Confident of reclaiming its leadership among the sedans of Asia?

Since its launch at Delhi’s Auto Expo in 1998, the Honda City has been the most successful sedan selling nearly 700,000 cars on the Indian subcontinent and being very successful in a hundred countries. It had always been driver-friendly with excellent pick-up, ride and handling and fuel economy. When launched it soon swept aside the Opel Astra, the Ford Escort and the Mitsubishi Lancer. It was seriously challenged by other sedans especially the Hyundai Accent and Verna, but new models with better engines and features kept it as the top selling saloon. A year ago the slightly cheaper Maruti Suzuki Ciaz overtook it, so a new model became necessary.

Though challenged by a number of excellent sedans from Hyundai, Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, Ford, GM, Fiat and others, it had to keep reinventing itself to reclaim market leadership after every serious challenge. Last year the Maruti Ciaz slipped into top position and Honda responded with a hugely upgraded new model.

Like all Honda cars, it is very driver-friendly with excellent ride handling, acceleration, and comfort and fuel efficiency. This Fourth generation City has dropped the distinctive earlier ‘waterfall’ chrome grille and opted for a wide heavily chromed grille between the LED headlights that gives it a sporty and wide luxurious look. In profile, the side creases are deeper to look a bit like the Accord and it is mounted on big 15-inch wheel rims though the top models have 16-inch rims with wider low profile tyres. With a choice of five bright colours, they stand out in traffic.

It is powered by a peppy 1500cc 100 HP diesel engine with a smooth six-speed manual gearbox and a 1500cc 120 HP petrol engine mated to a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) automatic gearbox. There is also a five-speed manual. Both engines deliver good flat torque for effortless pick-up and very impressive fuel efficiencies.

A great deal of effort has gone to the interiors from a soft-touch dashboard and white illumination of the new seven-inch 3D multi-Information display. This offers easy access to entertainment, news, phones, apps, navigation, streaming and email. It also clearly displays the camera image of the rear while reversing. The three-ring chrome trimmed round dashboard gauges and multi-function switches on the steering wheel are convenient. The car also offers all the latest gadgets for tilt and telescopic steering adjustment, key-less entry, one push start/ stop, LED interior cabin lights, self folding wing mirrors, et cetera. Needless to say the City offers a battery of features for safety including anti-skid ABS with EDB on all models, anti-theft immobiliser and alarm, anti-pinch window glass, et cetera.

The spacious beige coloured seats are very luxurious with a new double-stitched silky fabric with many convenient pockets for cups, mobiles and other stuff. There are rear seat AC vents to effectively cool the rear seats in the hottest summer heat. The interiors feel very spacious, luxurious and inviting.

The range of six petrol and four diesel engine models are not cheap but they are so richly endowed that Honda is very confident of reclaiming its leadership among the sedans of Asia.

The author is the region’s most celebrated automobile columnist