Looking for the best value B-Segment sedan? You could stop your shopping and drop by any Honda dealer now, here is the all new 2014 Honda City, that could beat the rest of the competitors out from your list of choice. At RM88k, the new City threw in almost all the gadgets one could get from a D-Segment car, minus the GPS navigation, though it has a 7" Display Audio. I would think Honda purposely opted this out because to provide timely map update to a car that sell in the thousands could be a problem to the service centre. Just use your smartphone and run Waze on it, this is the best solution.
| Vios | City | Almera | Polo 1.6 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Power | 109HP/141Nm | 120HP/145Nm | 101HP/139Nm | 104HP/153Nm |
| Transmission | 4-speed | CVT 7-speed | 4-speed | 6-speed |
| Airbags | 2 | 6 | 2 | 2 |
| Traction Control | No | Yes | No | No |
| Cruise Control | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Rear A/C Vent | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Wheel | 15" | 16" | 15" | 15" |
| Price | 86k | 88k | 80k | 91k |
Although the City uses the same engine as the one it replaces, the placement of most items in the engine bay has changed. Even the engine mountings look different and the air intake is now mounted to the front above the grille instead of having an air duct mounted just below the bonnet. This is a good change as the old City air duct could start to lose a few mounting clips after few years. Battery is of maintenance free type NS40ZL, much better than Toyota that offer the traditional type, so they could charge you battery water whenever you bring the car in for a service.
When the car is off, the centre console is simply plain black now as there is no button at all. Looks interesting cool when the panels are lighted up, but plain dull thereafter. As always, the gear stalk is boring again. A gated shifter could bring in the luxury look. Please do something, Honda!
The new City also loses the paddle shift as it now runs on CVT torque converter transmission. It could provide improve fuel efficiency and smoother ride, which is what most customers would want from a city car. However, losing one feature could easily be forgotten as it now has a lot more features added. Are you ready for the list? Here it is:
- Bluetooth mobile connectivity
- Hill start assist
- 6-airbag
- 2 USB port, with HDMI connection (but limited support on model of phones)
- Rear Aircon vents
- 2 Rear power sockets
- 7" Audio system with 8-speaker
- Touch sensitive climate control panel (no button and dial at all)
- One touch rear 60:40 foldable seats from the trunk
- One touch turn signal
- Cruise control
- ECON mode to save even more petrol
- Keyless Entry and Start
- >500-litre trunk capacity which could fit at least 4 golf bags and more
- Emergency Stop signal (hazard light auto on during emergency braking)
When the car is off, the centre console is simply plain black now as there is no button at all. Looks interesting cool when the panels are lighted up, but plain dull thereafter. As always, the gear stalk is boring again. A gated shifter could bring in the luxury look. Please do something, Honda!
Honda also introduces rear drum brake as a cost saving exercise in this
City which could be a let down. However, for a car this size, drum
brake is common among most manufacturers and shall not be the deal
breaker unless one drive like a F1 driver or travel down from Genting
daily. The only drawback for a drum brake in a B-segment car is the
heat dissipation capability while driving downhill, which could cause it
to overheat easily (though disc will as well). For those that is
knowledgeable, the driver should always use the gear braking mechanism instead of
engaging the brake all the way down. The Goodyear Excellence rubber is
decent! Anyway, checking at the engine bay show that ABS module is a 4-channel unit, thus all 4 wheels, disc and drum, get to enjoy similar safety.
Honda's built quality and fitting are always good, leaving all the seams in perfect lines. Then looking closer to the passenger side dash, one might ask what with the fake stitching!!! Vios has it, then now Honda has it...is this 2014 design trend?! Fake will never be real and will never looks good, and after a couple of months, it will start to collect dust! Why, Honda? It could be a relief it is nothing lacey!
Side mirror signal indicator light now looks modern. The tiny strip replaces the old thick indicator and the door look good with an angled profile instead of flat metal sheet.
Having the A/C rear vents and almost flat floor make it a comfortable family car where everyone could enjoy. It even has 2 power sockets at the rear, enough to charge the kids' tablets during a long journey. These are really thoughtful in our hot weather and technological days.
Again, at a decent RM88k, the City is the best value B-segment car available now in the market. This is a car designed with safety in mind, family oriented and cost effective. Furthermore, Honda provides a true 5-Year manufacturer warranty, with 6 free services alternating every 10k kilometers. Unlike most other brands, warranty is 2+3 or 3+2 where additional years are provided by insurance companies that spelled all sorts of terms and conditions that put consumers in difficult positions. Remember the recent VW's picketing activity that force the manufacturer to loosen slightly in the terms of its warranty? Well, Honda builds reliable car, thus only isolated case could happen instead of having big group of customers coming together for a show. Now, let's hope the new Earth Dream CVT is here to stay during the tenure of the ownership, with no breakdown!
