Honda have introduced the fourth-generation City in India. Just
how slick is their best-seller this time round?
What do you do
when there is novelty and innovation all around you, and you start feeling just
a little left out? Do you gear up and head out strong with what you have or do
you create something new, even better, and go out with all your heart? The big
city can be a daunting place, but with the right company, you can enjoy its
spoils. Honda have taken a huge step with the City,
first by bettering an already good product, and then by offering it with both a
petrol and a diesel heart.
The Honda City
is a car that responds best to gentle throttle inputs, which can also help
deliver outstanding fuel economy
We’ve already
tested the i-DTEC diesel car
(report in the February 2014 issue), so I was more than happy to receive the
key to the City, the i-VTEC petrol manual one, and
head out to see how much has changed. So far as specs go, the City runs a
longer wheelbase while retaining the same length; so that means more leg-room
and cabin space. Another blip on the radar was the peak power at its disposal:
119 PS. One more horse! That was when we decided that with this added power,
the new City must really get going in a hurry and it had to be put through its
paces in its element.
As it turned
out, the City is quite a looker. The most obvious detail is the fat strip of
chrome right across the front grille, giving it a sort of FCX face. The proportions
are the same for most of it, so there isn’t really much which looks too
different. The wrap-around tail-lamp clusters are quite an addition and give
the rear and three-quarter profile a distinct appearance. The shark-fin antenna
on the roof also does its bit for styling, especially the silhouette.
Cabin is
familiar yet feels very modern and up-to-date
There are
quite a few changes inside as well. The seats are extremely comfortable and
ergonomic. The layout of the dashboard and instrument console is pleasant and
the quality and fit-and-finish are typically Honda –functional yet aesthetic.
The evident changes are the ‘ambient rings’ on the instrument panel and centre console. Blue lighting encircles the twin-pod
console with twin blue lights on either side turning green when you drive with
a light foot or coast, corresponding to more fuel saving. The addition of an
‘Eco Assist Combimeter’ marked from 0-30 indicates
real-time estimated fuel consumption in kilometres
per litre. The centre
console is effectively touch-central, with the multimedia and climate control
all equipped with a touch interface. The rear seats too afford generous
leg-room and have a pair of vents with twin 12V ports below –AC and DC for the
rear occupants.
So an
exhaustive road test was called for; ‘thorough’ wouldn’t be adequate. We had
the VX manual variant, the highest with a bunch of mechanical yes-men, which
would allow us to see what the petrol motor, with its fancy variable timing for
the valves and cams, could really do. There isn’t too much difference in the
numbers, but we are aware Honda have worked upon the
engine none the less.
Sharp new
tail-lamp cluster looks all new and wraps smartly around the rear
The 16-valve,
SOHC, 1.5-litre inline-four is unique as ever, and we’ll get to why in just a
bit. First, the numbers: maximum power is 119 PS at 6,600 revs with a peak 145
Nm of torque coming in at 4,600 RPM. The gearbox for the petrol still has five
speeds, unlike the diesel’s six. However, the way the engine gets to work is
what truly makes it different. It is quite a rev-happy unit. Ease your foot
down and it does build the revs rather quickly. Step on it and, seemingly unhurriedly
but with quite a vocal response, it gets going with what we can only identify
as vigour without vibrations. It does sound a little
gruff on the way to peak power revs, but it gets there and it sure sounds good
doing it. It makes you want to play around in second and third all day, just
taking in that raspy yet alluring soundtrack from the i-VTEC
motor. Find the hot-spot just over 4,500 revs and you really feel the force.
The car comes across as determined and raring to go as quickly as it can,
giving you an assured feeling that there’s even more on tap.
