Cars & Bikes

City Slicker

Driving the all-new Honda City is what dreams are made of. Whether you are in the driver's seat or just going along for a ride, your experience can only be enjoyable. Indulge yourself in the opulent interiors, where every detail is crafted with precision engineered to immaculate perfection

The best thing about buying a Honda car is that you don't have to worry about quality. All Honda vehicles are top of the line and in terms of refinement and value for money, they are next to none. And so it comes as no surprise that the all-new Honda City has won virtually all the Indian top awards in its category. And why not? The pulse of the car is fuelled by technology and performance.

The Honda City has been a bestseller in India ever since its first generation model was launched more than a decade ago. The present third generation model is a brand new offering built on the Jazz platform. But it is more than all that Jazz; it is an independently designed car and it shows.

The car looks grown-up, sophisticated, and yet has a 1695 mm in width (5 mm wider). While maintaining the same ground and head clearance, the height has been lowered by 15 mm to 1470 mm, delivering a sleeker and sturdier body shape, giving it a refined driving position. With its wheelbase extended by an additional 100 mm, efficient use of space has been made to create a spacious cabin interior.

However, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. And as this writer always insists, do not go by the exterior facade alone; it is the inside of the car that should excite your imagination. The interiors of the all-new City are rather flamboyant, with the dash swooping in to the central console that houses the music system. The colours are pleasant, and while there’s no leather upholstery, the beige fabric works. The base version has grey trim. The cabin is stylish, spacious, comfortable and designed to meet the needs of daily life. A lot of thought has gone into providing a variety of convenient, multi-purpose storage areas. The dual coloured dashboard along with the generous space and the threespoke steering wheel with the Honda badge is just too tempting. The silver centre console is equipped with an integrated audio system which is the world's first car audio system exclusive to digital media.

The car’s instrument cluster is smart, though the orange display could have been a bit more sophisticated and subtle. But the instruments do include a screen that gives you instant running mileage, average trip mileage, and distanceto- empty besides odo and trip meters. The steering wheel features audio controls and the automatic variant feature paddle shift behind it. An advanced audio system (but no sporty, ready-for-action aggression, a remarkable coup for a Honda design. This is a real departure since the earlier Honda City that was not to everyone’s liking; some called it a bug and most thought it was just odd. However, Honda's new offering comes with a dynamic style that is truly pathbreaking. The 'arrow shot' form, responsible for the refined aero dynamics of the car, amplifies its presence wherever it goes. This truly is a space-age design. From the front, the car evokes images of the Honda FCX Clarity fuel cell car as well as the new Accord or Acura, while from the side it is quite like a Honda Civic and the tail reminds you of a BMW.

SPECIFICATIONS - Power steering with Tilt, - Power Windows - Power Door Mirrors - Power Door Locks, - Tachometer, - 506 Litre Trunk, - AM/FM CD player, - DBW (Drive By Wire), - Air Conditioning System, - Body-Coloured Bumpers, - Seat Belts Front/Rear, - Full Fabric Seat, - LCD Info Meter Display, - Rear Flat Floor, - EURO 4 Emission,- ABS with 14” Disc, - Crystal Lights Front/Rear, - Fuel Warning Light, - Micro Antenna on Top, - G-Force Control Technology, -Tyres 175/65 R 15, - Door Pocket with Cup Holder, - EFI (Electronic Fuel Injection), - Footrest Added

The all-new City is longer, wider and sturdier than its predecessor, measuring 4420 mm in length (5 mm longer than its predecessor if the license plate is excluded) and CD player) has iPod compatibility, MP3 usability, USB memory and also cell phone compatibility.

Start the car and a powerful and very effective air conditioning system with heater instantly transforms the cabin into your comfort zone. The powerful blower with special and advanced compressor, along with under-seat ducts for the rear seat passengers, provides an unforgettable experience of total comfort.

As is usual with all Honda cars, safety is paramount. The all-new City has been engineered such that during a frontal collision the sensors detect an impact that exceeds a preset threshold and the airbags are instantly deployed and then gradually deflated to reduce head and chest injuries. At the same time, when seat belt load exceeds a certain preset threshold, the 3-point ELR front-seat belts with load-limiting pretensioners immediately rewind and tighten, then loosen again to reduce chest and shoulder injuries. The braking system works like a dream. To prevent wheel lock in an emergency braking situation or when braking on slippery surfaces, the ABS stabilises the vehicle while braking so the driver can control it better and avoid obstacles ahead. The Brake Assist System helps the driver when braking, leading to increased brake force in emergency situations.

