WHEN Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) brought in the highly-anticipated latest generation City, it also represents the brand’s 2030 vision of leading the advancement of mobility and enabling people worldwide to improve their daily lives. The all-new City is undeniably reformed inside and out with the myriad of tech features.
Launched late last year, HCPI finally hosted a media drive event for us to take the first dibs of this reformed subcompact sedan. The event’s objective is to highlight the all-new City’s comfort, power, fuel efficiency, and advanced technologies through a scenic drive from the bustling streets of Metro Manila to the picturesque winding roads of Tanay, Rizal, and Antipolo City.
‘Ambitious Sedan’ grand concept
Assigned to the 1.5V CVT variant, finally seeing the vehicle in the metal made it clear what the new concept design was all about.
As an ‘Ambitious Sedan,’ the latest generation grew 111mm longer and 54mm wider, but 10mm lower than its predecessor. That new pronounced front chrome grille design united with keen-looking headlights put the all-new City at par with its bigger sedan siblings in terms of donning Honda’s modern design signature.
Even the rear end received a fresh set of extended and slim taillights matching the new bumper design. The flanks, meantime, now have sharp horizontal character lines inspired by the Katana Blade in Motion. The lower height complements the unique design of multi-spoke 16-inch alloy wheels.
Boarding inside was a breath of fresh air. Everything was new, particularly the layout. Interestingly, Honda made several alterations to improve seating positions and, more importantly, the vantage point. Noticeable was the seemingly elevated front seat, which provided a more upright posture. There’s a new eight-inch Advanced Touchscreen Display Audio with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto & WebLink (1.5). Moreover, we like the 1.5 V CVT variant’s posh and sophisticated Ivory accent matching the new Platinum White color of the unit we tested.
Fun to drive
We kicked off the drive from Bonifacio Global City via the busy C-5 and E. Rodriguez avenue roads. There, we realized the advantages of the alterations made to achieve a better vantage point. With better driving views, maneuvering through traffic while surpassing other vehicles became easier. Those blindsides from the previous generation were finally rectified. It goes to show how Honda pays attention to details when it comes to achieving better drivability of their vehicles.
Motivation comes from a new 1.5-liter four-cylinder DOHC i-VTEC engine producing 119hp and 145 N-m of maximum torque mated to Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT). While upgrading from SOHC to DOHC gave very little increase in power, it was the better torque registration from the lower rpm range that we felt significantly. Despite the larger frame, the vehicle was still quick to reach cruising speeds.
Reaching the open roads of Antipolo allowed us to push the throttle a little bit to test higher speeds. As expected, acceleration was better. But when we finally encountered the winding roads of Tanay, this was when the all-new City’s excellent driving dynamics emerged. The responsive steering, along with the vehicle’s impressive handling, allowed the entire convoy to tackle every bend, even the difficult ones, effortlessly. All we did was brake timely and turned correctly while the vehicle effortlessly enters and exits every curve.
Another plus factor was how the vehicle handled the ascents and descents. While 1.5V CVT lacks the Tiptronic transmission function, it does have the Sport Mode. During climbs, shifting to the Sport Mode enabled the engine to remain within the optimum torque range proving better acceleration. It was also a delight to hear the new motor’s different grunt at higher rpm while quickly tackling the ascents. More so, every time we hit the brakes, the transmission also shifts to higher rpm gear to do engine braking. It became an advantage during our way down, necessitating more engine braking. By the time we reached Pinto Art Museum in Antipolo City, we were still relaxed and wanted more of the fun drive we experienced.
Peace of mind
Safety-wise, there are standard front driver/passenger and side airbags, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) with Agile Handling Assist (AHA), Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), Hill Start Assist (HSA), and Power Door Locks with Speed-Sensing Auto-Lock. Moreover, the 1.5 V CVT variant has a multi-view rear camera with dynamic guidelines and, of course, Honda’s G-force Control (G-CON) Collision Safety Body.
Image credits: Randy S. Peregrino
Read full article on BusinessMirror