Last year wasn’t exactly what you’d call a banner year for the automotive industry. Despite a single digit growth locally (6 percent to be accurate), the perilous situation of their respective parent companies worldwide have cast a shadow of doubt on how long the party would last. The first car to be launched in 2009, the Honda City, was certainly unveiled with much less fanfare than before. There were less gyrating dancers and fireworks and more of a serious sales event.
Even the all-new City’s tagline, “Change the Rules” certainly had a subconscious ring to it—can this car lift Honda forward despite the difficult year ahead?
Honda Cars Philippines is already predicting a flat sales year for 2009. However, they’re expecting a meteoric rise to the City’s sales. If looks alone were the basis, then the City certainly has the right ingredients. Looking less like a cross between a spaceship and a cockroach (like the previous one was), the 2009 City is now sleeker with heavy influences of the Civic and CR-V thrown in. With the exception of the billet-type grille (popularized in Japanese market Honda cars), the City looks pretty much like a shrunken Civic. And that’s not a bad thing given that the Civic continues to be very popular in its segment.
For the car buying public, the City’s switch from ‘quirky’ to ‘sleek’ is most certainly welcome since a less polarizing design will no doubt be easier to swallow. However, for some (myself included), this move resulted in less character than before (it must be noted that the previous City didn’t sell as well versus its rivals, so go figure).
Inside, Honda has foregone the beige or gray or black choice of the previous City in favor of a single and simpler color palette: black. Despite being based off the Jazz five-door hatchback, the City gains its own interior execution which is less sporty but solidly executed. All the high-tech features you’d expect from a Honda are there from the tilt/telescopic steering wheel to the large triple-meter instrument cluster which is very easy to read and understand. Inside the orange-lit cluster, an on-board computer is fitted as standard, perfect for those who religiously monitor their fuel consumption.
As for the audio system, all City models get an in-dash CD with MP3 capability, but the premium spec models get Honda’s touted Flex Audio system which adds an USB interface with full Apple iPod control (first seen in the Honda Accord). A built-in 45-watt amplifier connected to a four-speaker system should provide ample sound quality. Additional differentiations on the 1.5-liter model (with its odd E designation adds a leather steering wheel with paddle shifters, a center console box with tray, double stitched sports fabric seats as well as vanity mirrors for both occupants.
Being mechanical twins with the Jazz, the City shares its new-generation 1.3-liter or 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine mated to either a 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic (the 1.5-liter is available solely with an automatic). The drive-by-wire technology as well as the MacPherson Strut/Torsion Beam Axle suspension system has been carried over from its Jazz sibling as well. Unlike the Jazz though, the City is only available with 15-inch rims finished in either steel or full alloys depending on the model. ABS, EBD and brake assist are all standard while the mid-range 1.3 S and 1.5 E get additional safety equipment in the form of front dual SRS airbags and pre-tensioner equipped seat belts. The 1.5 E adds four-wheel disc brakes, front fog lamps and side mirror turn signal repeaters as well.
Surprisingly absent is the clever ULT folding rear seats. Perhaps as a victim of cost, the new City makes do with fixed rear seats ala the Civic. But that does not mean a reduction in luggage capacity. The all-new City still manages to swallow 506 liters of luggage. This equates to four 9-inch wide golf bags.
The improved list of features does have its downsides though: a much more expensive Honda City than ever before. Though the fleet-model 1.3 A (P 676,000) and mid-range 1.3 S (P 716,000 / P 756,000) are still within striking distance of its competition, the 1.5 E (P 806,000) is already too close to its much bigger brother, the Civic as well as some of its similarly sized competition such as the Mazda3 hatchback and the Toyota Corolla Altis.
Alas, the City’s move slightly upmarket has indeed made it re-write the rules. This is the first sub-compact car to cross the P 800,000 barrier (the Vios 1.5 G leather package was not pushed as a volume seller). In addition, the once premium Honda Jazz looks like a bargain next to the new City (P 797,000 versus P 806,000). And the Jazz has all of the features of the City plus the flexible ULTRA seats as well as larger 16-inch alloys and power-folding mirrors. Of course, Honda isn’t banking on the 1.5-liter City as its major seller, that acclaim will fall to the 1.3 S. But still, the pricing sure does cross a psychological barrier for would-be buyers.
The all-new Honda City has changed the rules somewhat, but not all of them would be as welcome as you’d expect.
The all-new Honda City is now available at all Honda dealerships nationwide. Visit www.citychangetherules.com and www.hondaphil.com for more details.
Editor’s Note: we apologize for some poor quality photos of the all-new Honda City. We were experiencing problems with the images given to us by Honda Cars Philippines.
By Ulysses Ang
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