Honda City VTi-L 2012 Review

Honda’s Jazz-based City sedan occupies a rather more comfortable place in the model hierarchy today than it did at its local introduction in 2009.

For starters, it was expensive, priced more like a small car than a lightweight. And now-mandatory stability control was conspicuously absent from the specifications list.

The outcome was that the City has hardly been a star performer for Honda. It is barely recording a blip on the sales charts by comparison with the donor Jazz five-door hatchback, not to mention Honda’s Civic and Accord Euro models. Even the soon-to-be-replaced CR-V is way ahead.

But with a minor recent facelift, plus a second round of price reductions following significant cuts in August 2010 that dropped the VTi entry price well below $20,000, it’s possible the five-star ANCAP rated City could start to figure a bit more significantly.

For the top of the range VTi-L model (tested), this means a price virtually equivalent to that of the lower-specced VTi in 2009 -- which came without Honda’s Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) stability control. Originally $25,290, the auto-only VTi-L is now tagged at $22,990 before on-road costs, only $200 more than the original VTi auto.

For that money, the Honda City VTi-L gets a decent amount of kit, including new 16-inch alloys and numerous touches of added bring to differentiate it from the base (already well equipped it must be said) VTi.

These include chrome plating on the interior door handles and numerous instrument panel knobs, a centre armrest between the front seats, a luggage tray under the rear seat, a door-lock switch on the driver’s side, pockets on the backsides of both front seats, blue-stitched “premium” seat trim and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

This is over and above the VTi’s roll call that includes air-conditioning, cruise control, trip computer, Bluetooth connectivity, two-way adjustable steering column and all-round power windows with auto up-down on the driver’s side.

Cosmetically, both City models get a new chrome grille, new tail lights (with a touch of BMW 3 Series evident?) and front and rear bumpers, plus internal titillations including aluminium-look touches throughout as well as a blue-lit speedo.

As for the rest of the City, the package remains pretty much unchanged apart from the worthwhile adoption of thicker window glass combined with improved, sound-absorbent carpet to hush the on-road experience.

The powertrain comprises Honda’s single-cam 1.5-litre VTEC four-cylinder producing 88kW at 6600rpm and 145Nm at 4800rpm, driving through what is today a pretty basic five-speed automatic transmission -- basic in the sense that it does not offer sequential gear selection, although it does embrace shift logic to drop a gear or two on descents.

With a kerb weight of 1140kg the City VTi-L’s 1.5-litre engine has a bit of work to do, and much of the time lets the driver know about it.

Suspension remains the same MacPherson strut (front)/torsion beam (rear) arrangement, while braking is by discs at all corners (ventilated front, solid rear) with antilock, brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution driver assistance systems as standard.

The truth of the matter is that the Honda City makes a pretty decent small car, now untrammelled by unrealistic pricing and safety shortcomings.

It deals with on-road demands competently if not inspiringly, responding to the helm via reasonably quick (3.25 turns from lock to lock), lightly weighted electric power steering and gripping just a little better than VTi models with the bigger 185/55R16 rubber. The ride is suggestive of lower-profile tyres and shortish spring travel, with a touch of jounce on roughed-up bitumen, but is generally well-controlled and comfortable.

As suggested, the 1.5-litre engine becomes thrashy and sounds less than refined if it is asked to work a bit, but at the same time produces only acceptable results when overtaking on the open road. The 6800rpm redline looms regularly without producing a lot of top-end punch to go with it.

In the end it is the packaging, not performance that impresses most with the City sedan.

The boot, at 506 litres, is as big and useful as many a large family car and the interior isn’t bad either. If you are expecting light-car loading capabilities, the City might come as something of a surprise, especially with the 60:40 split-fold rear seat thrown in to extend carrying space even further.

The cabin area will take at least four adults without too much compromise and the seats prove adequately comfortable and supportive on long trips -- which are, really, not the City’s forte. The extra sound deadening may have helped, but the Honda is still only average where interior noise levels are concerned.

Fuel consumption during our test matched the official claims -- the combined figure is 6.6L/100km -- although we did exceed that with a little urban running later thrown into the mix. The 42-litre tank proves adequate, and the City only asks for regular (91 RON) unleaded fuel.

Beefs? Apart from a slight lack of character there’s not a lot to criticise, although we reckon it’s about time Honda upgraded the afterthought Bluetooth control pad that’s been stuck onto the City’s driver-side A-pillar.

In all, the Honda City is a pretty complete package that straddles the light and small car class (its 2550mm wheelbase is only 24mm shy of a Volkswagen Golf for example), making a competent job of general dynamic abilities and overall utility at a now-reasonable price.

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