Meet The Honda Jazz Facelift

Like its sedan counterpart, the 2017 Honda City facelift, the mid-cycle update of the Jazz gets subtle styling upgrades. Do these changes add to the Jazz’ appeal? Let’s find out. 

Honda has revealed the mid-cycle update/facelift of the third-generation Jazz in its home country, Japan. The 2017 Jazz (known as the Fit in some markets) will go on sale in the Japanese market in June, while global sales are expected to begin later this year. Speaking of its Indian debut, the third-generation model was launched in mid-2015, so expect the facelift to arrive next year and might be introduced at the 2018 Indian Auto Expo.

What’s new?

• It is the bumpers (both front and rear) that went under the knife the most 
• The redesigned front bumper gets extra muscle at the ends, which make the car look wider than the outgoing model 
• The headlights gets vertically placed multiple LED lighting along with daytime running LEDs, similar to the 2017 Honda City facelift

• The fog lamps are also LED 

• The 16-inch alloy wheels are carried over from the outgoing international version. Like the updated City and the WR-V, the Jazz facelift, in all probability, will get 16-inch wheels this time around in India
• The rear spoiler is also carried forward with the upcoming facelift   
• Honda has not released any complete rear profile shots of the updated Jazz/Fit. But according to the recently leaked images, it gets dual-tone rear bumper and updated tail lamps
• The tail lamps now extend all the way up to the rear windscreen, much like the Volvos (a similar setup is found on the current Australian and Japanese version of the Jazz). This make the Jazz look relatively premium and chic! 

• There are no complete interior pictures as well, but the Japanese-spec hatch gets new upholstery. However, the overall cabin layout remains unaltered

• The Indian version is likely to get Honda India’s 7.0-inch Digipad infotainment system with Mirror Link tech, but sadly no Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support   

• Key missing features – such as passive keyless entry with engine start-stop, auto door lock, driver armrest, steering reach adjustment, among others – in the current Indian-spec Jazz are likely to be offered with the updated model
• Expect Honda to resurrect the ‘X’ label for the facelift model in India as a range topping model like it did with the City facelift: the City ZX 

(In Picture: The second-gen Honda Jazz X)

Mechanically, the Japanese-spec Jazz remains unaltered and it will be the same for the Indian-spec version as well. The Jazz facelift will be powered by the 1.2-litre i-VTEC petrol (5-speed manual or CVT automatic with paddle shifters) and the 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel (6-speed manual). 

All in all, like the case with all the Honda facelifts, the Jazz also gets understated aesthetic upgrades and additional goodies, which the segment demands over time. These subtle change definitely make the hatch look fresh and sharper until the fourth-generation arrives in a few years. When launched, the Jazz facelift will continue its fight against the Hyundai Elite i20 and the Maruti Suzuki Baleno, among others.

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