Pros
- Incredible practicality for such a small car
- Great driving dynamics
- Typical excellent Honda build quality and reliability
- Great value for money
Cons
- CVT transmission not exactly inspiring
- Touch screen style interior controls lack tactilit
- Can be thirstier than the competition
- Styling a little conservative for some
Verdict
We wouldn't...
We'd be cautious
We would...
While the Jazz/Fit isn’t perfect with its CVT whine, lack of tactile buttons for simple controls in the interior and the fact it arguably lacks the charm and charisma of some of its rivals, the Jazz/Fit does exhibit Hondas excellent reputation for reliability, they’re proving to hold their value and...
Publish: October 1, 2021
Few nameplates embrace the cheap and cheerful mantra as wholeheartedly, and evenly, as the diminutive Honda Jazz. Cute, smartly packaged, thrifty, it taps the spirit of the groundbreaking City cult car and Honda’s early car-making ethos, servicing grocery getting needs in Australia most recently in its third-generation hatchback guise.
As a showroom prospect, Jazz is now done and dusted, Honda Australia unable to make a solid enough business case to reboot the all-new gen-four Jazz – or Fit as it’s offered in other markets – at the model’s traditional sub-$20k sweet spot as Aussie buyer preferences scale upmarket and expectations of pricey standard-fit tech bloom.
Making its global debut in 2013, the third generation didn’t supplant its forebear from showroom until mid 2014 wearing MY15 designation. In its cheapest form, the five-speed manual, hub-capped VTi version lobbed at just $14,990 list, though the five-door only range was offered in a variety of trim levels and the lion’s share of owners optioning for CVT transmission to back Jazz’s single engine offering, a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre four-cylinder plying 88kW and 145Nm.
Cheap to buy, cheap to run but the big drawcard is the smallest Honda’s packaging. Its still-fresh, angular styling carves out a remarkable amount of utilitarian space, both in terms of cabin roominess for occupants and bootspace which, at 354 litres expandable to a whopping 1314L with its clever, folding Magic Seat arrangement. Jazz makes for a very tidy surrogate minivan.
Available in three grades – VTi, mid-spec VTi-S and flagship
Few nameplates embrace the cheap and cheerful mantra as wholeheartedly, and evenly, as the diminutive Honda Jazz. Cute, smartly packaged, thrifty, it taps the spirit of the groundbreaking City cult car and Honda’s early car-making ethos, servicing grocery getting needs in Australia most recently in its third-generation hatchback guise.
As a showroom prospect, Jazz is now done and dusted, Honda Australia unable to make a solid enough business case to reboot the all-new gen-four Jazz – or Fit as it’s offered in other markets – at the model’s traditional sub-$20k sweet spot as Aussie buyer preferences scale upmarket and expectations of pricey standard-fit tech bloom.
Making its global debut in 2013, the third generation didn’t supplant its forebear from showroom until mid 2014 wearing MY15 designation. In its cheapest form, the five-speed manual, hub-capped VTi version lobbed at just $14,990 list, though the five-door only range was offered in a variety of trim levels and the lion’s share of owners optioning for CVT transmission to back Jazz’s single engine offering, a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre four-cylinder plying 88kW and 145Nm.
Cheap to buy, cheap to run but the big drawcard is the smallest Honda’s packaging. Its still-fresh, angular styling carves out a remarkable amount of utilitarian space, both in terms of cabin roominess for occupants and bootspace which, at 354 litres expandable to a whopping 1314L with its clever, folding Magic Seat arrangement. Jazz makes for a very tidy surrogate minivan.
Available in three grades – VTi, mid-spec VTi-S and flagship VTi-L – plus various ‘special edition’ extrapolations, gen-three Jazz saw a global facelift in 2017 plus numerous periodic updates to areas such as infotainment, which integrated Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring quite late, in 2020. Steel wheels were also phased out midlife.
The Jazz was rated five stars ANCAP right around its 2014 debut, though its safety credentials don’t smell quite so rosy in 2021. The cheapy Jazz never benefited from active safety assistance such autonomous emergency braking, which does blackmark its ‘my first car’ potential for safety conscious shoppers.
Honda discontinued the manual option late in the lifecycle in 2020. The fittingly named Final Edition swan song, as part of the farewell MY21 range, bundled alloy wheels, a CVT auto, cruise control, a reversing camera, 7.0-inch infotainment and phone mirroring…for a tenner under $20k.
After three generations and an 18-year providence in Australia, it’s sad to see that Jazz has taken its final bow, where the handbrake on new sales slowed to almost half of that in gen-three’s first year of release.
Enticing, though, is the prospect of what will be a growing number of relatively fresh and contemporary options on the used market, light on size and lean on fiscal outlay.”
