As with ALL my reviews, let me first state that I am not a biased driver/reviewer. I am fond of ANY exceptional automobile, and have owned & driven many. Currently, I drive a Toyota Solara V6 in the U.S. and a Fiat Siena TD in Bombay. Yet few Indian cars have appealed to me, in as many ways, as Honda’s City has - it is perfect for an Indian City. My family owns one, and it is a pleasure to drive. But don’t get me wrong- this car is filled with weaknesses and we’ll get to them soon.
For starters, the car looks like a shrunken previous generation Accord. Much better than the model it replaced, and seemingly far more aerodynamic. The lines looked fresh and are only just starting to age. Interiors are a major disappointment and are barely superior to a Cielo’s insides. The fake wood panels only add to the nausea-effect created by interiors, reminiscent of a 10 year old design. The seats are covered in a horrible fabric and do not offer sufficient support. They also give you that sinking feeling which I personally would prefer from my living room couch, and not from my ’enthusiast’ vehicle. The gauge pod comes with a metallic blue finish that, while initially interesting, looses its appeal rapidly. Interior space is very generous, and I have never once felt cramped.
Ride quality is Ok for the front, but the rear passengers do complain of ’’choppy-ness’’. Blame it on the suspension and the inadequate puny 13-inch wheels. For perspective, even the Tata Indigo - a vehicle I have a lot of respect for - comes with 14-inch rubber standard. The rims detract from the driving experience immensely. The build quality is once again above average, but nothing compared to a Skoda Octavia or even an Opel Astra. The car feels very flimsy, and reveals its sub 900 Kg weight easily. Having a light car has its benefits though. The car handles like a dream, easily tossed between curves, winding roads, and even screaming passengers on the road - a trait characteristic of cheap Honda sedans (read: Civics). As a side note, I have many friends in the U.S. who own previous generation Civics (on which the City is based). They have modified their car beyond recognition, and after driving their rides; I can state that no other sedan is as easily convert-able to a street-racing machine. Still can’t beat my 220 HP TRD Solara though ;)
Anyway, back to the City and it’s main strength. The engine. Honda has a global reputation of making the most efficient engines around, and this Hyper 16 Valve crank is no different. 100 Horsepower combined with the cars low weight = one of the fastest rides around. Throw in fuel economy of 11 km/l in the City (14 on highway with A/C) and we are talking a perfect driver’s machine. The engine is very responsive and surprisingly torquey (not normally associated with high-revving Honda engines). It can lug the car in high gears with ease, though the true strength lies in revving the car as close to it’s Horsepower peak as possible. The sound is mesmerizing. The only other car, which has similar engine characteristics, is the Maruti 800 MPFI. Honda engines are very reliable, second only to Toyota; so don’t worry about maintenance problems. Gearshift is very crisp and precise, and feels a bit sporty. Ratios are perfectly matched to the engine. Brakes are a bit over-servoed though, and are very confidence inspiring. Better watch your butt. Some other cars won’t stop as quickly!
Overall the best city car IF you can live with the crappy interiors and the ride. If you like driving and don’t like spending - look no further. BUT WAIT!! And I literally mean wait. The new Honda City is on its way, armed with contemporary engineering and looks, superior quality and a unique I-DSI (Dual & Sequential Ignition) engine. Featuring 2 spark plugs per cylinder, this baby improves on fuel efficiency by 25%(so claim Honda). Don’t expect the same Zing though. This engine, despite the same cubic capacity, is capable of 88 Horsepower. HOWEVER, it has more torque and is designed to be more drivable and efficient. Additionally, it has beautiful interiors, futuristic exteriors and a much better ride. Honda has clearly worked to address the biggest flaws with the current city, although one can’t help but wonder if in doing so they have taken away its biggest strength?
Perhaps not. An 110Hp V-Tec Mill is on its way.