The Honda City belongs to a league of its own because it's not a Maruti and yet has been a runaway success since its 1997 launch. Fifteen years on, the City has got a makeover that has transformed the car into a better looker and greater performer.The new look starts with the new front grille that looks less of an egg crate and more muscular and dynamic. The 10-spoke alloy wheels (in the upper-end models) complement the new exterior look; the front and rear bumpers also have been redesigned, the latter sporting smart reflectors. We can see that the rear lights have been made more contemporary with 'clear' lines that add to the premium look of the car. And you'll be delighted to know that halogen headlamps now come as a standard feature.
The top-of-the-line 'V' variant features an utterly useless but immensely lovable sunroof, through which you can gaze at the stars or take in the fresh air, as long as no bird decides to fertilise your premium car and its leather upholstery. You will be glad to know that halogen headlamps are a standard feature on the car.
On the inside too, changes abound. The instrumentation stays the same, with the exception that the dials now come in blue, foregoing their former amber illumination. Strangely enough, the main console lighting is still amber, so you can imagine your favourite vehicle to be a lounge bar as well. That said, the interiors are finished in a soft-to-touch beige cloth and the upper versions are swathed in expanses of supple leather.
For penny pinchers, Honda has introduced a 'corporate' model, which has black interiors and comes with a basic set of features, but does away with the integrated sound system guided by remote control, which you'll now find only in the higher- end models. Honda, incidentally, was one of the first companies in the country to do away with a CD player in its cars and offer USB connectivity as a standard feature.
Honda uses several proprietory technology to ensure that the City is one of the safest cars you can buy. It makes no compromises on safety. Even the base 'corporate' model comes with features like front airbags, anti-lock braking that incorporate brake assist systems, a driver's side anti-pinch guard and a standard immobiliser to protect your investment.
The City's 1.5 litre engine now outputs around 116bhp, but what is sexy about it is the way it goes about doing its job. Honda always was a master of small displacement petrol engines and the City's powerplant has to be one of the jewels in its crown.
Turn the key and the engine settles into a muted thrum, which is difficult to tell unless you look at the rev counter. Pumping the accelerator towards its nearly 7,000rpm redline does not produce any gruffness; the excellent engine mountings ensure that no vibration or harshness gets transmitted to the occupants.
Slot the gear lever to the left and up for first, and you'd be surprised at the lightness of the clutch, but what's really impressive is the torque spread - 146Nm of it is spread evenly across the rev range and you never feel as if the car is going to stall. Even the air- conditioning compressor cuts in and out silently - if you strain your ears, you'll hear a click as it comes on or goes off.
The City was one of the first cars in its segment to offer variable valve timing on its engines - that is, it operates different sets of engine valves with intelligent timing so that you get excellent drivability with reduced fuel consumption and resultantly lower emissions. The City, in fact, is legendary for its frugal consumption of black gold, so you can expect a return of at least 15-17kpl in the city with the aircon on.
A light steering response, which gets firmer with speed, and a willing engine make light work of city traffic. Opt for the five- speed automatic and driving becomes a breeze. And the increased ground clearance to 165mm means that the City doesn't have to scrape its pretty underbody on speedbreakers anymore. The City, like good whisky, keeps getting better with age.
Source;
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/honda-city-a-breezy-performer/1/173255.html
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