Honda has always pushed its City sub-compact sedan towards advancement. Throughout the nameplate’s history, there were hits and misses, but it was never afraid to experiment. Be it through its design or technology, it was always ahead of the curve, as far as its rivals are concerned.
However, there’s a change of direction over at Honda. Whether it’s deliberate or not, the latest City feels more evolutionary than revolutionary. This may not be to Soichiro Honda’s liking, but it does, at the end of the day, deliver a car that’s much more relatable to the masses.
Staring with the platform, Honda says it’s an all-new one. You can’t tell by the ingredients as it’s mostly identical to its predecessor—down to the same 2,600-mm wheelbase, but in terms of execution, its size is now the same as the ninth-generation Civic, imagine that.
The decision to grow it dimensionally has granted it not just the biggest interior in its class, but makes it comparable to sedans a segment higher. Its size aside, familiar City cues like the flat rear floor remain giving it the capacity not just to fit three adults comfortable in the back, but allow two of them to cross their legs at the same time. Over to the front, the horizontally themed dashboard liberates even more room, allowing even the bulkiest passengers to revel in its spaciousness.
While there are no complaints concerning the City’s space, there are still some missed opportunities here.
For one, there are some questionable ergonomics. The base 1.5 S may have a push-button engine start, but it still requires drivers to fumble for their key fob to lock and unlock the car (going for the 1.5 V upward solves this problem with its smart entry system). Also, the 8-inch infotainment screen can be navigated easily, but the absence of a rotary volume knob makes it a challenge to operate on the move.
Another problem is the absence of any lidded storage compartment, save for the glovebox. With the City touting smartphone connectivity as standard, there should have been at least one area where drivers can properly secure their phone. Instead, here there’s just a shallow bin that can barely fit a standard (non-Plus) iPhone.
The biggest gripe though is the plasticky dashboard. All the controls have a wonderfully crisp and solid feel to them, but because there’s not a single ounce of soft-touch plastic anywhere, it acutally cheapens the overall experience. And this is a shame, because the rest of the package is class-leadingly refined.
The City uses a new double overhead cam head on its 1.5-liter L15 engine. Power and torque—120 horsepower and 145 Nm of torque—remain the same as before, but peak torque does come in sooner—4,300 rpm (versus 4,800 rpm). Having said that, the 500-rpm difference can’t be felt subjectively. What can be felt though is the new engine’s newfound smoothness. There’s this tapping sound at partial throttle application, but aside from that, it maintains Honda’s rev-happy nature.
Paired to the engine is Honda’s Earth Dreams CVT. It makes for truly sensible motoring, preferring progressive application of the gas pedal, as opposed to gunnit style. Progress is smooth with minimal lag. Squeeze it hard though, and the drivetrain won’t be as obliging, though it’s probably because this particular unit’s not been broken in yet.
Oh, and speaking of break ins, fuel economy registers at 9.7 km/L—a figure which may given go higher once the drivetrain truly settles in.
Mechanical smoothness aside, the City is impresses with its suspension set-up. It doesn’t feel as pointy or agile as before, but the trade off has given it smoothness and refinement. Even better, it actually feels solid—be it through nasty bumps or small shimmies.
On paper, it has a precariously low 134 mm of ground clearance, but it never once scraped through any hump or driveway, so there’s no need to worry.
At P 888,000, this 1.5 S is the most affordable two-pedal Honda City available locally. It may sound like a lot of money for a sub-compact sedan, but putting that into perspective, it’s more affordable than its chief rival, the Toyota Vios that sports a smaller 1.3-liter engine. Plus, its list of features is much more solid. Perhaps, the only thing missing is any sort of parking aid.
In the end, the Honda City’s competitive pricing coupled with its solid set of features, refined driving dynamics, and class-leading space continue to make it an unbeatable all-rounder.
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2021 Honda City 1.5 S CVT |
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| Ownership | 2021 Honda City 1.5 S CVT |
| Year Introduced | 2020 |
| Vehicle Classification | Sub-Compact Sedan |
| Warranty | 3 years / 100,000 kilometers |
| The Basic | |
| Body Type | 4-door sedan |
| Seating | 5 |
| Engine / Drive | F/F |
| Under the Hood | |
| Displacement (liters) | 1.5 |
| Aspiration | Normally Aspirated |
| Fuel Delivery | EFI |
| Layout / # of Cylinders | I4 |
| BHP @ rpm | 121@ 6,600 |
| Nm @ rpm | 145 @ 4,300 |
| Fuel / Min. Octane | Gasoline / 91~ |
| Transmission | CVT |
| Cruise Control | No |
| Fuel Economy @ Ave. Speed | 9.7 km/L @ 16 km/h |
| Dimensions and Weights | |
| Length (mm) | 4,553 |
| Width (mm) | 1,748 |
| Height (mm) | 1,467 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2,600 |
| Curb Weight (kg) | 1,106 |
| Suspension and Tires | |
| Front Suspension | Independent, MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Torsion Beam Axle |
| Front Brakes | Vented Disc |
| Rear Brakes | Drum |
| Tires | Maxxis MA-P3 185/60 R 15 H (f & r) |
| Wheels | Alloy |
| Safety Features | |
| Airbags | 4 |
| Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS) | Yes, with EBD |
| Traction / Stability Control | Yes |
| Parking Sensors | No |
| Front Seatbelts | 3-pt ELR with pre-tensioner x 2 |
| Rear Seatbelts | 3-pt ELR x 3 |
| ISOFIX Child Seat Anchor | Yes |
| Other Safety Features | No |
| Exterior Features | |
| Headlights | Halogen |
| Fog Lamps | No |
| Auto Lights | No |
| Rain-sensing Wipers | No |
| Interior Features | |
| Steering Wheel Adjust | Tilt/Telescopic |
| Steering Wheel Material | Urethane |
| Seating Adjustment (driver) | Manual, 6-way |
| Seating Adjustment (front passenger) | Manual, 4-way |
| Seating Surface | Fabric |
| Folding Rear Seat | No |
| On-Board Computer | Yes |
| Convenience Features | |
| Power Steering | Yes |
| Power Door Locks | Yes |
| Power Windows | Yes |
| Power Mirrors | Yes |
| Proximity Key | No |
| Climate Control | Manual |
| Audio System | Stereo USB Bluetooth Apple CarPlay Android Auto |
| # of Speakers | 4 |
| Steering Controls | Yes |
Source: Car Guides PH
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