Honda ups the value on Jazz

HONDA Australia is hoping to rev up interest in its Jazz light car by reintroduced the Limited Edition version that gains a bunch of extra kit and a driveaway pricetag, for a limited time.

The Jazz Limited Edition was offered Down Under last year and is back, this time with an extra $3000 worth of gear for a $1000 premium over the VTi variant on which it is based.

The driveaway-only price is $19,490, while the retail cost of the VTi when matched with the continuously variable transmission (CVT) is $16,990, but this does not include on-road costs.

Over and above the VTi, the Limited Edition adds 15-inch alloy wheels replacing steel wheels, rear parking sensors, a rear roof spoiler, front foglights and a sports black grille.

This is on top of cruise control, a multi-function steering wheel, paddle shifters, Magic Seats, seven-inch Display Audio with Bluetooth, customisable wallpaper, Siri Eyes Free Mode and an MP4 movie file player, electric window and air-conditioning that is already standard.

Under the bonnet of all Jazz variants in Australia is an 88kW/145Nm 1.5-litre four-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine and in Limited Edition guise it is matched with the CVT.

Official combined fuel consumption is 5.8 litres per 100km.

Honda Australia director Stephen Collins said the value on offer with the Jazz Limited Edition would appeal to budget conscious buyers.

“With the success of the Honda Jazz Limited Edition in 2015, Honda welcomes the return of the 2016 Honda Jazz Limited Edition model,” he said. “It offers a range of value-added features for customers without the hefty pricetag.

“The Honda Jazz Limited Edition is very competitive and combined with sensible packaging, a modern interior and really versatile luggage space, is the perfect urban companion.”Jazz sales are sitting at 5467 so far this year compared with the same period in 2015, representing a dip of 17.2 per cent.

It is currently the fifth best-selling sub-$25,000 light car in Australia in a segment that has been hit hard by aggressive deals from car-makers in the one-size-larger small-car segment.

Sales in the segment have dropped by 18 per cent year on year and the sales leader is the ageing Hyundai Accent on 11,180, followed by the Mazda2 on 9449, then the Toyota Yaris on 8398 and then the Suzuki Swift with 5939 units.

The Jazz is leading the Volkswagen Polo (5401), the Kia Rio (4636) and the Holden Barina (3054) which will be replaced by a facelifted version in November.