Honda City 4th Gen

The interior, akin to the exterior, isn’t all suave and modern like that of the latest-gen Honda City but the cabin of the last-gen car does impress with the practicality on offer as well as the quality of materials used, especially when you take into account the attractive price point at which this car is being sold at.

It is also well designed, with excellent features like several cup holders, various cubbyholes, and touch controls that are easy to use for the air conditioning. All controls are within easy reach of the driver thanks to excellent ergonomics. Even the chairs have strong backs that keep you in place even during sudden directional shifts. There is considerable room available in the front and back, and the driver may easily find a comfortable position by adjusting the seat's height. Even with three people on the bench seat, there is adequate room for the back passengers' shoulders and legs. The rear air conditioning vents also guarantee that the interior cools down more quickly in the heat. The Digipad 2.0 lacks Alexa and Google Assistant capabilities compared to the new-generation device but supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

The grouses here include the touch-sensitive controls for the aircon, a feature that has not been included in the latest City. A simple reason for this omission on the newer model is that these controls aren’t all that easy to use and one often needs to glance away from the road and focus on the touch panel in order to achieve the desired setting. Also, the blue-backlit speedo console has started looking a bit dated. Plus, the tall occupants would wish for slightly more rear headroom.

The 4th generation City is only available with the 1.5-liter iVTEC petrol engine, which produces 117.3 bhp of power and 145 Nm, while the diesel engine type was withdrawn from the market even before the release of the most recent model. Additionally, this time around there is only a 5-speed manual transmission available; there is no CVT option. The powertrain is incredibly polished and enjoyable to drive as usual. It even gives a respectable 12–13 km/l in the city and up to 19 kmph on the highway in terms of fuel efficiency. The NVH (Noise, Vibration, and Harshness) might have been somewhat better regulated, but this could just be nitpicking on our part.

Both passing high-speed traffic on the highway and dealing with speed breakers at sub-20 kmph speeds in second gear are reasonably doable with the right amount of forethought. This engine has a little less power than the most recent City, but in practical terms, the few additional horsepower the new motor offers is not noticeable. The last-gen City is actually still among the fastest to tow a tonne and doesn't falter even much when it comes to high-speed performance.

Honda Cars India has consistently been able to achieve a solid balance between the ride and handling qualities of the City since the debut of the first-gen model back in 1998. The suspension in the City hits a decent chord between stability and comfort. The ride is smooth and capable of handling the typical Indian road well in most driving circumstances. It is also stable at high speeds. Most of the time, the ride quality remains excellent, and on the freeway, the car seems stable. On severe undulations, however, the shock absorbers frequently bottom out rather rapidly. Fortunately, the 165 mm ground clearance keeps you from scratching the undercarriage on rough roads.

The Honda City will, in most situations, provide you with excellent driving comfort and light steering that makes navigating through traffic quite simple. Even at dead centre, the steering is rather precise and doesn't seem shaky. But if you're in the mood for some high-speed apex chasing, it plays spoilsport because it remains light even at high speeds. Overall, the last-generation City lacks the refined dynamics of the previous model, but for the money, it's still a decent bundle.

According to the automaker, the 4th generation Honda City's 'ACE' body structure, which is constructed of High Strength Steel and Advanced High Strength Steel, provides excellent crash protection.

The City is built with your safety and the safety of your automobile in mind. The City receives a number of safety features, including Impact Mitigating Headrests, an Immobilizer with Anti-Theft Alarm, and Rear ISOFIX Anchors and Tethers. Additionally, it has an ABS system, a multiview rear parking camera, and dual front airbags. But unlike before, the top-spec ZX grade of the fourth-generation City is no longer offered, therefore side and curtain airbags are no longer an option.