The Chinese automotive market has a knack for offering up some truly unique takes on vehicles, often with designs that can feel worlds apart from their global counterparts. A prime example? The latest iteration of the Honda Fit (or Jazz, depending on where you’re standing) that’s just made its unofficial debut ahead of its upcoming arrival in China.

What we’re looking at here is a facelifted version of the current Fit, which is being churned out by the GAC-Honda joint venture. Photos from China’s MIIT (Ministry of Industry and Information Technology) reveal a front end that’s been redesigned to the point where it barely resembles the model that came before it. If we’re being honest, the new look gives off more Toyota Yaris vibes than Honda.

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Gone are the familiar, friendly curves of the old model, replaced by a split LED headlight arrangement that gives the car a more aggressive look. The headlights, slimmer and sharper than before, are paired with a fresh lower bumper intake and a more sculpted nose. The profile remains largely unchanged, but the rear gets a minor update in the form of a plastic extension that gives the rear bumper a diffuser-like appearance.

As for size, the facelifted GAC-Honda Fit measures 4,196 mm (165.2 inches) long, which is just a hair longer than the outgoing model. There’s no word on whether the Crosstar and Sport trims, both of which add crossover-style cladding and sportier bumpers, will be making an appearance. We also don’t have any interior photos yet, so it’s unclear if the cabin will feature a revamped digital cockpit.

Under the hood, the GAC-Honda Fit carries over the same naturally aspirated 1.5-liter iVTEC four-cylinder gasoline engine as before. This engine cranks out 122 hp (91 kW / 124 PS), which is a small bump of 6 hp (4 kW) over the Japanese version. Unlike the Japanese model, which offers a 4WD option, the Chinese Fit sticks to FWD, paired with a CVT gearbox.

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The fourth generation of the Honda Jazz/Fit made its debut back in 2019, and saw a mild facelift in 2022 for markets like Japan and Europe. Despite its minivan-esque appearance, the Jazz/Fit is still technically a small hatchback. Depending on where you are in the world, it’s available with either an internal combustion engine or a hybrid powertrain. It shares its underpinnings with the global Honda HR-V, though it’s important to note that the HR-V’s design varies depending on the market.

Meanwhile, over at the Dongfeng-Honda joint venture, there’s another Fit-based model on offer in China, called the Life. It stands apart from the GAC-Honda Fit thanks to a slightly different front bumper and a set of smoked taillights. The Dongfeng-Honda Life has been around since 2020 and is also expected to get a mid-lifecycle update soon, though its design is likely to remain closer to the European and Japanese versions.

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