Honda City Hybrid

• I like the design of the Honda City Hybrid because of its simpleness. It does not split opinions, looks neat, and maintains a premium factor.

• It gets 16-inch alloy wheels which are the same as the non-hybrid model. The spare is a 15-inch steel wheel.

• Honda has kept the design pretty sober but still some elements like the wrap-around tail lights, and the chrome strip over the grille make it easily recognisable.

• The dashboard layout has been kept pretty simple as well, but it looks outdated compared to other models in the segment.

• However, the fit and finish is premium as all touchpoints are covered in soft touch materials and the rotatory knobs are of a very high quality.

• Over the non-hybrid variants, the City hybrid gets a carbon-fibre-finish insert on the dashboard which looks quite cool.

• There are four different places to keep your phone in the centre console. It offers large door pockets, well-designed cupholders in the front, a decent sized glovebox, and storage in the front centre armrest.

• Rear passengers get seat back pockets with dedicated slots for phones, and two cupholders in the centre armrest.

• Front seats offer ample amount of space and have soft cushioning. The steering wheel gets both tilt and telescopic adjustment, which makes it easy to find your ideal driving position.

• Rear seats are also spacious but if you’re over 5’10”, you’ll feel the headroom is not sufficient.

• The bench is also wide enough to accommodate 3 passengers, and the middle one gets a dedicated headrest.

Features

Here are some of the highlight features of the City hybrid:

• The City hybrid gets 6 airbags, all-wheel disc brakes, electronic parking brake, electronic stability control, and a tyre pressure monitoring system.

• It also comes with a lane watch camera (left side only), and level 2 ADAS features like adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and autonomous emergency braking.

• The pre-facelift Honda City received a 5-star safety rating at ASEAN NCAP, which is likely to remain the same for the facelifted version.

• Compared to the non-hybrid version, which gets a 506-litre boot, the hybrid version gets a lower boot capacity of 410-litres. This is due to the placement of the battery pack.

• Nonetheless, you can keep a full suitcase set (small, medium, and large) along with one of two small bags.

1.5-litre strong-hybrid petrol engine

• This engine feels more refined than the standard petrol unit, and it packs a punch.

• Being a strong-hybrid engine, it offers quick acceleration in the city and makes overtakes effortless.

• Even on the highways, you can feel the power and get a fun driving experience.

• At low speeds, the City hybrid runs on EV mode around 60 percent of the time, which helps it get a great fuel efficiency.

• Doesn't matter if you’re cruising around or driving in bumper to bumper traffic, you can expect a fuel efficiency of around 20kmpl.

• At low speeds, the suspension works silently and absorbs most of the road’s imperfections. It also handles potholes well and doesn't transfer a lot of movement to the cabin. 

• On the highways, undulations and cracks are handled well and the City hybrid remains stable.

• In terms of handling, the sedan feels agile and has the ride amount of weight in the steering wheel, which makes taking corners a little fun.

Which Variant Of The Honda City Hybrid Is The Most Value For Money?

• The City hybrid is available only in a single fully loaded variant. If you want something more affordable and are willing to let go of the hybrid powertrain, you can consider the mid-spec V variant of the standard City.

Is The Honda City Hybrid right for you?

The City has always been the safe choice in its segment and if you’re looking for a compact sedan which has a focus on fuel efficiency, then the City hybrid is your only option. But it is much more than that. The City hybrid is a sophisticated sedan which offers you a good amount of space along with a decent feature list, packed in a premium package.

Yes, it is not the most feature rich car in the segment, and can feel a little outdated. But for those who want a daily use car with all the basic amenities, and a high mileage, the City hybrid makes a lot of sense.

Other Options To Consider

Hyundai Verna

Reasons To Consider

• Most feature rich in the segment

• Powerful turbo-petrol engine option

Reasons To Ignore

• Has a polarising design

• Not as fuel efficient

Skoda Slavia/ Volkswagen Virtus

Reasons To Consider

• Better driving dynamics

• Sporty look and feel

Reasons To Ignore

• Not as spacious

• No ADAS features on offer