With the Civic getting bigger and more expensive, is the City ready to take the role of Honda’s affordable little sedan?
Nitish Ramanujam

Cars, like us, get fatter as the years go by. Take a look at the latest avatar of your favourite model, and chances are it will be way bigger than it was a decade ago. Technology, safety requirements and ever-increasing consumer needs necessitate car makers to come up with bigger vehicles that are, in turn, heavier than the outgoing models. Honda’s much lauded Civic nameplate for instance, has served and entertained families and enthusiasts alike, in its various guises over the years. In its current FD iteration, the Civic has come a long way from its roots and I would say it’s not even the inexpensive fun runabout it used to be. That honour would go to the previous-gen Jazz but for the fact that it has been replaced by a geeky blob and the brand commands premium prices in the region as well. Looks like the City has a perfect little spot to slip into, right?

Well, for starters, the new City has shed much of its predecessor’s angular, 8-bit videogame looks for a slightly curved demeanour, with faint hints of the FCX Clarity here and there. Honda says the design of the new car is based on the concept of a compact yet dynamic architecture - they call it an “Arrow Shot Form” - that reflects strength and momentum. The protruding front end, with a continuation of grille motif and headlights is complemented by a sporty high-deck rear, featuring a cut off tail and strangely attractive lights. You still wouldn’t call it handsome, but it looks techy in a nice, inoffensive way. That is a good thing, as the City is sold in 39 countries around the world and is one of Honda’s core models, along with the Jazz, Civic and the Accord, with cumulative sales passing the 1 million unit mark in late May 2008.

Similar to most cars in this class, the interior packaging is where the action is all at, and an art in which Honda excels. Following the company’s “man maximum, machine minimum” concept, the new City – which is only 5mm longer than its predecessor – is afforded a wheelbase that is 100 mm longer. Predictably, occupants are treated to a roomy cabin featuring reclining rear seats and ample innovative storage spaces. Though it’s a sea of beige all around, the monotony is broken up by the black upper part of the dashboard along with lashings of slightly cheesy-looking matt silver-coloured bits. There is nothing major to fault here, as the interior materials and textures look and feel good, controls fall easily to hand and the chunky steering wheel is a joy to grip. The digital audio system is compatible with assorted storage devices ranging from ipod, MP3 players, USB devices to cell phones and even VCDs. Our EX-spec tester also came equipped with steering wheel-mounted controls and a DSP equalizer for fine acoustic tuning. For our region’s soaring temperatures, Honda has uprated the air conditioning system with 10 percent increased air flow rate, along with special filters and a high-efficiency condenser facilitating 15 percent higher heat exchange.

Under the hood, the City comes with the familiar 1.5-litre inline-4 that is seen in the Jazz, making 118hp and 145Nm of torque, while providing good fuel economy. Equipped with a smooth-shifting 5-speed automatic transmission, performance is good enough for city errands, but runs out of steam on the open road. An optional paddle shift function - which is quite responsive in its actions - lets you play Jenson Button behind the wheel for those F1 moments, but given the buzzy nature of the little engine, we preferred to simply potter around town, letting the auto ‘box do its stuff.

Ride characteristics - courtesy McPherson struts in front and H-Type torsion beam suspension in the rear - are average, but it does feel bumpy at times despite a longer wheelbase over the outgoing model. U turns and tight turning manoeuvres are also simplified due to a shorter turning radius, thanks to an improvement in front suspension geometry and steering.

The new CITY is available in two trim levels. Even the base LX is quite well specced with power mirrors and windows, electric power steering, tilt/telescopic steering column, fuel consumption display, ABS and airbags, along with front seat belt pre-tensioner and load limiter. The higher EX model gets additional features including paddle shift on the automatic transmission, 16-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, side mirror with turn lamps, chromed exhaust tip, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, keyless entry, driver seat height adjuster and reclining/folding rear seats.

Overall, the all new City offers typical Honda quality with excellent interior space, fuel efficiency and quite likely good residual values. If you’re in the market for a sensibly-priced sedan and don’t mind the slightly futuristic looks, this one could well fit your list.