Honda lightly tweaks Odyssey and Jazz

HONDA Australia has announced mild styling and price changes to model year 2017 versions of its Odyssey and Jazz, adding new wheels on the light car, as well as design updates and equipment upgrades to its people mover.

The base-level Jazz VTi variant gains 15-inch five-point, twin-spoke alloy wheels clad with 175/65 tyres as standard, an upgrade over the steel wheels previously offered.

Pricing stays the same, however, at $14,990 before on-roads for the manual and $16,990 for the continuously-variable transmission (CVT) version.

The higher-spec VTi-S and VTi-L pricing also remains steady at $19,790 and $22,490 respectively, with no change to equipment levels.

Honda Australia director Stephen Collins said including alloy wheels would push the value of the Jazz even further.

“Coupled with other segment-leading features such as LED projector beam headlights, LED tail lights and a multi-angle reversing camera, the addition of alloy wheels on Jazz VTi will ensure it remains one of the best equipped, best value light cars on the market,” he said.

Meanwhile the top-spec Odyssey VTi-L people mover has undergone mild visual changes, tweaking its front fascia in the form of a dark chrome upper grille, a black three-bar lower grille and darkened headlight housings.

It also gains darkened privacy glass for the second row, third row and tailgate windows, as well as Isofix child seat anchorage points for second row seats.

The increase in equipment and revised styling has pushed the price of the Odyssey VTi-L up $450 to $46,490, while the base VTi remains steady at $37,610.

Both VTi and VTi-L variants get split-pocket storage pouches on the back of the front row seats and a new premium spice purple pearlescent paint colour, which replaces the existing carnelian red pearlescent.

“The Odyssey VTi-L is the top selling individual variant across the entire people mover under $60,000 segment, so these latest styling and equipment updates are sure to lift its appeal with customers, as well as improve its competitive position in the market,” said Mr Collins.

In 2016 the Jazz sold 8316 units, enough to place it fifth in the light car under $25,000 segment behind the Hyundai Accent (18,703), Mazda2 (13,639), Toyota Yaris (12,158) and Suzuki Swift (8372).

Meanwhile, with 2712 sales in 2016, the Odyssey was the second best-selling people mover under $60,000 behind the Kia Carnival (4777) but ahead of the likes of the Hyundai iMax (1387) and Volkswagen Multivan (961).

The new models arrive in Australian showrooms this month.

2017 Honda Odyssey pricing*

VTi (a)	$37,610	N/A
VTi-L (a)	$46,490	(+$450)

*Excludes on-road costs2017 Honda Jazz pricing*

VTi	$14,990	N/A
VTi (a)	$16,990	N/A
VTi-S (a)	$19,790	N/A
VTi-L (a)	$22,490	N/A

*Excludes on-road costs