Compact sedan segment in India. It had contemporary looks, a refined engine and a peppy drive. But every hero is challenged and often brought down by new heroes, and the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz turned from the challenger to the conqueror.
Fast forward to 2017 and the erstwhile hero has staked claim to its throne once again. Does the Honda City 2017have what it takes to return to the pinnacle of compact sedans segment in India? Read on.
First up, City 2017 is not a generational change but a striking facelift. In a price-conscious market which is fast becoming almost equally observant of looks, City 2017 clearly seeks to target not just the Ciaz but theHyundai Verna as well.
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From a distance, City 2017 continues to have the same genetic structure as the outgoing model. Come closer and the additions and alterations become amply clear. And it is fresh, fun and yet somehow, reassuringly familiar.
The VX and ZX variants now come with sharp LED headlights with fog lamps which makes an extremely stylish statement - similar to one already seen on the Honda Accord Hybrid. DRLs further add to the looks and Honda have opted to incorporate them in all variants. The front grille also gets updated with a honeycomb design and a slimmer chrome bar. While it does add to the sharp features of the front, it is a cosmetic tweak at best. There are edges and curves galore which encompass the changes well.
While the front gets the bulk of the changes, the rear too now sport LED tail-lamps. The rear bumper now has a noticeable honeycomb design element which is a nice addition. Overall though, the City 2017 from the back is unmistakably reminiscent of the outgoing model. The sides are almost identical to the outgoing model but the now 16-inch tyres make the car have a slightly better - and much-needed - stance. The alloys on the top end look extremely sporty and complete a package that is likely to attract prospective buyers from all age groups. Interiors
Honda has been quite woeful in terms of gizmoz it offers in its cars. The BRV is one such example where even the top-end was bereft of an touchscreen display. City 2017, however, will delight drivers and passengers alike with the features incorporated.
The 7-inch touchscreen - termed as DIGIPAD by Honda - is one of the best in the segment - in terms of interface, ease of use, features and day-time brightness. The user interface is based on Android system while Android Auto and Apple Car Play are supported.
The addition of an HDMI port is unique but video playback while the car is in motion is disabled for safety reasons - much like in competing cars from other brands. Mirrorlink support for smartphone connectivity is another good addition but what really seals the deal is the addition of a net browser to stay updated. Just create a WiFi Hotspot through the phone or drive into a public WiFi area and the entire world would open up on the screen. While this may be a novelty feature to begin with, the fact that the convenience has been added shows Honda’s positive intent to ( finally) move with the times. A special mention needs to be reserved for the sound system inside the City 2017 which now sounds fuller, richer and a definite step up.
The car is loaded with charging ports all around and there is ample storage space for essentials - much like in any new-age car on the road today.
Honda has chosen to retain the piano-finish on the front console which has its merits and demerits as while it makes for a classy look in a black-beige colour tone, it also does attract enormous amount of dust and fingerprints.
No such problem when it comes to the seat and the leather upholstery in the top variants continues to be premium. As for space, there is no change and the City will continue to seat five passengers comfortably. Reclining rear seats and buttons for front seat adjustment - even if only for the driver - would have, however, made for even better additions.
There is a one-touch button though for the sunroof which now opens completely to make winter drives under the sun pleasant. For most parts of the year, and in most parts of India, this will continue to be firmly shut.
Drive
The City 2017 sees no mechanical change and it is quite easy to see why. The planted and mature drive of the City petrol won several hearts and to change a good thing would have been a tad too risky - and perhaps un-needed. So, the 1.5 litre i-VTEC engine delivering 117 hp of power maintains its hereditary poise while the 1.5 litre i-DTEC unit with 99hp of power too will gobble up miles with ease.
The City 2017 comes in manual and auto transmission options but the top end only gets the auto. For those looking for top-end features in an exciting manual transmission option, this can be a significant downer. For all others, it once again comes as good news that the Continuously Variable Transmission ( CVT) once again offers a better claimed mileage than the manual counterpart -
Cruise control on top end will delight highway drivers once again and the top-end CVT comes with paddle shifters and two drive modes - Eco and Sports.
Verdict
Honda engines have traditionally been raved about but the Japanese auto giants have lacked behind in terms of looks and creature comforts. The Brio, Mobilio and BRV have not really raked up sales numbers and the City too has been losing out to rivals.
The City 2017 makes a strong case to change not just its image but that of the company itself. New-age looks and a plethora of features make it a very strong contender to reclaim the mantle. While there are variants galore, it would have ticked all boxes had the price-game - one that Maruti Suzuki plays extremely well - been kept in check as well. At Rs 13.52 L for the top-end CVT petrol, the City pricing is not the most attractive even if the car itself is. For those who would not put a price tag on a premium product though, the new City comes highly rated.
