Honda tight-lipped on new Jazz
Honda has just revealed an all-new Jazz, but Honda NZ is not ready to commit just yet, writes
Whether the just-revealed next-gen Jazz will feature on Honda’s New Zealand playlist remains an imponderable. The brand’s local distributor has declined to discuss anything about the completely redesigned 2020 model, just unveiled at the Tokyo motor show and set to go on sale in Japan quite soon, as a Fit, with Jazzbadged exports expected to follow promptly.
When asked for comment about when it might come and for broader thoughts about the fourth-generation car, Honda New Zealand’s marketing manager, Matt Woodburn, said he had nothing. ‘‘Unfortunately, it’s a standard situation, I cannot give any comment at this stage. It’s too early to provide any details regarding the model at the motor show.’’
The new model is interesting for all sorts of reasons beyond its five distinct guises, each tailored to suit various owner lifestyles. The entry car is the Basic, there’s a Home for around-towners, a more vibrant Ness (as in Fit Ness), a fake SUV version called Crosstar and a leather-trimmed Luxe flagship.
Safety-wise, it takes the latest Honda Sensing crash avoidance system that includes a wide-view camera and eight sonar sensors mounted in the front and back of the vehicle. Improved ride, better performance, advanced connectivity and more storage are also claimed. And, of course, they’ve delivered new styling atop a fresh platform.
The most relevant technical advance is that it also becomes the first compact Honda with a twomotor hybrid drivetrain.
Will this e-HEV powertrain become the sole choice for Jazz from now on, or will it provision as an alternate to the orthodox petrol
The most relevant technical advance is that it also becomes the first compact Honda with a two-motor hybrid drivetrain.
engines that have historically provisioned with this supermini?
Overseas’ media are split on this. Woodburn, of course, hasn’t shed any light.
It’s relevant to ask if Jazz still fits here. Outwardly, it carries such a long sales history here that the showroom would seem bereft without it.
Yet much has changed since Honda NZ first played this tune in 2002 and soon found itself with a giant hit. The small car sector has diminished considerably and so has Honda’s overall position; car and make are simply far more niche.
So worth keeping? Having also seen Jazz become a minority choice, Honda Australia is talking about forgoing the next, though it might continue to forge with the current version, which it can source at a