2017 Honda Jazz gets updated infotainment unit: Touch-panel buttons gone, but…
New 2017 Honda Jazz infotainment interface deletes volume control, shrinks screen
A quiet 2017 Honda Jazz update has rolled onto the local market, bringing what proposes to be an improvement to the small hatch's infotainment system.
In all versions of the Jazz offered for the 2015 and 2016 model years, buyers had been treated to a large 7.1-inch touchscreen display, boasting Bluetooth connectivity, two USB ports and an HDMI input.
A bug-bear for some, however, is that the system's 'home' button and volume controls were both touch-sensitive points on the unit's outer frame (below), demanding a level of hand-control tricky to achieve while on the move.
In an effort to address that issue, Honda has swapped in a new unit with physical 'home' and 'back' buttons in place of the touch-sensitive home button and volume slider - along with covered ports for aux, USB and HDMI.
Problem solved? Oddly, no.
As before, volume can still be controlled from the physical controls on the left side of the steering wheel (below). However, that is now the only way to control volume, with no physical or on-screen controls available.
No problem for drivers, but perhaps an irritation for passengers. (Here is where one might argue that a passenger should not help themselves to a vehicle's controls, but try that point on with your partner...)
Along with this update, Honda says the 2017 model's infotainment system - which now also features a smaller 6.1-inch display - is faster to respond to input and quicker to load functions.
Above: the updated 2017 unit
The CD player has also been deleted, as is proving to be the trend across the industry.
It should also be noted that while the new Civic and updated Accord come packing Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, the Jazz remains bereft of either.
No other changes to the Jazz range have been made, and pricing remains unchanged.
NOTE: Honda elected not to announce these changes, meaning that our 2016 Jazz VTi-S long-term report two: infotainment piece details the superseded unit. That review has since been updated to address these changes.
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