Fun City
At first glance, I can see they've spiced things up with this current GM generation compared to the previous GD platform. The windshield has been pulled back to give it a longer, swoopier nose. The rear has been tightened by raising it a little and giving it a jutting edge. All this transforms the car into a sleek and sharp wedge profile that's contemporary without missing out on interior space.
This fifth generation Honda City shares the same GM platform as the Jazz and that gives it a bigger overall stance than the previous, disproportionate model. The GD platform, which lasted till 2008, looked like a bug with the front and rear added as an afterthought.
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There's great packaging inside. The long windshield makes it feel like there are acres of space up front. The doors open really wide for easy access and in true Honda fashion, the ergonomics are driver centered with secondary controls within easy reach. The car comes with a classic handbrake situated where it should be: in the centre, operated by a lever like it should be. Seeing this in a new car makes me smile at fond memories of learning how to make a handbrake turn as a kid. What's up with the new foot operated parking brakes?
The seating position is higher than I expected. It's a good thing in the sense I could see quite a bit farther ahead of me. The tall, airy cabin gives off a vibe that I'm in a much bigger car. This is in contrast to the sharp, compact styling of the car's exterior. There's plenty of legroom in the rear for tall adults and the huge boot, offering about 500 litres of storage, means you won't run out of space.
The 1.5 literi-Vtec engine delivers 118bhp and 106lb/ft of torque. It's a strong enough engine but it has a bit of initial lethargy. Rev it hard though and the car delivers. The City comes in one spec only and that comes fitted with disc brakes front and rear for added braking power. The brakes are responsive and ABS is reassuring even when making sudden stops. The 175 mm wide 15-inch tyres are there for fuel efficiency but they look a little out of place on this sharp looking sedan with its wide haunches. Looks like a body builder who misses out on leg days. It needs at least 195 tyres to match the wide stance even though it'll eat a little into the fuel efficiency. The car manages bumps very well, absorbing the myriad people eating manholes on our city streets. It does exhibit some body roll but that's expected. This doesn't detract you from the fun you can have driving it.
The car is aptly named, being well suited to urban city driving. It's a spacious, quick and good-looking sedan that provides agile handling with comfortably bolstered seats. The compact shape allows you to park the car very easily while deftly maneuvering through the hundreds of murderous rickshaws and battle scarred busses running our streets like a demolition derby. And the five star NCAP crash rating means this is very safe car. The comfort and practicality make it a great city car and the ample power is just enough for your everyday needs.
Specs
1.5 liter 4 cylinder i-VTEC engine, 5-speed automatic gearbox, ABS, EBD, airbags, keyless entry, USB interface for audio, engine immobilizer.
Price: 30-31 lakh Taka
Alternative: Toyota Yaris
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