The last Honda City was not exactly what enthusiasts would be seen in or rather be associated with unlike the first generation of the car which was tatally a drivers car. The previous City was a capable urban car but its odd styling and disproportionate looks did not set anyone’s pulse racing and sales never really flew off. Over the years it has seen dipping sales and Honda being the progressive carmaker that it is phased the model out and got us the all new 2009 Honda City in late December. Indimoto took the car for a spin on the streets of Central Delhi. Here’s what we have to say about Honda’s latest compact sedan.

Design and Engineering

Gone is the odd-ball styling and tall boyish design of the previous model. The new City is all new and Honda has designed it with heart over head and the car follows in the footsteps of the radical big brother, the Civic. Honda calls the design theme as ‘arrowshot’ and the car does look like it has been shot from a bow thanks to its sharp fascia accentuated by the swooping headlamps and the piercing three slat grille which is painted in glossy graphite grey. A chunky front bumper, steeply raked windscreen and muscular fenders make the new City look like an athlete at the starting grid. The model being sold in India did not have any front fog lamps and no slot in the front bumper for optional fitment either. The side profile of the 2009 City is proportionate unlike its predecessor. Welcome addition includes the pull type door handles which are at the crease line level.

The new City has a good looking rear too with BMW 3 Series style tail lamps, a sharp boot and a chunky bumper. Build quality of the new City seems much better than the previous generation and it now has wider door sills, a stiffened chassis and doors which close with an assuring thud. Honda has however scrimped on alloy wheels on the Indian model which i think is primarily to save cost. The new City also appeared under-tyred with puny 175/65 R15s. Let’s hope Honda launches the sedan with fog lamps, a nice set of alloys and wider section tires soon. Safety is basic on the Indian model with only dual front airbags and ABS.

Interiors and Comfort

Step inside the new City and you will immediately recognize it as a Honda. The steeply raked windscreen lends a lot of space ahead of the driver making the car look roomier than it is. The Civic style steering with integrated audio controls and the prominent Honda logo is just the right size though one has to take his hand off it to blow the horn. The City’s instrument panel is analogue unlike the Civic and it is lit up in jarringly bright orange which Honda could have toned down a bit. Though the interiors of the Indian model were conveniently laid out and colored in two tone black and plastic, the material quality was disappointing. Honda has used hard plastics and budget upholstery to dress up the new City and this feels like a letdown. The golf ball type gear shaft head on the manual was very small and felt twitchy while driving. Another grouse is the manual aircon controls which Honda should have ditched for an auto climate control system in a car at this price point. There is also inadequate cabin lighting with only one light in the centre of the roof.

However Honda has taken the techno-wizardry route to please buyers and the car now comes with a USB/i Pod compatible 4-speaker stereo with no CD player option. The display screen of the stereo can also be made to display the speed of the car by pressing a few buttons. The automatic City now gets paddle shifts like the Civic. The new City is more spacious than the outgoing model with enough legroom for front and rear passengers. The front seats though supportive lacked lumbar support adjustment and were only adjustable for height. Rear seats are quite comfortable especially when occupied by two and the armrest down. The new City has slightly sloping floor under the front seat which makes a comfortable footrest for the ones seated at the rear. The boot too is rather spacious and seemed good to hold couple of large suitcases with come soft bags too. Creature comforts include front and rear armrests with cup holders, power windows, central locking with keyless entry, air conditioning with heating and electric adjust OVRMs. Door pockets on all four doors and plenty of small storage spaces make the interiors practical too. On the automatic version i noticed that it was difficult to use the front cup holders which got blocked by the gear stalk when parked in P.

Engine and Gearbox

The new City comes with a new 121 bhp 1.5 litre VTEC unit which has a very wide rev band and produces peak power at 6600 rpm and the limiter set at 7,000 rpm. Peak torque also comes in at a high 4600 rpm. This peppy yet fuel efficient unit is mated to either a 5 speed manual gearbox or a 5 speed automatic transmission. This time around there is no CVT and i am really glad that it isn’t. The automatic gets paddle shifters and is the choice for enthusiasts.

Driving Experience

We tested the manual City on the streets of central Delhi on a sunny winter afternoon. As you turn on the ignition there is a subtle vibration to tell you the motor has come to life. On idle thereafter the engine is very silent and you hardly notice the car is on. The clutch is light and the gearshift short and crisp. The VTEC unit is not as torque as i expected and the new City only comes to life after 4,000 rpm which is when you notice a surge in acceleration which peaks as high as 6,600 rpm. The car gains speed effortlessly in all gears provided you flog it over four thousand clicks. The City’s disc brakes upfront and drums at the rear provide adequate stopping power aided by ABS. A major flaw with the car i test drove was the choice of rubber. The 15 inch 175/65 tyres on the test drive car were seriously inadequate while hard acceleration and braking. The car needs fatter rubber to truly bring out the capability of the engine and the stiff new chassis. Ride though plaint felt a bit harsh even on the smooth road down Rashtrapati Bhawan (Indian Presidential Palace). Cornering stability and minimum body roll inspire confidence to push the new City further and the car is a delight to throw around corners. NVH levels are also good thanks to the aerodynamic efficiency but the narrow tyres cause some tire noise to penetrate the cabin at higher speeds. Long distance drivers will notice the absence of a dead pedal which should have been there in a car of this segment. The electric power steering does not provide much road feedback and that is probably the only weak area in terms of performance.

Verdict
The new City does everything better than its predecessor and offers much more value. Aimed at the young compact sedan buyer the 2009 City will be a strong contender in the market this year.