Honda City 2011-2013 Honda City 2011-2014 V MT CNG

City 2011-2014 V MT CNG Review

Honda Cars India Limited is one of the most reputed and well known car brands in the country. This company is a fully owned subsidiary of the renowned Japanese automobile giant, Honda Motor Company. This Indian arm started its operation since year 1995, when it was established here and since then have been constantly striving to make and produce reliable and trustworthy cars for the Indian clientele. Their formidable stables have quite a few car models that have impressive designs and are equipped with performance packed engines, which are consistent and fuel efficient. One such sedan from their stable is the magnificent Honda City, which was first launched in year, 1998 and since then is acclaimed to be one of the most stylish and power packed sedan in the country’s car market place. This sleek and modish premium sedan was only made with a performance packed and fuel efficient petrol engine till very recently. Honda India still does not have a single diesel engine based car in their fleet, which is quite surprising as the Indian buyers are more inclined towards buying diesel cars as the petrol rates are quite high. But, the absence of diesel engine based cars have never bothered this car maker and they have sold thousands of cars since their respective launches and are still going strong. To further get some change in the Honda City mode line, the company has recently launched a CNG compatible trim, which is the Honda City CNG variant. The company has done some changes to this new trim with a slightly modified engine and a reworked suspension system, which is said to further enhance the driving experience of the passengers. Honda Cars India Limited is also offering a two year warranty on this sedan to further add to the benefits of the buyers. There have been quite a few changes and the company has also added a few features to this new 2012 Honda City CNG trim. Some of the most exciting features incorporated in this latest sedan are an anti lock braking system, dual SRS airbags for the front passengers, seat belt pretensioners, cruise control, alloy wheels, an interactive intelligence system and many more such utility features.

Exteriors

The outsides of this Honda City CNG sedan are very attractive with a sleek and aerodynamic bodyline. The front façade is quite bold and has a neatly designed front grille, which has three horizontal slats that are finished in chrome and gives this sedan a rich look. A large insignia of the company has been embossed in this radiator grille, which is flanked by a bright head light cluster. The company has integrated powerful halogen lamps in it along with side turn blinkers. The front body colored bumper gets a pair of bright fog lamps and a black colored large air dam in the center. The front windscreen is quite large and is made of green tinted glass, which has been fitted with a pair of intermittent wipers. The side profile is smooth and lustrous with body colored external rear view mirrors have been integrated with side turn blinkers, which gives this sedan an urbane and stylish look. The door handles are finished with chrome and gives a refined look to the side profile of this sedan. There is also a door lock protector and also body colored mud guards and a dual horn as well. The neatly carved out pronounced wheel arches have been fitted with a set of newly designed set of chic 10 spoke light 15 inch alloy wheels , which have been covered with tubeless radial tyres of size 175/65 R15 that have a improvised road grip. The rear end gets a curvy boot lid with a big wind screen that has a defogger, an exhaust pipe finisher along with a bright and large tail lamp cluster.

The dimensions of this new 2012 Honda City CNG variant are quite liberal and this sedan can easily accommodate five passengers with ease. The total length of this stylish premium sedan is 4440mm along with an extensive overall width of 1695mm. The total height of this new variant is 1485mm and it has a roomy wheel base of 2550mm, which is quite spacious. The minimum ground clearance of this premium sedan is 165mm and it has a turning radius of 5.3 meters. The company is offering this polished sedan in quite few vibrant and refreshing exterior paint options. The list of these lively metallic paint choices are a magnificent Carnelian Red Pearl finish, a graceful Sparkling Brown Metallic finish, a subtle yet elegant Urban Titanium metallic finish, a trendy Bold Beige metallic finish, a refined Alabaster Silver metallic finish and also a bright and splendid Taffeta White finish.