Honda discontinued the manual option late in the lifecycle in 2020. The fittingly named Final Edition swan song, as part of the farewell MY21 range, bundled alloy wheels, a CVT auto, cruise control, a reversing camera, 7.0-inch infotainment and phone mirroring…for a tenner under $20k.
After three generations and an 18-year providence in Australia, it’s sad to see that Jazz has taken its final bow, where the handbrake on new sales slowed to almost half of that in gen-three’s first year of release.
Enticing, though, is the prospect of what will be a growing number of relatively fresh and contemporary options on the used market, light on size and lean on fiscal outlay.
Few nameplates embrace the cheap and cheerful mantra as wholeheartedly, and evenly, as the diminutive Honda Jazz. Cute, smartly packaged, thrifty, it taps the spirit of the groundbreaking City cult car and Honda’s early car-making ethos, servicing grocery getting needs in Australia most recently in its third-generation hatchback guise.
As a showroom prospect, Jazz is now done and dusted, Honda Australia unable to make a solid enough business case to reboot the all-new gen-four Jazz – or Fit as it’s offered in other markets – at the model’s traditional sub-$20k sweet spot as Aussie buyer preferences scale upmarket and expectations of pricey standard-fit tech bloom.
Making its global debut in 2013, the third generation didn’t supplant its forebear from showroom until mid 2014 wearing MY15 designation. In its cheapest form, the five-speed manual, hub-capped VTi version lobbed at just $14,990 list, though the five-door only range was offered in a variety of trim levels and the lion’s share of owners optioning for CVT transmission to back Jazz’s single engine offering, a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre four-cylinder plying 88kW and 145Nm.
Cheap to buy, cheap to run but the big drawcard is the smallest Honda’s packaging. Its still-fresh, angular styling carves out a remarkable amount of utilitarian space, both in terms of cabin roominess for occupants and bootspace which, at 354 litres expandable to a whopping 1314L with its clever, folding Magic Seat arrangement. Jazz makes for a very tidy surrogate minivan.
Available in three grades – VTi, mid-spec VTi-S and flagship VTi-L – plus various ‘special edition’ extrapolations, gen-three Jazz saw a global facelift in 2017 plus numerous periodic updates to areas such as infotainment, which integrated Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring quite late, in 2020. Steel wheels were also phased out midlife.
The Jazz was rated five stars ANCAP right around its 2014 debut, though its safety credentials don’t smell quite so rosy in 2021. The cheapy Jazz never benefited from active safety assistance such autonomous emergency braking, which does blackmark its ‘my first car’ potential for safety conscious shoppers.
Honda discontinued the manual option late in the lifecycle in 2020. The fittingly named Final Edition swan song, as part of the farewell MY21 range, bundled alloy wheels, a CVT auto, cruise control, a reversing camera, 7.0-inch infotainment and phone mirroring…for a tenner under $20k.
After three generations and an 18-year providence in Australia, it’s sad to see that Jazz has taken its final bow, where the handbrake on new sales slowed to almost half of that in gen-three’s first year of release.
Enticing, though, is the prospect of what will be a growing number of relatively fresh and contemporary options on the used market, light on size and lean on fiscal outlay.”
Honda discontinued the manual option late in the lifecycle in 2020. The fittingly named Final Edition swan song, as part of the farewell MY21 range, bundled alloy wheels, a CVT auto, cruise control, a reversing camera, 7.0-inch infotainment and phone mirroring…for a tenner under $20k.
After three generations and an 18-year providence in Australia, it’s sad to see that Jazz has taken its final bow, where the handbrake on new sales slowed to almost half of that in gen-three’s first year of release.
Enticing, though, is the prospect of what will be a growing number of relatively fresh and contemporary options on the used market, light on size and lean on fiscal outlay.
The Jazz/Fit are a prime example of Honda’s excellent reputation for build quality and reliability and therefore, while certain abused examples may show faults and issues, regularly serviced and cared for examples from this generation seem to suffer form very few, if any, common mechanical problems.
The Jazz/Fit are a prime example of Honda’s excellent reputation for build quality and reliability and therefore, while certain abused examples may show faults and issues, regularly serviced and cared for examples from this generation seem to suffer form very few, if any, common mechanical problems.
The Jazz/Fit are a prime example of Honda’s excellent reputation for build quality and reliability and therefore, while certain abused examples may show faults and issues, regularly serviced and cared for examples from this generation seem to suffer form very few, if any, common mechanical problems.
