First up - I own a 2012 Honda City iVTEC V-AT CVT. Though I have also spent time on the new 2017 city automatic as well. The engines have remainded the same through the years. The tried & tested 1.5L iVTEC mill mated to a 5-step CVT(pre-2017 models) and 7-step CVT on the 2017 models.
Overall - I am very happy with this car & what it offers. The CVT in city driving conditions is better than AMT or even traditional torque convertor gear-boxes. Shifts are smooth & what you get is a hassle free ride. I have clocked a lot of miles on it & might I add - all happy miles to say the least.
The refinement of levels on the honda engines are legendary & this is my third honda car. I have also owned the civic & brio before. I figured that the city is more practical to use in & around town. Yes - the suspension is soft & will bottom out if the car was fully loaded & you tried going over speedbreakers quickly. Drive carefully & that situation can be avoided.
Mileage wise - I get between 10-11 kmpl in the city(if I drive with a light foot). and on the highway, I get 14-16kmpl. In my opinion, these numbers speak volumes about the reliability & longivity of the honda engine. I have over 70k kms on the odometer till date & the car rides like a dream.
The CVT gearbox is happy when you are not in a hurry. If you try to rush - it wont be a rewarding experience with the engine revving quickly & getting louder. Yep - the rubberband effect. I’d say, switch to the paddle shifters when you are in a hurry. If you are a very keen driver, you are probably better off with a more expensive VW car with a supercharged engine mated to a DSG gearbox. Just know that DSGs or DCT gearboxes are a expensive to maintain overtime & are not that frugle in terms of mileage.
CVTs are used because they are excellent for mileage. May be AMT will be better but I honestly hate the head-nods everytime the AMTs shift. Also - a bit of thottle modulation can do wonders in putting the power down. Sometimes, before a brisk acceleration, release the accelerator & engage it again - instead of flooring the pedal.
Ride quality on the city is luxurious & comfy. Runs to the airport to pick up relatives with luggage is easy with a 500lt boot. Leg room is class-leading in the rear. I have driven a lot of automatic in this segment over time & I found myself returning to the trusty Honda every time. Its something about owning a reliable honda car which has stood the test of time. Not many cars in India have withstood a decade or more.
A no-nonses car for the sensible buyer. Feature’s take a backseat & practicality takes a front seat. My older 2012 model misses a lot of new 2017 features but it still rides smooth & runs like new. I think that is worth more than fancy features. I never feel the need to change my car. This car is also very comfy on the highway speeds. Will do 90-100 kmph all day long without any drama or fuss. With the CVT gearbox, its an easy drive without compromising much on the mileage front.
At a signal, I sometime forget whether the engine is on or off - the idle rpm is low & the car is soo quiet that its astonishing. If you are the types who loves loads of features & a peppy ride, look elsewhere. If you want a reliable practical car which will last you many years to come - this is it.
What can be improved?
There are a million things which can be improved on any car. And as indian consumers, we always crave for more value.
I would leave the creature comforts aside(I’m sure its a never ending comparision with similar cars in its segment forever). I would stick to the basics.
Improve ground clearance to 170mm or 175mm. Generally 165mm is good enough but with a fully loaded car, the ride height will drop due to added weight.
Improve the ride quality in terms of absorbing undulation from the road.
The car definately needs better headlights if you want to do any highway riding at night.
That is about all.
What I love about my Honda City?
The timeless design. Quintessential sedan. Looks classy always. I even admire the original city & the followup dolphin design. The design language & its evolution has been memorable to say the least.
The smooth and reliable 1.5L iVTEC engine. Very predictable & can last for 2-3L kms without issues. Not many cars in this segment can claim that.
The tested CVT gearbox. Smooth & relaxed.
Good highway road manner. Straightline stability is superb.
Mileage. Yes - for a sedan this size, I get 10kmpl+. How? Move to Neutral if you have to stop for more than 10 seconds, drive with a light foot & turn off your vehicle if you are stopping for over 30 seconds at a signal. Simple. On the highway, hold s steady speeds of 90-110 kmph and you are golden. I have extracted 17kmpl+ on highways. And this is all in & around Bangalore. You cannot expect the car to give you a frugal mileage if you are trying to drive it with a heavy foot.
Paddle shifters:) Yes - contrary to my previous point, when you want to have some fun, the S mode is perfect along with the paddle shifters.
In the end, I wanna say that I will keep my 2012 honda city. I love it. I may buy a newer car but I somehow love the city.