In its first product announcement since
confirming a dramatic restructuring of its business, Honda’s Australian arm has
revealed an update for the Jazz and HR-V due to arrive in April, giving these
cars a new head unit that is now Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible.
The company has been using aftermarket
infotainment systems since 2017 (reportedly after a number of complaints regarding
the touch-sensitive controls on the original OEM system), and while the new
seven-inch touchscreen is claimed to be similar to to built-in ones in the
Civic and CR-V, it’s still housed in a discrete 2-DIN head unit.
On top of the aforementioned smartphone
connectivity functions, the system also features voice control using either
Siri Eyes Free or Google Voice Search built into iOS and Android devices
respectively. This can be accessed by pressing the dedicated button on the
steering wheel or the microphone button on the head unit. The update also moves
the USB ports back to their original positions low down in the centre console,
as well as adding a smartphone screen mirroring function via WebLink.
This will likely be the last update for
the Jazz in Australia, as CarAdvice reported that Honda will stop selling the
hatchback and the related City sedan Down Under as part of sweeping measures to
improve flagging profits. The company will also implement a fixed pricing
strategy and reduce the number of showrooms, moving towards a hub-and-spoke
model with regional delivery points instead.