Honda City: Pros and cons

Just like in most of the other markets, Honda City didn’t fail to impress the people here in Malaysia as well. And we aren’t talking about just the recent times, this sedan has been doing that ever since it was launched in the country. In fact, it became so popular in Malaysia that Honda decided to replace its S+ variant with a new hybrid variant making Malaysia the first ASEAN country to have it.

Currently, there are a total of four Honda City variants available starting at RM 73,836.

Following is Honda City price list-

Variant	Price
1.5 L S	RM 73,836
1.5 L E	RM 79,955
1.5 L V	RM 86,983
1.5 L Hybrid	RM 92,172

 

Honda City engine specifications-

All the 4 variants are powered by the same 1.5-litre petrol engine with the hybrid variant getting some extra power and torque figures thanks to the added electric motor.

Specifications	1.5 L S	1.5 L E	1.5 L V	1.5 L Hybrid
Type	4 Cylinders, 16 Valve, SOHC i-VTEC
Fuel supply system	Electronic Fuel Injection (PGM-FI)
Displacement (cc)	1,497 cc
Maximum Power [PS @ rpm>	120 at 6,600			Engine- 110 at 6,000, Motor- 30 at 1,313-2,000, Combined O/P-137
Maximum Torque [Nm @ rpm>	145 at 4,600			Engine- 134 at 5,000, Motor- 160 at 0-1,313, Combined O/P-170
Transmission	CVT			7-speed DCT

Honda City Pros

1.Styling

Although the current generation of Honda City has been around for quite some time now, it continues to attract and please many buyers and owners through just its styling. At the front, it features a set of LED headlights with integrated LED DRLs. The headlamps are bridged together by Honda’s signature chrome grille. We also like the sporty front bumper with LED fog lights and the sloping bonnet.

Some of its other interesting exterior features are-

• Dual-tone alloy wheels
• Auto retractable side mirrors with integrated turning lights
• Sharp character line on the side
• LED taillights
• Ducktail spoiler with LED brake light

2. Comfort

The interior of the Honda City provides a good amount of space for the occupants. Legroom for the rear passengers is decent, however, taller people might have to adjust a bit because of the low headroom. Seating five shouldn’t be a problem. The seats are well-bolstered and provide good under-thigh support. Honda has also provided rear AC vents.

3.Features

Honda isn’t very popular when it comes to providing a plethora of features in its cars. However, the City gets all the necessary ones like a large 6.8-in display for infotainment that supports AUX, USB, and HDMI, engine start/stop button, ECON button, automatic AC with touch controls, 8-speaker audio system, steering-mounted controls, and much more.

4.Safety

Honda City specs list a bunch of safety features. Not all of them come as standard but at least Honda has made them available; we appreciate that. Following are some of the key safety features-

• 6 airbags
• ABS with EBD
• Brake Assist
• Vehicle Stability Assist
• Hill Start Assist
• Reverse Sensor
• Multi-angle Reverse Camera

5.Engine

As we mentioned earlier, all the Honda City variants are powered by the same 1.5-litre engine. It is a trustworthy engine for Honda and suits the City very well. Honda has worked upon the refinement levels of the engine. We also have a hybrid variant that offers more power, torque, and efficiency. However, people are still a bit sceptical about buying hybrids.

Honda City Cons

1.Design

Even though the City still manages to lure in new customers, we can’t just ignore the fact that its design has grown old. We aren’t saying it’s bad, it’s just become outdated and people have gotten used to it.

2.Interior

The same thing is with the interior. It is spacious and offers a decent list of features, however, the dashboard design, look and feel of the instrument console, plastic parts; all feel a bit monotonous after all these years.

3.Transmission

The City comes with either a CVT or a 7-speed DCT. It also gets paddle shifters. However, there’s no option for a manual transmission which isn’t really a deal-breaker but the driving enthusiasts might have something to complain about.

We hope Honda would work on these cons in the next iteration of the City. Speaking of which, Honda recently revealed the next-gen 2020 City which gets a plethora of changes on the outside, inside, and even under the hood. We are eagerly waiting for it to reach the dealerships.

These were some of the Honda City pros and cons. If you think we missed any pointer, do mention it in the comments.

Also Read: 2020 Honda City: First Impression