Honda City

Upgraded and improved, bringing with it a number of styling and equipment revisions, the new Honda City, facelifted for the year 2023. 

As before, the locally-assembled (CKD) B-segment sedan is offered in five variants. Four petrol powertrains (S, E, V, RS), and one hybrid (e:HEV RS).

Priced (OTR, w/o insurance) at MYR 84,900, MYR 89,900, MYR 94,900, MYR 99,000, and MYR 111,900, respectively. 

Each purchase includes a five-year, unlimited mileage manufacturer’s warranty, a five-year/100,000 KM free service (five times within period), and an eight-year, unlimited mileage hybrid battery warranty (e:HEV RS).

Five exterior colours for the petrol variants. Ignite Red Metallic, Meteoroid Gray Metallic, Platinum White Pearl, Crystal Black Pearl and Lunar Silver Metallic. 

Three exterior colours for the hybrid variant. Ignite Red Metallic, Meteoroid Gray Metallic and Platinum White Pearl.

The new Honda City has a familiar dashboard design, simple and practical with premium build quality.

It is decked in black soft- and hard-touch panels with silver trims as a detailing finish. Variants RS and e:HEV RS add on red detailing.

Overall, every accessibility is well laid out, arranged non-cluttered and driver-oriented with easy reachability.

Installed is a digital speedometer setup, featuring a 4.2-Inch (7.0-Inch - RS, e:HEV RS) TFT Multi-Information Display (MID). 

White highlights on the metre needles for variants S, E, V and RS, and red highlights for variant e:HEV RS.

Interior of the five-seater sedan is upholstered in black fabric (S, E) and in black leather (V, RS, e:HEV RS). The RS variants add on red contrast stitching.

All variants feature manual adjustable front seats and 60:40 split-fold rear seats.

The space is sufficient and borderline generous. It offers plenty of head, shoulder and leg rooms, thus front and rear occupants get ample mobility.

Mounted is a three-spoke style steering wheel, wrapped in urethane (S, E) and leather (V, RS, e:HEV RS). The RS variants add on red contrast stitching. 

It gets multi-switches (media, vehicle settings), column adjustments (tilt, telescopic), paddle shifters (S, E, V, RS), and an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system.

Variant S features one 12-V socket (front) and one USB port (front). Variants E, V, RS and e:HEV RS get one 12-V socket (front) and three USB ports (one-front, two-rear).

Accessing its powered-tailgate (operation - remote control/key fob), opens up to a load capacity of 519-Litres (410-Litres - e:HEV RS).

Weighing in at 1,125 KG (S), 1,126 KG (E), 1,136 KG (V), 1,139 KG (RS) and 1,250 KG (e:HEV RS), the new Honda City stands at 4,580 MM long (4,589 MM - RS, e:HEV RS), 1,784 MM wide, 1,467 MM tall, and with a wheelbase spanning 2,600 MM.

Slightly protruding, it radiates a laid-back sporty appeal, complementing the front with angularly-rounded curves. 

Differentiating elements, the rear-end of variants RS and e:HEV RS sees a new bumper with an aerodynamic diffuser, balanced-out by a sleek boot-lid spoiler.

Framed aerodynamically sharp, the head lamps project a very focused and determined outlook.

Variants S and E get projector halogen units. Variants V, RS and e:HEV RS upgrade to full LED units.

All variants come with LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) and automatic headlight function (On/Off, high beam).

Wrapped-around and angularly bulging, the tail lamps fit the rear well, adding abundance to the overall outlook. All variants are installed with LED combination units.

The side mirrors are power-adjustable and -retractable with turn signals, blind-spot monitor indicators, and Honda LaneWatch Camera (LWC) (V, RS, e:HEV RS). 

Fitted for variants S and E are ventilated disc (front) and drum brakes (rear), while variants V, RS and e:HEV RS upgrade to solid discs (rear).

Variants S, E, V and RS feature a conventional handbrake system, while variant e:HEV RS an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold system.

