The 2014 Honda Jazz has been launched in Thailand, the first country in the region to introduce the car.

The third-generation Jazz, known as the Fit in Japan, made its domestic debut in September 2013.

The latest City sports a variation of the Jazz's 'Solid Wing Face' and shares a platform with the hatchback. The dashboard is similar, too.

In Thailand, the Jazz is powered by a 1.5-litre, SOHC, i-VTEC engine with 117 HP and 146 Nm, combined with a CVT.

The E85-compatible four-pot is the same engine as the one in the City sold in Malaysia with 120 PS (118 HP) and 145 Nm.

Like the top-end City in Thailand, the Jazz is available with steering-wheel-mounted gear-shift paddles and a seven-speed manual mode.

The familiar ECON button is present, along with an Eco Coaching function.

Kit mirrors the City. Equipment highlights include a seven-inch touch-screen audio system with HDMI support, Siri Eyes Free Mode for iPhones - 4S and above, touch-panel auto air-conditioning, steering-mounted audio and phone controls, keyless-entry and push-start.

On the safety front, top-specification cars get ABS, EBD, VSA, six airbags and a reverse camera. Ultra Seats too, of course.

Prices start from THB 555,000 (US$ 17,070) for the S MT manual version. The entry CVT variant, S AT, goes for THB 594,000, rising to THB 754,000 for the range-topping SV+ specification.