Can 2017 Honda City become the segment leader? Let’s find out

Since its inception, the B-segment sedan from Honda has been one of the best sellers for the company but, still, it has not managed to become the segment leader for a very long time. Joining the Honda City in its respective segment are Toyota Vios, Suzuki Ciaz and Hyundai Accent which are also its closest competitors. But, with the facelift, the City is all charged up to further intensify the long-running rivalry in the segment. Launched at a starting price of Php 764,000 let’s see how the new City manages to take lead in the segment.

First Impression

The 2017 City gets significant changes in terms of styling which are majorly restricted to the front. The introduction of the new sharp-edged bumper with wide honeycomb grille grants a sleeker look to the new City. Whereas, the incorporation of LED daytime running lights significantly adds a sporty quotient to the overall design of this executive sedan.

LEDs are also added in the fog lights, tail lights, and trunk lid spoiler stop lamp which is in line with the latest trend adopted by a majority of automakers. The top-end variant also gets 16-inch alloy wheels that improve the overall stance of the City in an effective manner. 

How’s The Cabin?

Honda has always provided premium cabin appeal with City and the updated version is no exception. Though there are no significant changes in the cabin, the City still has a competent cabin to challenge its competitors. The plush feel of the cabin is reflected through soft-touch plastics, chrome highlights, and comfortable seats. The most notable change in the cabin includes the addition of a new touchscreen infotainment system that was missing in the previous model. The 7.0-inch screen coupled to the system gives great resolution and is quite easy to operate for the driver.

The features accompanied with this new system include Wi-Fi support, MirrorLink smartphone integration, navigation with real-time traffic data, 1.5GB onboard storage, two USB slots, and an HDMI port. 

The Drive

Honda has not changed anything under the hood of the updated City and the sedan continues to feature 1.5-litre i-VTEC engine. With 120 PS maximum power and 145 Nm peak torque, the engine is a riot for City lovers. The engine smoothly reaches its limit without any major issues and one can feel the power with just a little push on the throttle. Although the NVH is quite low in the City but with revs climbing, a bit noise can be easily audible within the cabin.

Gear shifting is quite swift and smooth in the manual variant and with CVT the experience is even better. On the crowded roads of Manila and other parts of the country, the CVT options will be a real relief. The suspension manages to offer decent comfort on bumpy roads but, still, it cannot be categorized as the segment leader. While cornering, a fair bit of body roll will be felt but, the overall experience will not be too bad.

Early Verdict

Honda City has always offered significant reliability, performance, space, and comfort and the same is delivered by the updated version. Although the car has not been able to set a benchmark for the other rivals in the segment, it has come very close that will surely be a matter of concern for other automakers. If you are looking for a sedan that offers ample cabin space, efficiency, swift handling without compromising on the performance front then the 2017 Honda City is for you.