Buying guide · Power chairs

Jazzy Elite HD or Select 6?

Name: Connect Mobility
Address: T27/9 Margaret Street, Picton, NSW, 2571, AU
Telephone: 1300 216 888
Price range: $$

Written by Nadim Assaf, registered pharmacist, Connect Mobility in Picton

Both are solid Pride power chairs. They drive quite differently, though. Let's look at what that means at home and out on the footpath.

The quick answer

Start with your weight, then your home.

You weigh up to 136 kg and your home has tight cornersJazzy Select 6$4,499

You weigh more than 136 kg, up to 204 kgJazzy Elite HD$6,499

You need to fold it into a car yourselfJazzy Carbon$3,900

You're not sure yetCall 1300 216 888talk it through

We list the Elite HD as the Jazzy Select Elite HD. Pride Australia calls it the Jazzy Elite HD. It's the same chair.

Where the drive wheels sit

The Select 6 is mid-wheel drive. Its two drive wheels sit right under the seat, with small wheels in front and behind. That's why it has six wheels on the ground.

The Elite HD is front-wheel drive. Its big 35.5 cm drive wheels sit at the front, with casters at the back.

Pride explains the difference simply. Mid-wheel drive chairs turn the tightest. Front-wheel drive chairs meet bumps with their big wheels first, which gives a smoother ride.

Turning at home

Both chairs are 90 cm long. The Select 6 turns within a 55.5 cm radius. The Elite HD needs 61.9 cm. That gap matters in narrow hallways, small bathrooms and around the end of a bed.

Some Select 6 owners say it's smooth and easy in small spaces. A few found it tricky to reverse at first, and one thought it turned faster than they liked. Pride's dealer settings can often be adjusted, so ask us.

Weight and size

This is the biggest difference. The Elite HD takes up to 204 kg. The Select 6 takes up to 136 kg.

The Elite HD also comes with a bigger seat option, 50.8 cm wide. The Select 6 comes standard with a 45.7 cm seat that adjusts for depth.

Both chairs come apart, but neither is light. The base on each weighs around 45 kg. If you need to lift the chair into a car yourself, look at a folding chair like the Jazzy Carbon Ultra-Lite instead. Its frame weighs 15.3 kg without the battery.

Speed, range and kerbs

Pride Australia lists a top speed of 6.4 km/h for both chairs.

The Elite HD goes up to 15.77 km on a charge. For the Select 6, Pride's own documents give anywhere from about 21 km to 24 km. Treat range as a best case, because hills, cold weather and a heavier rider all cut it.

Both handle a 6 degree slope. The Elite HD climbs obstacles up to about 50 mm. The Select 6 manages 45 mm. That's a low kerb or a door threshold, not a full kerb.

Footpath rules in NSW

Transport for NSW treats power chairs and scooters as motorised wheelchairs. You don't need registration, insurance or a licence. You're treated as a pedestrian, so you use footpaths and shared paths.

The chair must not be able to go faster than 10 km/h. Both Jazzys are well under that.

Looking after it

From Pride's owner's manuals

Charge the batteries as soon as you finish using the chair, for 8 to 14 hours.

The tyres are flat-free, but check them now and then for flat spots. Keep the chair somewhere dry, and never hose it down. Wipe it with a damp cloth and a mild cleaner.

If you use it every day, have it serviced once a year.

Paying for it

Both chairs cost between $1,500 and $15,000, so the NDIS treats them as mid-cost assistive technology. You'll need written evidence from your OT or another assistive technology advisor. It should cover why this chair suits you and your goals.

On Support at Home, power chairs sit in the AT-HM scheme's high tier, which goes up to $15,000. Your provider can arrange the assessment.

Send us the OT's recommendation and we'll have a quote back the same day. We're NDIS registered (#4050144759).

Side by side

Up to 136 kgJazzy Select 6$4,499Mid-wheel drive for tight turns indoors.View chair

Up to 204 kgJazzy Elite HD$6,499Heavy-duty, front-wheel drive and a smoother ride outside.View chair

Pride Jazzy Carbon Ultra-Lite folding power chair

Folds for the carJazzy Carbon Ultra-Lite$3,90015.3 kg frame without its battery. Takes up to 125 kg.View chair

	Jazzy Select 6	Jazzy Elite HD
Our price	$4,499	$6,499
Max user weight	136 kg	204 kg
Drive	Mid-wheel, six wheels	Front-wheel
Turning radius	55.5 cm	61.9 cm
Top speed	6.4 km/h	6.4 km/h
Range	About 21 to 24 km	Up to 15.77 km
Obstacle height	45 mm	About 50 mm
Batteries	Two 35 Ah, 10.5 kg each	Two 55 Ah, 16.8 kg each
Suspension	Active-Trac	Limited
Seat width	45.7 cm standard	45.7 or 50.8 cm
Overall size	90 x 59.6 cm	90 x 61 cm

Specs are from Pride Mobility Australia's product pages and spec sheets. Pride's documents give different range figures for the Select 6, so we've shown the spread.

Questions we get

Can I fly with either chair?

Usually, with notice. Both use sealed lead-acid batteries. Qantas asks you to declare the chair at check-in and get airline approval first. Call the airline well before you book.

What's the warranty?

Pride's Australian warranty gives the frame a limited lifetime warranty. Motors and brakes get 2 years, electronics 1 year and batteries 6 months.

Will it fit through my doors?

Both chairs are 90 cm long. The Select 6 is 59.6 cm wide and the Elite HD is 61 cm. Measure your narrowest doorway and hallway corner, then call us.

Measure the tightest spot

Measure your narrowest doorway and the hallway you turn in, then call Nadim on 1300 216 888. We'll tell you which chair will actually get around your home.

Call 1300 216 888 Shop power chairs