New Honda City Review (i-DTEC Diesel) Images, features, Price: Urban Legend

Cabin, Comfort and features

Apart from the lack of a diesel engine, the relatively moderate list of features on the old city was also one of the reasons why the Hyundai Verna managed to become the success it is. Honda have ensured that the new City is second to none in the segment as regards features and have laden it with a whole army of safety, comfort and convenience features, along with an interior which looks much more premium than the one it replaces.

Everything on the inside is new. The dashboard, the center console, the instrument panel, the seats, the door panels and the steering wheel – everything has been designed exclusively for the new City. Honda has given the dashboard a horizontally laid out theme. The top portion of the dashboard has intentionally been kept clean, and there are no recesses which abound in cars from smaller segments. The central A/C vents are slim, horizontal units, while the side vents are broader.

The dashboard features multiple accents and materials, including piano black, silver and soft-touch black. There is a medium-resolution five inch screen (three inch on lower spec variants) on the central console which can be used to control the audio unit as well as displays the images captured by the parking camera with three viewing angles. Under the screen you get a touch panel (not screen) to control the air conditioning system with climate control. While all of these features will appeal a lot to the mainstream car buyer, somehow the arrangement doesn’t quite feel very intuitive and easy to use. The elements on the dash and the features are visually appealing, and work well too, but somehow don’t represent the simplicity, subtleness and tough build exuded by some other German machines.

The features list on the new City, as mentioned earlier, is generous. The Honda city gets rear A/C vents, with 2+2 power sockets for front and rear occupants. Cruise control is new and a welcome inclusion. The audio system, though average sounding is an eight speaker unit, which gets a CD player back on popular demand. You get a sunroof, steering mounted controls and push button start with keyless entry as standard on the top spec variant.

As regards safety the City gets ABS with EBD and twin airbags on the top variant. Lower spec variants also get ABS and driver side airbag as standard. Top spec variants also gets power folding ORVMs. The city also features an MID within its instrument panel, showing data pertaining to trip and fuel consumption.

The three spoke steering wheel unit with mounted control for audio and cruise function is a new design. It features a brushed aluminium accent with a mesh effect at the bottom for a sportier look. The leather wrapped unit is nice to hold, though not telescopically adjustable. It’s one smooth unit which is a joy to operate at all speeds.

The instrument ‘trinaccle’ features an analogue tacho on the left, with a big analogue speedo in the middle and a digital MID on the right. On the areas within and around these dials, you have your other tell-tale lights. The MID display has an instantaneous fuel efficiency meter at the top, with a fuel gauge at the bottom. Among other readouts are clock, odo, trip, and ambient temperature. You can cycle through the readouts using the push-to-toggle button. All three pods on the instrument are predominantly blue, and adjustable for brightness. The light turns from blue to green if you drive with a light foot – a nice feature to promote efficient driving.

Storage spaces come aplenty in the new City. Between the front two seats you get two cupholders- closer the center console, followed by a small tray to keep your wallet or cellphone. Behind it, you have a flip open armrest with decent storage space underneath. Front door pockets have space for a big bottle, extending into a narrower crevice. The armrest also has an opening to keep your wallet. Rear door pockets also have a big bottle holder with a bit more spare space and a door armrest crevice similar to the front door. In addition, the central armrest at the rear also features two cupholders – one big and one small.

The front seats are big, wide, well-cushioned and comfortable. The back seats offer more knee-room than anything we have seen in the segment. There is ample shoulder room too and the city would accommodate three in the backseat without much squeeze. A 510 liter boot capacity makes the City a complete package as regards features and space. The only qualm we have is the headroom, which though can come across as very limited for taller passengers. A curvy roofline and a sharply raked rear windscreen, which gives the City is sporty exterior character play the spoilsport here.

Next page for engine and transmission>>>