Variants S and E rides on a set of 15-Inch multi-spoke two-tone alloy rims (16-Inch - V, RS, e:HEV RS), wrapped in 185/60 R15 tyres (185/55 R16 - V, RS, e:HEV RS). 

Passive safety includes six airbags (driver-passenger, front side, front-rear curtain), seat belts (anchors, reminders, pre-tensioners), ISOFIX (two - outer-rear), multi-angle reverse camera (E, V, RS, e:HEV RS), parking sensors (two-rear), and security alarm with immobiliser.

The Honda Sensing suite will make driving on the highway and in the city a much more relaxing task. 

Plus, accompanied by the other systems, manoeuvring the compact sedan day-in and day-out will be a breeze.  

Variant S is installed with a standard infotainment unit, supporting Bluetooth, Hands-Free Telephone (HFT) and USB connections. 

Variants E, V, RS and e:HEV RS upgrade to an 8.0-Inch Digital Audio touchscreen display, featuring navigation, Bluetooth, Hands-Free Telephone (HFT), USB and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity (wireless - RS, e:HEV RS). 

Standard fitment is a four-speaker setup, with variants E, V, RS and e:HEV RS adding on a set of four tweeters.

The new Honda City comes with two powertrain setups. A petrol (S, E, V, RS) and a hybrid (e:HEV RS). 

Harbouring in the former is a 1.5-Litre four-cylinder 16-valve naturally-aspirated DOHC i-VTEC petrol engine, delivering 119 HP/89-KW of max power at 6,600 RPM and 145 NM of max torque at 4,300 RPM.

Incorporated in the latter is an Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) system, featuring an electric motor (front-mounted - 106 HP/80-KW at 3,500 to 8,000 RPM - 235 NM at 0 to 3,000 RPM) with the same 1.5-Litre petrol mill (Atkinson Cycle - 96 HP/72-KW at 5,600 to 6,400 RPM - 127 NM at 4,500 to 5,000 RPM).

Variants S, E, V and RS are mated with a Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT), while variant e:HEV RS gets an Electric Continuous Variable Transmission (e-CVT). 

Power is sent to the front wheels, Front-Wheel Drive (FWD).

Acceleration from 0 to 100 KM/H is done in 10.2 seconds (S, E), 10.4 seconds (V, RS) and 9.9 seconds (e:HEV RS). Top speed is 196 KM/H (S, E), 195 KM/H (V, RS) and 177 KM/H (e:HEV RS). 

Fuel tank is at a 40-Litre capacity, and the fuel consumption figures are as such. 5.6-Litres (S, E, V, RS) and 3.6-Litres (e:HEV RS) for every 100 KM/H.

The new Honda City comes with keyless entry, engine Start/Stop button, remote engine starter (E, V, RS, e:HEV RS), walk-away auto-lock (S, E, V, RS, e:HEV RS), powered-tailgate (operation - remote control/key fob), single-zone automatic air-conditioning (E, V, RS, e:HEV RS), rear air-conditioning vents, steering wheel (tilt, telescopic, paddle shifters (S, E, V, RS), multi-function), wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (RS, e:HEV RS), cameras (V, RS, e:HEV RS - Honda LaneWatch Camera (LWC), E, V, RS, e:HEV RS - multi-angle reverse), parking sensors (rear-two), blind-spot monitors, Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold (e:HEV RS), and automatic headlamps.

The driving is agile and responsive, offering a sturdy handling. Interior-wise, it is comfortable and roomy, equipped with sufficient amenities.

Suspension-wise, fitted is a setup of MacPherson strut (front), and torsion beam (rear).

Sound insulation is adequate, as the cabin is able to suppress wind, road and tyre noises well, and make them barely noticeable.

The new Honda City is a well-equipped compact sedan. Notably, to its stylings, driving dynamics and safety systems.

Quality of the equipment and materials installed, inside and outside of the car impresses with the mature design and restrained detailing. 

Ultimately, it is a pretty decent vehicle that offers good fuel economy, advanced safety features, refined ride quality and a stylish body design altogether.