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TOP COMMENT Very good advertisement. Honda must have paid crores for this !
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Hyundai Tucson road review: Refined SUV looks to create new segment
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Hyundai Tucson road review: Refined SUV looks to create new segment
Shubhodeep Chakravarty | TNN | Feb 9, 2017, 12.06PM IST WhatsappFacebookGoogle PlusTwitterEmailLinkedinSMS
Hyundai Tucson: Review
Hyundai has come a long way since offering the ’Sunshine Car’ in India 19 years ago. Santro was truly the first car that gave a solid competition to the ever-popular Maruti Suzuki 800. Since, things have gotten bigger and dapper for both the company and the Indian car buyer.
Grander is the new great in India - a fact established by the enormous success of Hyundai’s Creta which was launched in 2015. Competitors have scrambled to keep up - some like Maruti Suzuki finding similar success with the sub-compact SUV Vitara Brezza. There is definitely an amplifying demand for SUVs of all shapes and sizes, and the Koreans appear determined on making the most of it. Little wonder then that the company launched the third-generation Tucson to tap into a rather non-existent SUV segment around the Rs 20 lakh price bracket.
Positioned between Creta and the high-end Santa Fe, the Tucson promises to be the premium SUV that challenges the big boys in the market. But does it have what it takes?
Exteriors
Hyundai’s Fluidic Sculpture Design Philosophy has been widely appreciated and has played a major role in the sale of its cars - from the i20 to Verna, Creta and the Santa Fe. The Tucson too inherits the styling cues, even as it seeks to distinguish itself from its siblings. The flowing curves from the sides clearly reveals that it belongs to the Hyundai stable, but the Tucson manages to incorporate several unique styling cues - dual-barrel LED lights, long and sharp headlights flanking the hexagonal front grille make for quite a statement from the front. The rear is, comparatively, more simple in its design - but hardly plain. The tailgate has slim LED lights on the sides and a prominent window line make for strong but not over-bearing visuals. The 18-inch alloy tyres and a height of 172mm further adds to the muscular looks of the car.
Interiors
The Tucson on the inside delights with its classy simplicity. The materials used are top-notch, there is a long list of equipments like dual drive mode, front parking camera, push button start and a large infotainment system. The leather seats too are pleasing to the eye and to touch but do not appear ourtightly plush - a sign Hyundai may not have wanted to overdo things here. Space though is a bit of a dampner when the big road presence of the car on the road is taken into consideration. There is good lumber support on all seats and the inclining rear seats work well. On long drives with five people on board though, it may not be an absolute delight. While an improvement over the Creta, rear seat space could have been further increased - even if at the cost of a marginal cut in boot space - to make for excellent five-seat comfort. That said, four occupants or four occupants and a child can still spread out in the Tucson.
Drive
The Tucson reviewed by TOI Auto was the top-end automatic GLS diesel with a 1995 cc engine in its heart. And minutes into the drive, it was clear that once again, Hyundai have excelled in incorporating refinement with decent amount of power.
The car puts out 185hp at 4000rpm, and 400Nm of torque which makes for an extremely easy drive. There is absolutely minimal noise from the engine seeping into the cabin which is quite commendable. While paddle shifters are missing, the car does get the Sports Mode - along with an ECO Mode - to keep things interesting. Previous Hyundai cars - including the Creta - have had rather unexciting steering wheels. The Tucson though is an improvement with decent feedback from a wheel which is still nimble enough for the sharp twists and turns on city roads. On the highway, the wheel remains planted at higher speeds which makes for a confident ride.
Comparison
The Tucson does not really have a direct competitor currently as it is trying to create a segment for itself. While the Ford Endeavour and Toyota Fortuner are the heavyweights in the large SUV segment, they are at a higher price bracket. The likes of sibling Creta may be at a significantly lower-price point but then, they also do not have the ’premiumness’ or the long list of features.
From the price point, Toyota Innova Crysta may be taken as a competitor and offers significant competition to the Tucson.
There are several advantages of choosing the butchy MUV which is now far more stylish than its predecessor. That it is a seven-seater with far more space is the obvious edge, while several features shared with the Tucson make the Japanese offering attractive.
In terms of refinement to drive the two top-end automatic diesels, the Crysta strays far behind but then, it makes up for it by coming cheaper in terms of the price-point.
Verdict
Hyundai’s decision to launch the third-generation Tucson - after giving the second-generation a miss here - is a bold one, even if there is a growing demand for bigger cars in India. Expecting the car to replicate the success of Creta would be an over-estimation. However, the car does have the potential to cater to a niche segment, and then building its base from there. It is likely that those looking to buy a car in this price bracket will need strong reasons why not to opt for the reliable Innova Crysta.
Those looking for a completely new package and who prioritise style and refinement, are likely to bet big with the Tucson.
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