Honda's unique G-Force Control Technology (G-CON) controls impact energy in the event of a collision and limits injuries. Honda engineers have enhanced collision safety through real-world collision safety research, including carto- car crash testing at the world's first indoor omni-directional crash test safety facility. To protect occupants in case of a collision, the company's tech wizards have worked hard to enhance self-protection while striving to reduce damage to the other vehicle involved. The external body structure of the all new City ensures advanced pedestrian safety features as well.

Now that the insides have passed the stress test with flying colours, let's discover what's under the hood. Honda wanted the new car to be sporty and yet frugal since that is a big requirement for the segment’s buyers. Honda engineers have taken the old 1.5 litre engine block, but instead of the previous iDSI system, it has been infused with the more powerful 1500-litre iVTEC engine that delivers 118PS, while being extremely fuel efficient. Intake valve timing and valve lift settings switch to meet both low and high-speed driving requirements. Optimised valve overlap in the low, mid and high-speed ranges enhances intake and exhaust efficiency for excellent performance with plenty of torque throughout all speed ranges. The engine is E10 ready, meaning it also runs on biofuels for better mileage.

Indeed, the driver can monitor fuel consumption in real time. The meter panel features an indicator that presents instant and average fuel consumption, and estimated remaining driving range, supporting the driver to drive in a fuel efficient manner.

However, the new engine, while peppy and responsive, lacks just that little extra spice when you want raw power. But for everyday use, and even highway driving, it is satisfying and has enough go. The engine and transmission are very smooth, and the refinement is obvious when you compare it to cars such as the Maruti SX4 or Hyundai Verna petrol.

At high speeds, the car’s handling is more improved and this is helped by the fact that it now has a wider track and a longer wheelbase. This gives it a more sure-footed feel over the previous model. Thanks to the superb engineering, stress-free acceleration and swift response to throttle inputs assure comfortable starts and passing ability on the highway.

On the transmission front, the old CVT option is gone. Instead you get a 5-speed automatic gearbox, with paddle shift - much like the Civic’s - that keeps control of the car in your hands for a smooth and exciting drive. This gearbox is definitely fun and a pleasure to drive. It also lets you switch from manual to auto mode at the flick of a paddle. The sport mode offers higher revs and a more performance-oriented response.

The Automatic Transmission allow you to change gear ratios automatically, freeing you from having to shift gears manually using the clutch pedal.

In D-range mode, the driver can shift up and down by using the paddles, while automatically returning to normal AT driving mode when a sensor determines the car is cruising. On the other hand, in S-range, the mode does not revert automatically to AT driving mode, which allows the driver to enjoy a manual transmission-like driving feel.

The all-new City's Manual Transmission variant boasts of a smoother wire type manual transmission gear shift with hydraulic clutch. As compared to a rod type, wire type operating system makes for a much smoother gear shift.

The gear shift has good moderate stiffness and thanks to a shortening of the sleeve stroke of the synchronizer, it is also much lighter. What's more, the clutch utilises hydraulic pressure to reduce the force needed during operation and to provide a fatigue-free driving experience.

The ride quality is superb. The front suspension incorporates the McPherson strut with an optimised compliance bush placement with a larger capacity that makes lower bush springs possible. The rear suspension has an H-shaped torsion beam with a reduced spring lever ratio and increased trailing arm bush capacity. Overall, the suspension system works superbly to provide a supple riding feel. All the wheels have disc brakes and the kerb weight is 1085kg. Boot space stands at a voluminous 506 litres, even greater than the higher segment Corolla Altis.

You would say this great package would need a security system to prevent the all-new City from being stolen. Of course it does. Car thieves beware, the all-new City incorporates an advanced security system that effectively prohibits theft without the key specific to the vehicle, providing a warning with the horn and hazard lights getting activated.

Whether you are in the driver's seat or just going along for a ride, your experience in the all-new City can only be enjoyable. Indulge yourself in the opulent interiors, where every detail is crafted with precision engineering of immaculate perfection. There is no other car in this category that gives so much in one package. Indeed, with the all-new City, city motoring will never be the same again!