2014 Honda City – First Impressions
If all goes well, we should be seeing the official launch of the new 2014 Honda City within the next two weeks. In fact the car is already on show at selected locations, and to give additional feedback to the motoring public, Honda Malaysia arranged for a select group of motoring journalists to go over to Phuket Thailand for a quick test drive; the car is already on the road in Thailand, and we used cars arranged by our host from Honda Thailand. Do note, however, that there may be some specification and feature differences between the Thailand Honda City and the Malaysian version, although mechanically, they should be much the same.
The Honda City is an important model to Honda Malaysia, and it is expected to contribute approximately 30,000 units to the Honda Malaysia sales figures for 2014. There will be four variants, starting with a lower-priced base model, and moving gradually up the specification/features list to the top-of-the-line model – this should cater for most preferences.
In terms of looks, the new City looks much the same as the previous model, but with certain refinements, such as the front bumper and grille designs, new accentuating lines along the sides, and a different rear array. Looks will affect different people in different ways, but off-hand, I would venture to say that it does look better. The front grille with its wide centre band is something you will either like or be indifferent to; this feature and the tail arrangement would be the main differences, with the overall shape being very similar. We are told that it is a new body – whether it shares the same underpinnings as the outgoing model will be confirmed when we get the exact vehicle specifications on launch day.
Inside, some magic has been worked in terms of space; by moving the dashboard forward closer to the front windscreen the designers have squeezed out more interior space, the result of which is seemingly endless legroom at the rear. Some work has also been done to the suspension set-up and in the area of sound insulation; the result is a very quiet interior, a comfortable ride, and excellent handling characteristics. Depending on the variant, wheel sizes are 15-inch or 16-inch.
We drove for a total of more than 300 kilometres through a mix of highway (Thai style) and excellent ‘country-side’ roads, with a fair share of winding roads, and the Honda City did give a good account of itself. As mentioned, the ride quality is excellent for a B-segment car, and cabin insulation is excellent. There is no change in the engine horsepower, which remains the same as the previous model, although we were warned that the final figure may vary a horsepower or two, something to be reconfirmed when we get the final vehicle specifications at time of launch.
From a driver’s viewpoint, there doesn’t seem to be any difference in the power delivery; with seven virtual speeds, the engine torque is better used, and the new generation CVT used appears to have less of a ‘rubber-band’ effect. It is still there though.
The saving grace of the CVT would be the potential fuel economy over the ownership of the Honda City; the CVT allows a high final gearing (lower engine speed) at cruising speeds, which will save plenty of ringgit – with the imminent rise of fuel prices in the near future, the cost per kilometre in terms of fuel is something that people will appreciate.
Some of the Thailand City variants come with paddle-shifters, and I could get away from the rubber-band effect by invoking them; when in ‘S’ mode and using the paddle shifters, the CVT control system actually ‘locks’ the virtual ratios at a pre-determined ‘ratio’, allowing the City to ‘accelerate’ using the engine revs, providing a driving sensation that is similar to that of a normal transmission. Sadly we are told that according to surveys conducted by Honda with core groups, the finding was that the people who are likely to purchase the Honda City do not really care for the paddle shifters. Well I do, and I believe that there are enough other people who also do, and for the sake of these more ‘sporty-minded’ people, I hope to see them back on again soon. At a personal level, I find that using the paddle shifters on the winding B-road sections actually gives me better control over the car, and I am able to mete out the power better. I do agree than in a highway situation, I would not use the paddles as much, but then again, being able to ‘live’ a little every once in a while would be justification enough to have the paddle shifters, besides which, the ability to ‘lock top gear ratio whilst cruising would also be a means of saving fuel.
My initial driving impression of the new 2014 Honda City tells me that it is a great car – it delivers good power, and with the new CVT, it is a promise of even better fuel economy. With four variants and with the accompanying price differential for each one, it will offer different value packages to suit more would-be buyers. Prices are yet to be announced – but I expect that the prices would closely mirror that of Honda’s nearest competitor.
