I bought a Honda City S MT(Manual Transmission)-Polish Metallic colour from Solitaire Honda, Borivali, Mumbai on 3rd April’09. The delivery time was as promised to me at the time of booking- 14 days.
The major difference between E and S Models are: Centre console high armrest, keyless entry with answer back, passenger vanity mirror, height adjustable driver seat, Music system, Rear seat armrest with cupholders, chrome plated hand Brake knowb, Silver finish steering panel etc.
An honest confession before I begin my review- I have graduated from Maruti 800- 1998 model so it definitely looks an object of ‘Luxury’ to me at this point of time although I drive Toyota Vios and Nissan car(Sunny model- if I am not mistaken) both manual and automatic versions.
Space Inside: I am happy with it. Ingress and egress are comfortable. Doors open to 90 degrees. Boot space of 500L plus is extraordinary in its class. This has been made possible because they have shifted the fuel tank to the middle part of the car.
Dealer Satisfaction: A spacious and lavish infrastructure to boast of. Sales and Service personnel are knowledgeable and well behaved and are of quite an accommodating nature. They make the customers feel comfortable. My Sales Executive was Mr Nehar and Senior Service Advisor Mr Rahul Karkhanis. They have performed as per my expectations. A couple of things that pinched me are: they make delivery of the car with very very low fuel levels(they say it’s 3 litres- I don’t know if that includes dead volume, if any or what would happen if the car has to go through slight uphills before reaching the pumps). I had my wife and children push the car as it ran out of fuel before reaching the petrol pump, luckily it was a slope just after a small uphill. Secondly I found my Freshner missing after the First Service. Although the material value doesn’t bother me at all, it’s not something that goes well with the reputation of the Dealer. As a precaution, I would empty out my car to the maximum level before handing over for next servicing.
Fuel Consumption: Just had my first free servicing yesterday. I could only drive 228 kms so far. The odometer reading at the time of delivery was 28 kms. In fact the car was kept locked just after delivery for one month as I had to fly back to work. The average so far has been 14.7 km/l as displayed under full City driving conditions(You know the Mumbai roads!) with AC on all the time. Not a bad mileage to start with. My expectation is around 16 as the car gradually runs in. That way on Highways I hope to expect a respectable figure. Fuel used is the normal unleaded petrol. I have been advised not to burn my money on the Premium fuel as the technology is well suited for the ordinary unleaded petrol.
Comfort: Have driven through humps and bumps. Shock transmission to passengers is minimum. Drive and Ride comfort are excellent. Leg and head spaces are good. Steering wheel mounted Audio controls are a good attraction. Although it does not have the usual CD player, iPod and Pen drive ports are provided for convenience. The system also is enhanced with Remote controls.
Reliability: The engine is 1.5L, Single Overhead Cam Shaft, 4 cyl, 16 valve i-VTEC delivering 118 PS at 6600 rpm. Its E10 compliant and also meets Euro IV emission levels. Powerwise, it’s the best in its class on Indian roads. With so much power at your disposal, you would never feel betrayed on Highways especially while overtaking with the car fully loaded. Honda offers 2+2 years extended warranty or 80000 kms whichever is earlier and 4 years Roadside Assistance. And with the Service centre so close to my residence, I look forward to a tension free time with the car.
Looks: Its’ a subjective matter. But‘I am loving it’. This 3rd Generation Honda City launched in October last year is stunning in its looks. The Arrow Shot Form has an aerodynamic advantage. The front grill and crystal clear headlamps add to the beauty of the car.Overall I find its looks quite appealing.
Safety: This is something which I have given due importance before deciding on the car, especially in view of the prevailing local road and traffic conditions . Dual Airbags, G-Con technology, ABS with Brake Assist and ECU immobilizer system. I am convinced I made a good decision by opting for Honda City although it has got quite a good number of rivals in its segment.
Against Model Year- No comments because option 2009 not available.