Singapore is set to be the first market in the ASEAN region to launch the all-new, fourth-generation Honda Jazz.

When it is launched in Singapore later this month, three variants will be offered, namely the Jazz 1.5 Base, Jazz 1.5 Home, and Jazz 1.5 Luxe e:HEV.

The 1.5 Base and 1.5 Home variants are powered by a naturally-aspirated 1.5-litre petrol engine that does 121 PS and 145 Nm, mated to a CVT-type automatic transmission – similar to the Malaysian-spec Honda City.

As for the Jazz 1.5 Luxe e:HEV, this variant gets Honda’s trick i-MMD petrol-electric hybrid powertrain. In the case of the Jazz (and Malaysian-spec City RS), it’s the traction motor that drives the vehicle most of the time, with 253 Nm of torque generated by the 109 PS traction motor.

The naturally-aspirated 1.5-litre petrol engine only kicks in to either drive the generator to provide extra power for the traction motor, or to drive the front wheels directly during high-speed cruising. The petrol engine bypasses the electric motor via a clutch.

Also unique to the Jazz 1.5 e:HEV is its e-CVT transmission. Unlike a conventional CVT with a belt-driven pulley, the “e” suffix refers to the electric motor which is actually its transmission – a direct drive motor that provides stepless driving dynamics.

Safety-wise, the Singapore-spec Jazz will be equipped with Honda’s updated Sensing ADAS suite, though this is limited to the hybrid model; petrol models will have to make do without. That said, six airbags are standard across the line-up.

Prices start at SGD 94,999 for the Jazz 1.5 Base, while the Jazz 1.5 Home is priced at SGD 97,999. The range-topping Jazz 1.5 Luxe e:HEV goes for SGD 99,999. While parallel importers in Singapore do offer the Japanese-market Honda Fit at a cheaper price (SGD 80,000 to SGD 82,000), these units come with a smaller 1.3-litre engine.

Parallel imported Honda Fits also come with Japanese language vehicle controls – a similar issue that is also present in Japanese recond cars sold in Malaysia.