A world class product!

Exterior The car looks very good and it's arrow shot design is a head turner in highways. The new alloy wheels of 2012 are much better than previous one and add elegance to the whole car. The front  elevated chrome grill is the center of attraction for the whole car and rear of the car looks good too especially chrome finish on exhaust and sports cara like haunched bottom. From the side car looks the best and feels like a well-built luxury sedan. From the top it just looks like any other sedan. The turn indicators on ORVM look elegant as well.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) Interiors are spacious and seats are quite comfortable. They feel bigger and better than any other car. The cavity like line seperating the two colors of dashboard look good. The new model has a nice aluminium finished center console panel with neatly made chrome knobs. On the doors, the silver line is changed with aluminium finished line and handles are made chrome; and they look elegant. The AC vents also get chrome finish which looks great either. The new blue colored displays look cool at nights and are easy to read. The fabric used in seats is of high quality and can easily be washed with a brush. At the rear the seats are comfortable however sitting on the middle bench for too long can be quite uncomfortable. There are many storage spacer and two cup holders at rear which make it convenient to have some drinks. The are rest for the front is though oddly placed and it becomes painful to keep your elbow on it for long time. The Cruise Control feature is a worthwile addition to this car and relaxes the long and boring highway drives. However, the quipment levels are less like no reverase camera, parking sensors, bluetooth connectivity, automatic climate control AC, central locking etc. though most of them can be added at dealer level. There is a unique storage space under the rear seats where bags and suitcases can be stored. The glovebox is large and ergonomically well designed. Though the VMT model which I own doesn't have vanity lights in front, they are only available at the center of roof (a cost cutting sign). The ICE system is good to and you can attach a pendrive or get some AUX device to play the music; and as far as audio quality is concerned, it is the best in it's class, much better than any other car I have been in. The plastic quality used in making interiors not bad either. The center rear view mirror is though locally made in India piece.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox The 1.5 ltr. i-vtec motor is phenomenally refined and smooth. You can't hear it ruuning when the car is on. If you switch on the AC, then only some noise compressor running noise comes from bonet. The low end performance is quite good but once the engine crosses 1500 mark, it gets alive and on crossing around 3500-4000 mark, the vtec kicks in and the shatteringly cruises to red line. You will feel an immediate surge from the engine and inertia makes you stuck to the seat. You get a sports car like feeling from it. In highways, overtaking is easy and definitelt inspires confidence, even then you have sufficient power in hand and City will continue to cruise till red line. Where it loses out, is in low revs.; the torque delivery is weak and often have to downshift to get the car moving in traffic or speed breakers, the engine needs to be revved hard in high gears like 2nnd and 3rd to get the car moving even if it is not at rest. However, in first gear if you rev the car past 2000 rpm and start releasing the clutch, then it will feel like a giant pushing you forward (meaning it feels like you are driving a very torquey vehicle). Also, if you drive at high gears in low speed, you will get very bad fuel efficieny (less thean 8 kmpl). But, if you drive at required gear at required speed, then you will get very nice fuel efficiency (more than 18 kmpl). If you even accelerate hard, then only gor few seconds FE goes down and then picks up again to above 15 mark. The ECO lamp indicator in the new City makes you drive accordingly. The gear box is silky smooth and so as gear shifts. The clutch is also nicely weighed and gas paddle is safely made with a very good drive by wire system.

Ride Quality & Handling Ride quality is good for highways but in bad roads, it worsens and you catch every pothole you encounter. The ground clearence is improved and hence you don't often hit the road (almost never). The body roll is minimal and it is not yet felt by me. The car handles well and like most Hondas, it isn't an out to out drivers car, the driving position is though commanding and spot on. The car feels balanced and stable at all speeds, even 150 kmhr and handles quite good. The steering is adequately sensitive and never blasts to turn hard.  

Final Words Honda City is a very reliable car and almost never breaks down. Even in winters it starts at once. It offers an executive feel to you and has a good resale value and after sales service. The car is best in it's segment and no petrol car comes close to it. It has the most advanced variable valve timing system and those claiming of having two of them are no where close to City's single one. It truly justifies the statement, 'It is a world class product.'

Areas of improvement The following areas need to be improved,

1) The headlight is not powerful and nigh visibility is poor, Honda needs to upgrade the lamp and make it stock.

2) Tyres are very thin and can lose grip if driven hard. Honda sould increase the size of tyres and make it stock.

3) It would be good, if Honda offers direct injection technology to the engine. It will improve the low end torque.

4) Diesel variant should be introduced.

5) The steering wheel turns improportionally, Honda needs to fix this.

6) What about dead pedal?

Spacious interiors, looks, highway performance, fuel efficiency, a silent and fast carlow end torque, low levels of equipment, poor ride quality in bad roads, no climate control option!