3rd generation model to Jazz up the SA market

THE third generation Jazz was unveiled at the 2014 Paris Motor Show, and South Africa is eagerly awaiting the introduction of this model in February 2015.

The all-new 2015 Honda Jazz retains the practicality, spaciousness and versatility of the iconic magic seats, with an enhanced exterior design and added safety aspects giving consumers a lot to look forward to.

Glimpsing back:

The original Honda Jazz was launched locally in April 2003.

The buying public eagerly embraced this compact car, which comes with Honda’s proven quality and engineering excellence. The Jazz was a game changer too, being one of the first cars in its class with dual airbags and ABS, adding a new dimension to safety.

Honda’s magic seats, a versatile design with flexible rear seating configurations, allowed the seats to collapse flat in the rear of the vehicle, providing unrivalled utility space.

What made this possible was an unusually-shaped fuel tank, positioned under the front seats rather than the back seat and therefore out of the way in a secure location. It is exceptionally well protected from all sides. Ask anyone who has owned a Jazz and they will rave about the van-like interior.

Adding to the safety and in- terior space, exceptional handling, ride comfort, efficiency and re- liability made it a winner. The Honda Jazz won a raft of awards around the world, including many where drivers were the voters.

Owners of the second generation Jazz, introduced in late 2008, reaped the benefits of a design focus, which was unwavering. With its monobox design, it moved subtly into a market position where it combined the attributes of a supermini with those of a mini-MPV.

The magic seats remained a feature and continued to evolve. It boasted a simplified operation and the headrests did not need to be removed to fold the rear seats flat. The total load length was now an amazing 2,4m, which gave the interior even more versatility and practicality.

With the Jazz’s 2011 facelift, Honda became the first local brand to offer a B-segment hybrid, thanks to the introduction of the Jazz 1.3 IMA (Integrated Motor Assist).

At the same time, the entire range also underwent an interior and exterior refresh, adding more storage solutions, better aerodynamics and improved steering feel. Moreover, just when people thought the magic seats could not get any better, Honda added a recline function.