Honda launches black-wheeled Jazz Final Edition

HONDA Australia has started the final preparations for its pint-sized Jazz to bow out of the local market, this week revealing the Jazz Final Edition which will be the last dance for the iconic little city car Down Under.

Based on the entry-level Jazz VTi, the Final Edition carries $19,990 plus on-roads sticker price, $1300 more than its donor vehicle.

The extra outlay nets buyers the same black 16-inch alloy wheels as seen on the 50 Years Edition last year, matching black mirror caps and all of the same standard kit as found in the regular VTi.

This includes a multi-angle reversing camera, 7.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, cruise control, cloth Magic Seats, power windows, vanity mirrors, multi-information display and keyless entry.

Colour options on the Final Edition consist of Rally Red, Platinum White Pearlescent, Phoenix Orange Pearlescent and Modern Steel Metallic, all of which besides the former carry a $560 premium.

As with every Jazz, power comes courtesy of a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine developing 88kW/145Nm, all of which is sent to the front wheels via a continuously variable transmission.

Fuel economy is rated at 5.9 litres per 100km on the combined cycle.

Standard safety kit also matches that of the VTi, with features including six airbags, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution, emergency stop signal, hill start assist, stability and traction control, whiplash mitigating headrests and child locks in the rear.

The Jazz first appeared on our shores in 2002 as a rival to some of the established small and light-car heavyweights including the Toyota Yaris/Corolla and Holden Barina as well as some of the premium Euro offerings like the Volkswagen Polo or Renault Clio.

Since its inception, three generations have cycled through the market with Honda revealing earlier this year that it would stop importing the Jazz as light car sales dwindle and the brand moves to a new agency sales model.

Also getting the chop is the similarly sized City sedan which has experienced a 66.2 per cent sales drop year-on-year as of the end of September as stock runs out (181 in 2020 vs 535 in 2019).

The Jazz has fared marginally better, with the hatch experiencing a 59.6 per cent decline year-on-year (1811 vs 4478).

With a seven per cent segment share, the Jazz was the eighth best-selling model out of the 15 featured within the segment with the MG MG3, Kia Rio and Toyota Yaris all outselling the Honda more than twice over.

Honda Australia says it expects Jazz stock to last until sometime in the second quarter of 2021 going by the “current sales rate and production timings”.

Its move to an agency model will see Honda’s local line-up trimmed down, with the brand to target reduced sales volume of around 1650 overall cars per month.

2020 Honda Jazz pricing*

*Excludes on-road costs