Honda City

Honda City Expert Verdict

Honda City Detailed Review

• City Performance

  The most recent Honda City is offered with 1.5-liter petrol and diesel engine choices. An oil-burning engine is a turbocharged unit that is exclusively offered with the 6-speed manual transmission, whereas the naturally aspirated engine is available with both CVT and 6-speed manual transmission options. The gasoline engine runs smoothly and effectively. It generates 119.3 bhp of power and 145 Nm of maximum torque thanks to the automaker's variable cam profile with varied valve lift. It will be challenging to discern if the engine is running at idle due to the precisely controlled NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness) levels. However, after you exceed 3,000 rpm, a very powerful sound note typical of powerful 4-cylinder engines will start to be audible.

  Whether using a manual transmission or a CVT, the engine is generally tractable throughout the rpm range. In reality, the CVT makes it easy to manoeuvre this somewhat lengthy sedan through congested streets, and when you're in the mood for some excitement, the paddle shifters add to the excitement. The manual unit, on the other hand, features positive shift action and clearly defined gear ratios.

  

  The diesel engine continues to generate 98.6 bhp of power and 200 Nm of peak torque. Since the new model doesn't have the tremors or loud diesel clatter of the previous generation, Honda has worked harder this time to reduce NVH. This engine type is not nearly as smooth or fun to drive as its petrol counterpart, despite the absence of turbo-lag. Highway use is where it excels because you can log miles without worrying about exorbitant petrol prices.

  Summary

  The latest Honda City impresses with its refined and powerful petrol motor while the oil-burner will certainly appeal to those with a high monthly usage.

• City Exterior

  The Honda City still has a tall hood and a short tail in its most recent incarnation, but it appears more contemporary than ever. Even the greenhouse is very sizable, resulting in a roomy cabin. There is no coupe-like roofline here, in contrast to the Hyundai Verna. The City's fifth generation has grown somewhat in size from the fourth, making the cabin area more acceptable for adults. Less sporty side profiles unquestionably translate into increased headroom for the passengers in the back. The sedan's 1,748 mm overall width further adds to the appearance of a solid foundation. The most latest City has the longest side profile among them all, measuring 4,549 mm in total.

  The front end's highlights include a pair of all-LED headlights that might remind you of the Accord and a sizable chrome slat that runs between the two headlight assemblies. The sides also seem cleaner than before, and the 16-inch alloy wheels are a perfect fit for the wheel wells. These rims are from the international-spec RS trim, which won't be arriving on our market any time soon, it must be stated. Even the ORVMs that are mounted on the doors provide a touch of sportiness, and the wraparound taillamps make it even sportier. Z-shaped LED tail lights with vertically positioned reflectors are added to the sedan's rear appearance. The top-positioned shark-fin antenna completes the athletic appearance of the back.

  Summary

  The latest-gen Honda City has a posh appeal without being overtly flashy. With the latest generation upgrade, this Maruti Ciaz-rival goes on to offer a good amalgamation of form as well as flair.

• City Interior

  The City's interior has never been more lavish; the beige colour has made it cosier and more luxuriant, much like the exterior. The dashboard is impressive to look at and seems more advanced than any of its forerunners. The item looks better overall thanks to the high-quality faux wood trim that separates the top and bottom portions. Additionally, the City's interior feels more upscale than any other vehicle in its class thanks to the leather accents in a number of areas. The Digipad 2.0, which was available on the older model and even on the Amaze, has been replaced by an 8-inch infotainment system, which is the centrepiece of the dashboard.

  

  There are also a tonne of features available, including connectivity with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, the first-ever category Alexa Remote, and Google Assistant. Even the LaneWatch Blind Spot Monitoring system, which functions in conjunction with a camera mounted on the left-side ORVM, is included in the top-spec model. The sound system's 4-speaker, 4-tweeter design is impressive in terms of output, and we like Honda's decision to forgo touchscreen air conditioning settings in favour of traditional knobs.

  There are plenty of storage spaces strewn across the cabin as not only all the doors can hold a 1-litre bottle each but there are even many other strategically positioned cubby holes in the front as well as the rear.  The dual-tone beige-black theme accentuates the overall spaciousness on offer in both the rows. It is simple to achieve a comfortable driving posture thanks to the driver's seat's seat height adjustment and the steering wheel's tilt-telescopic feature. Honda has completely abandoned adjustable rear headrests in favour of big fixed headrests. On the lengthy trips, the seat padding has thickened and will cuddle you.

  Summary

  Overall, the interior of the latest Honda City impresses with the high equipment level, good quality materials and enough space in both the rows.

• City Ride and Handling

  The Honda City has always offered a nice balance between handling prowess and ride comfort, and things only got better with the release of the most recent generation model. The City has a torsion beam with coil springs at the back and MacPherson struts with coil overs up front. The City smoothly glides over the majority of the rough surfaces without causing any inconvenience to the occupants thanks to its 165 mm high ground clearance.

  Honda has fixed the ride's overly harsh characteristics, and the suspension has been modified specifically to manage the potholes and bumps on our rural roads. Because of the setup's soft suspension, it keeps its balance on the road and offers a fair ride. However, the soft suspension setting has contributed to a significant amount of body roll while changing directions fast at high speed. Additionally, the vehicle nose-dives slightly while braking quickly. The City is still fun when manoeuvring around curves with precision.

  Also, the grip from the low-rolling-resistance Bridgestone Ecopia is nothing to write home about but the mechanical grip from the suspension is definitely something that more than makes up for the lack of high grip from the rubber. The steering wheel is quite precise and offers decent feedback.

   

  Summary

  Even though Honda could have provided a better set of tires for enhanced grip, the latest Honda City manages to strike a good balance between ride comfort and agility.

• City Safety

  The ASEAN NCAP crash test facility awarded the most recent Honda City a 5-star grade. The City constructed to Thai regulations received 86.54/100 marks for the combined frontal offset impact and side impact tests. For the categories of adult occupant protection, child protection, and safety assist technology, it received 44.83, 22.82, and 18.89 points, respectively. The Thai-spec City comes standard with six airbags, ABS with EBD, Vehicle Stability Assist (VS), an emergency stop signal, hill-start assistance, and a multi-view reverse parking camera.

  The India-spec Honda City, on the other hand, has 4 airbags as standard equipment, along with 3-point seat belts for all 5 occupants, ABS, and EBD. The top-spec model comes standard with up to 6 airbags, Hill Start Assist, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Rain-Sensing Automatic Wipers, Auto-Dimming IRVM, LaneWatch Blind-Spot Monitoring System, Rear Parking Camera, Automatic Headlamps, and Burglar Alarm.

  

  Summary

  It has a variety of active and passive safety systems to protect the occupants in the terrible case of a collision. The top-spec model comes with auto-dimming IRVM, LaneWatch Blind-Spot Monitoring System, Rear Parking Camera, Automatic Headlamps, and Burglar Alarm.