speed of 118 mph when paired with a six-speed manual gearbox. As for efficiency, fuel economy is claimed at 56.5 mpg with 116 g/km of CO2 emissions. A CVT automatic transmission is also available.

A new and distinctive addition to the range is the Jazz Sport. A more performance-focused version of the hatch, this is powered by a new 1.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine. The latter is offered in the Jazz for the first time in Europe, giving customers the option of a more powerful drivetrain. Full performance figures have yet to be confirmed, but the unit produces 128 bhp. This can be mated to a six-speed manual or CVT automatic gearbox.

As for equipment on the more performance-focused hatch, it comes with a standard equipment list identical to the SE, with some exterior changes to distinguish the model. There’s a thinner splitter on the front bumper and a rear diffuser — both with a red trim line similar to that on the Civic Type R hot hatchback — as well as LED headlights, side skirts, a rear spoiler and black 16-inch alloy wheels.

Inside the car, pinstripe-patterned upholstery features, as well as a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear knob with orange stitching. The Jazz Sport starts at £16,087.

Phil Webb, head of cars at Honda UK, said: ‘The Jazz is our bestselling car in the UK and has been rejuvenated with the new Sport model, as well as the new interior and exterior styling. The Jazz is a very important model for us, with an extremely loyal following, so we look forward to seeing this success continue with the new line-up and the addition of the Sport model.’

lThe new Jazz is available from Derek Warwick Honda.