After the all SO economical and lame at shape variants of CITY starting from 2003 to 2008,
Honda has given a serious thought to the CITY. Making it a MEANER, STRONGER, BIGGER machine!
The new look of CITY surely makes it look like the little cub of the already top selling
Honda Civic. With a more futuristic look, and performance + luxury added as a standard, CITY
will prove to be one of the leading vehicles in its class.
Honda City comes in three variants: (International)
1. The base model 1.3-liter A with manual transmission only.
2. The mid-range 1.3-liter S with either a manual or an automatic gearbox.
3. The premium 1.5-liter E with automatic transmission only.
All three models meet EURO 4 European emission standards.
If I am not mistaken, these two engines also propel the 2009 Honda Jazz.
--TIP--You might be interested to know that, according to Paul Tan, the Honda City is
available in China with a 1.8-liter SOHC i-VTEC power plant derived from the Civic.--
A quick scan of new features provided in the CITY
EXTERIOR:
All City variants come with
1. Anti-lock Brake System (ABS),
2. EBD (Electronic Brake Distribution),
3. Brake Assist (BA).
In addition, 1.3 S and the 1.5 E models are equipped with an iPod-ready sound system and
dual SRS airbags. Only the 1.5 E gets fog lamps, side mirror turn lamps, 4-wheel disk
brakes.
ABS & G-CON
The new Honda City comes fully loaded with all active and passive safety features including
ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System) with Brake Assist (BA), pre-tensioner seat belts and G-CON
(G-Force Control Technology) body with a crush-proof survival zone.
When seat belt load exceeds a certain preset threshold, the 3-point ELR front seat belts
with load-limiting pretensioner immediately rewind and tighten, then loosen again to reduce
chest and shoulder injuries.
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These systems work to prevent wheel lock in an emergency braking situation or when braking
on slippery road surfaces. ABS stabilizes the vehicle while braking so the driver can better
control it and avoid obstacles ahead. The Brake Assist system helps the driver when braking,
leading to increased brake force in emergency situations.
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G-Force Control Technology controls impact energy (G-CON) in the event of a collision and
limits injuries.
Advanced Safety
An advanced security system that effectively prohibits theft without the key specific to the
vehicle, providing a warning with the horn and hazard lights getting activated.
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Tires & Rims:
All three Honda City models come with 175/65 R15 tires with the 1.3 A supplied with steel
rims. The 1.3 S and the 1.5 E variants are issued with alloy magwheels.
Trunk:
I was quite proud of the trunk space available on the Honda City: about 506 liters or so,
bigger than most of its competitors like the Toyota Vios which has a little less than 500
liters of volume on hand.
Suspension:
Front Suspension- Mc Pherson strut
An optimized compliance bush placement with a larger capacity makes lower bush springs
possible to provide a supple riding feel.
Rear Suspension: H-Shaped Torsion Beam
A reduced spring lever ratio and increased trailing arm bush capacity provide more supple
riding comfort.
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ENGINE:
The City’s 1.3-liter and 1.5-liter i-VTEC engines produce a whopping 100 PS and 120 PS
respectively—astonishing figures from relatively small displacements. Remember the Honda
Civic ESi from the early ‘90s? It needed 1.6 liters to produce the same output as the City’s
1.5-liter power plant.
The 1.3-liter engine is a single overhead cam (SOHC) motor fitted with Honda’s i-VTEC (for
Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control) technology that generates 100 ps. at
6,000 rpm.
The 1.5 liter engine is likewise a SOHC model equipped with i-VTEC but produces a heftier
120 ps. at 6,600 rpm.
GRADE LOGIC CONTROL IN INTERNATIONAL MODELS!
Honda Cars says that its 2009 Citys fitted with automatic transmission – all of them
five-speed types, by the way – come installed with what it describes as Grade Logic Control.
What benefit does it confer to the motorist?
“To put it simply, this feature eliminates the annoying, transmission-wearing, constant
downshifting (more commonly called “gear hunting”) associated with driving uphill in cars
with traditional automatic transmissions. By automatically adjusting and holding gear ratios
when moving downhill, the computerized Grade Logic Control also reduces brake wear.”
INTERIOR:
You are now looking at the driver’s position of the Honda City 1.3 S with automatic
transmission. By the way, the height of the driver’s seat on all three variants of the City
can be adjusted (International models), in the same way that the steering wheel on all three
may be tilted up and down, as well as telescoped front and back (international models), all
to add towards the driver’s ultimate comfort while on the road.
Speedometer Display:
The meter panel features a fuel consumption indicator presenting instant and average fuel
consumption, and estimated remaining driving range, supporting the driver to drive in a fuel
efficient way.
The international models come with an in dash MP3, FM/AM CD. However, the sound system that
is provided in Pakistan is a normal Stereo CD Player with 2 speakers (Front).
Difference can be seen in the below image:
The rear passenger seats on the 2009 Honda City seem a bit tight but retain some legroom,
perhaps the result of Honda retaining the “cab-forward stance” it implemented on earlier
models
Summary:
• Masculine Design. Looks like Honda scratched the old design and did the re-work of
the City from the ground up. The grill reminds me of the Autobots. Honda execs reveal that
the inspiration to the new design was based from the “arrowshot” so you can see some sharp
and arched corners. IMHO, the Honday City beats the look of all other City before it and
even the newer Civic.
• Digital Meters. The dashboard has a digital meter which indicates a number of
valuable information such as gas consumption and estimated mileage based on the current
trip.
• More room. For a subcompact sedan, the new Honda City has more leg room and storage
spaces both in front and in the back.
Verdict:
The already owners of Honda know that Honda never lets you down even if the shape of the car
is ugly (2003-2008). This car has much more to promise… with 100 BHP on 1300cc variant plus
a descent interior and bigger size than its predecessors, we suggest the CITY as the
RECOMMENDED CAR!
Rating:
8.5/10
PROS:
100 BHP.
Fuel Average calculation in speedometer.
Bigger length wise and width wise compared to previous CITY
CONS:
No light in boot.
No arm rest for driver seat.
No arm rest between back seat.
No Splash flap under engine in Manual Transmission 1300cc CITY.
No fog lamps.
No High Mounted Brake lamp
No Telescopic Steering
Price
Ex-Factory Price (Pak Rs.)
Manual Transmission 1,249,000
Automatic Transmission 1,379,000