Interiors

The company has bestowed this 2012 Honda City CNG trim with very fashionable and hip interiors, which will certainly entice the customers. The seating arrangement is very comfortable with trimly designed well cushioned seats, which are covered with premium quality beige fabric upholstery that makes this sedan look modish. The door pads and arm rest also gets fabric inserts, while the internal handles are finished in chrome. Apart from this, the company has used quite a bit of chrome for the interiors, which is making this sedan look refined and sophisticated. The air conditioning controls have chrome treatment on them, while the inner door handle lining as well as the door switch panel has a silver finish on it. The company has blessed this Honda City CNG trim with floor mats, which make this sedan look polished. There are quite a few storage spaces as well in this premium sedan such as a large glove box for keeping bigger things, a front cup holder, coat hanger, front console pocket, a pull pocket on the driver side, foot rest, a headlight on and key reminder alarm, headlight height adjuster, front center arm rest, a couple of sun visors and a front co-passenger vanity mirror, driver and co-passenger side front seat back pocket and other such spaces. The hand brake knob is chrome plated, while the steering panel has a silver finish. The driver seat height can be customized and the power steering wheel gets mounted control buttons. The central console gets a special aluminum finish to it, which makes it look sophisticated. All these and many more such things make this Honda City CNG, one of the most sought after sedans in the Indian car market.

Engine and Performance

The company has equipped this wonderful premium sedan with a performance packed 1.5 L bi-fuel engine, which is compatible with petrol as well as a CNG option . This power packed drive train has four cylinders and has been fitted with 16 valves and a single over head cam shaft (SOHC) . This sedan also has been equipped with the highly acclaimed i-VTEC (intelligent Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control) technology, which aids in enhancing the fuel efficiency of this sedan. This Honda City CNG has the ability to generate a peak power output of 115.64 Bhp at 6600 Rpm in combination with a maximum torque yield of 146 Nm at 4800 Rpm and also has an electronic fuel injection based supply system. This performance packed petrol mill is cleverly mated with a synchronized 6 speed (5-speed forward and one reverse) manual transmission gear box , which is very efficient. The mileage is certainly increased with the CNG option and now this latest sedan will become a tough competitor to all the other contenders in its segment.

Braking and Handling

This Honda City CNG trim has been fitted with a robust suspension system along with a proficient braking mechanism, both of which helps the driver to keep this sedan in control and stable. The front wheels of this new sedan has been fitted with powerful disc brakes, while the rear end gets soling drum brakes for efficient braking on any road conditions. On the other hand, the front axle of this Honda City CNG trim has been integrated with a McPherson strut type of a mechanism that has a stabilizer and also a coil spring. The rear axle of this premium sedan has been fitted with a torsion beam axle that has a stabilizer and also a coil spring to keep this sedan steady and well balanced. Apart from all these mechanisms, the company has also equipped this latest sedan with an ABS with brake assist and a highly advanced electronic brake force distribution system as well to further enhance the handling and maneuverability of this premium sedan.

Safety Features

The Honda City CNG has been equipped with quite a number of safety and protective features for the passengers as well as the vehicle itself. The inventory of these crucial features include dual front SRS airbags for enhanced protection of the front passengers, seat belt pretensioners with double load limiters, driver seat belt reminder notification lamps, a high mounted stop lamp at the rear end, an engine immobilizer that also has a engine control unit (ECU) for added protection and security of the sedan. This sedan also has a G-CON, which is a highly developed gravitational force technology and also child proof rear door locks. The driver side window gets an automatic up and down function with a pinch guard, while this Honda City CNG also gets an antilock braking system with electronic brake force distribution along with brake assist as well. All these advanced safety features in combination makes this new 2012 Honda City CNG, one of the safest vehicles in its segment.

Comfort Features

The company has incorporated quite a number of convenience features in this 2012 Honda City CNG version, which will certainly amaze the customers. The list of these practical and no nonsense features include a powerful and efficient HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) unit, which cools the entire cabin very quickly. Then there is also an integrated music system that has a MP3 player along with a Radio FM and other input options such as a USB interface and an Aux-in port as well. This audio system has a speed volume compensation system along with front and rear speakers and a couple of tweeters as well to enhance the in-cabin entertainment quotient. Other features in this 2012 Honda City CNG include all four power windows, power door mirrors and power door locks as well. The instrument cluster is brilliant and has quite a number of notifications such as an average fuel consumption meter, a distance to empty indicator, an eco lamp, a real time fuel consumption display with warning, an accessory socket, an internal day and night rear view mirror, a electronic power steering that is very responsive and has mounted audio and cruise control buttons and many more such impressive functions, which will make the driving experience of the passengers exhilarating.

Pros

Impressive exteriors, remarkable comfort features, powerful engine.

Cons

High cost of ownership, a few more advanced features can be added.