Body style:
5-door hatchback
Engine & outputs:
1.5-litre four cylinder petrol engine (all models)
Power:
88kW
Torque:
145Nm
Transmissions:
5-speed manual, front-wheel-drive (VTi)
CVT transmission, front wheel drive (VTi, Limited Edition, VTi-S, Sport+ & VTi-L)
Fuel use:
5.8L – 6.2L/100km (combined and depending on variant)
Dimension:
Height: 1524mm
Length: 3996mm
Width: 1694mm
Kerb weight: 1048kg – 1130kg (depending on transmission/model)
Body style:
5-door hatchback
Engine & outputs:
1.5-litre four cylinder petrol engine (all models)
Power:
88kW
Torque:
145Nm
Transmissions:
5-speed manual, front-wheel-drive (VTi)
CVT transmission, front wheel drive (VTi, Limited Edition, VTi-S, Sport+ & VTi-L)
Fuel use:
5.8L – 6.2L/100km (combined and depending on variant)
Dimension:
Height: 1524mm
Length: 3996mm
Width: 1694mm
Kerb weight: 1048kg – 1130kg (depending on transmission/model)
Body style:
5-door hatchback
Engine & outputs:
1.5-litre four cylinder petrol engine (all models)
Power:
88kW
Torque:
145Nm
Transmissions:
5-speed manual, front-wheel-drive (VTi)
CVT transmission, front wheel drive (VTi, Limited Edition, VTi-S, Sport+ & VTi-L)
Fuel use:
5.8L – 6.2L/100km (combined and depending on variant)
Dimension:
Height: 1524mm
Length: 3996mm
Width: 1694mm
Kerb weight: 1048kg – 1130kg (depending on transmission/model)
Warranty:
3-year/100,000 kilometre warranty (before 1 July 2017)
5-year/unlimited kilometre warranty (between 1 July 2017 and 30 June 2021)
7-year/unlimited kilometre warranty (as part of special offers held between 2017 and 2021)*
*Ensure you check the owners manual to check whether the car has a special 7 year/unlimited kilometre warranty.
Servicing:
Every 6 months/10,000km
Honda offers a tailored service pricing structure (in simple terms: capped price servicing) for the first 10 services (up to 60 months/100,000km). Any items that fall out of the base service schedule is considered an “adaptive service” item (wear and tear items) and you will need to pay extra. For example: cabin dust and pollen filter.
Model range, pricing and features
While the Jazz/Fit isn’t perfect with its CVT whine, lack of tactile buttons for simple controls in the interior and the fact it arguably lacks the charm and charisma of some of its rivals, the Jazz/Fit does exhibit Hondas excellent reputation for reliability, they’re proving to hold their value and with no direct replacement on the horizon, should continue to stay consistent with pricing.
Plus, no other small car offers this level of practicality while still being fun and nimble to drive everyday.
Should you buy one? Yes, 100%. Overall, as a daily, metro area form of transport that provides near small van-like levels of practicality, even after a few years and thousands of kilometers, it’s still brilliant.
Just be warned, if you do buy a Jazz/Fit, anytime a friend decides to move house, they’ll be calling you (and your Jazz/Fit) first.
While the Jazz/Fit isn’t perfect with its CVT whine, lack of tactile buttons for simple controls in the interior and the fact it arguably lacks the charm and charisma of some of its rivals, the Jazz/Fit does exhibit Hondas excellent reputation for reliability, they’re proving to hold their value and with no direct replacement on the horizon, should continue to stay consistent with pricing.
Plus, no other small car offers this level of practicality while still being fun and nimble to drive everyday.
Should you buy one? Yes, 100%. Overall, as a daily, metro area form of transport that provides near small van-like levels of practicality, even after a few years and thousands of kilometers, it’s still brilliant.
Just be warned, if you do buy a Jazz/Fit, anytime a friend decides to move house, they’ll be calling you (and your Jazz/Fit) first.
While the Jazz/Fit isn’t perfect with its CVT whine, lack of tactile buttons for simple controls in the interior and the fact it arguably lacks the charm and charisma of some of its rivals, the Jazz/Fit does exhibit Hondas excellent reputation for reliability, they’re proving to hold their value and with no direct replacement on the horizon, should continue to stay consistent with pricing.
Plus, no other small car offers this level of practicality while still being fun and nimble to drive everyday.
Should you buy one? Yes, 100%. Overall, as a daily, metro area form of transport that provides near small van-like levels of practicality, even after a few years and thousands of kilometers, it’s still brilliant.
Just be warned, if you do buy a Jazz/Fit, anytime a friend decides to move house, they’ll be calling you (and your Jazz/Fit) first.
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Disclaimer
Please note that pricing information is subject to fluctuations in the automotive market.
Information correct as of October 1, 2021.
The advice provided on this website is general advice only. It has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on this advice, you should consider the appropriateness of the advice, having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs.
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