Introduced in the mid-1990s, the Honda City has become a household name among Malaysians and has been the first Honda model owned by many. Over four generations, the model has grown from being a popular choice to being among the best-selling cars in Malaysia. Not only has it been a leader in the B-segment for 5 consecutive years but it has also been the best-selling model among the non-national brands.
Although the City has become a successful and desirable car for Malaysians, Honda Malaysia has continued to find out how they can make it better. With the all-new 5th generation, the City is once again a game-changer with advanced technology as well as stronger performance. This is in line with the company’s aim of leading the way with Next Generation Advanced Technologies to bring more benefits and value to customers.
Growing up, growing bigger
Just as the Civic ‘grew up’ and has become a larger car in many aspects (compare today’s generation to the first Civic sedan of the late 1970s), so too has the new City grown. Now measuring 4553 mm in overall length, it is 111 mm longer with 54 mm added to the width to broaden it to 1748 mm. The roofline is also lower by 10 mm, giving a sleeker profile for the lengthened body.
With a new design, the exterior gains a more distinctive profile with striking details. Sharp character lines add sportiness which are complemented by the projector headlights incorporating LED Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) and LED tail lights. For the City 1.5L V, the headlights have LED illumination too.
Chrome adds distinction to the front grille with a Shark Fin Antenna on the roof giving a sporty touch. There are also newly-designed multi-spoke 15-inch alloy wheels fitted, with larger 16-inch units for the 1.5L V version.
For those who want sportier looks, Honda dealers offer the Honda Modulo Package which consists of a front under-spoiler, side under-spoiler and bootlid spoiler. Additionally, there are Urban and Utility packages to add high-quality accessories to the car.
Proven powertrain
The 1.5-litre all-aluminium i-VTEC engine with 16 valves and dual overhead camshafts has proven to be a reliable and durable powerplant. Improved for the new City, it produces 121 ps of power at 6,600 rpm with 145 Nm of torque at 4,300 rpm. Already well known for its fuel efficiency, the fuel economy can be enhanced with the use of ECON mode at the press of a button.
Honda Malaysia began popularizing the CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) almost 20 years ago and it is today well accepted by Malaysian motorists. Over the years, Honda engineers have continued to refine the transmission and in the new City, it offers high fuel efficiency, with smoothness that makes driving even more enjoyable. And with paddle shifters, the driver can enjoy the best of both worlds, making manual selected of gears when desired.
Going Beyond B-segment
While the exterior dimensions of the City place it in the B-segment, interior spaciousness is actually more than what a typical car in this segment provides. Legroom for the rear passengers is generous and with the extra width of the new generation, shoulder room is also more comfortable.
A more premium image is apparent just looking into the cabin with its two-tone theme, and experienced when seated inside. Plush fabric covers the form-hugging front seats and for the 1.5L V version, there’s even leather upholstery as standard. This version also gets a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter cover.
Functionality with convenience
The redesigned dashboard has the same functionality that characterized the previous City. The combination of analogue and digital displays ensures that the driver is shown necessary information in a way which is easily absorbed.
Attention has been given to helping the driver keep his or her eyes on the road ahead for safety so controls and switches are designed to be intuitively operated. There are controls for the audio system on the steering wheel and a handsfree telephony system. Cruise control is available to reduce fatigue when driving on highways for long periods.
Even starting and stopping the engine is convenient and requires just the press of a button instead of inserting a key. In fact, the engine can be started remotely (away from the car) with just a press of the button on the key fob. This allows the air-conditioner to be activated prior to entering so that the cabin can be cooled down.
New for the 5th generation is the provision of additional vents behind the centre console box. These bring cool air closer to the rear passengers, enhancing their comfort. While the cool air would be appreciated most of the time in our hot climate, the vents can also be shut off if desired.
Needless to say, there are USB ports for recharging personal devices as well as a conventional 12V power socket to power devices like dashcams. However, for a neater arrangement, authorized dealers can provide an optional Honda-recommended Digital Video Recorder which will be installed professionally.
5-star safety plus LaneWatch
With its strong G-FORCE CONTROL (G-CON) body structure, the latest City has been awarded the maximum of 5 stars from ASEAN NCAP. It comes with a comprehensive range of active and passive safety systems and features that will help the driver to avoid an accident and reduce injuries if the accident does occur. ISOFIX points are provided at the rear seat so owners can install compatible childseats which are now required by law.
Being aware of the surroundings is important for safe driving and besides a Multi-Angle Reverse Cameras, the new City 1.5L V now has Honda LaneWatch. This is an innovative camera-based system which provides the driver with a real-time view of the blind spot along the left side of the car. The advantage of this system is that the driver does not need to turn the head so much to see the traffic situation (unlike having to turn a lot to see the door mirror). The LaneWatch display automatically comes on whenever the signal indicator is activated.
Worried about being rammed from behind when you have to brake hard suddenly? Honda has a way to reduce this danger with the Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) system. In the event of the brake pedal being depressed suddenly and with greater force than usual, the brake lights will come on instantly and the hazard warning lights will also begin flashing. This will give immediate warning to drivers behind who can then take action of their own to brake or slow down quickly.
High quality finish
Customers can choose from a range of up to five colours for the exterior finish. The colours are Passion Red Pearl, Platinum White Pearl, Lunar Silver Metallic, Modern Steel Metallic and Crystal Black Pearl. The painting is done at Honda’s own assembly plant in Melaka using advanced equipment. The processes at the assembly plant ensure high quality which enables Honda Malaysia to offer a 5-year warranty with no limit on mileage travelled.
To find out more about the new Honda City and experience it, visit any authorized Honda dealer nationwide. The locations can be found at www.honda.com.my or by calling 1-800-88-2020.
