Honda City

Like on the outside, the interior cabin of the Honda City also looks sophisticated without going too much overboard with the theme and materials. The overall layout, despite being half a decade old now, still manages to look decent and slightly unique, thanks to its driver-centric theme for the layout.

The multifunctional steering wheel with round buttons and round dials in the instrument console might not look too updated and appealing at the very first place. However, the centre console, which is slightly tilted towards the driver side, looks attractive with sleek and tapered design for the AC vents and a large housing getting a two partitioned design for the touchscreen infotainment system above and a touch-sensitive panel for the automatic climate control below. The silver garnish across the dashboard adds a nice contrast to the all-black cabin, lending a sporty appeal to it.

Apart from the features mentioned above, the Honda City also gets leather upholstery, push-button start with keyless entry, driver seat height adjustment, retractable outside rearview mirrors, rear AC vents, and split-folding rear seats. Space management is excellent, and the rear gets ample room and comfort for the passengers on board.

The Honda City has always been one handsome and nicely proportional looking vehicle right from the beginning, and even this fourth-generation model in its facelifted avatar is no different. However, with the fifth-generation model already on sale in some global markets, the Singapore-spec Honda City has begun to look a bit dated.

Nevertheless, the Honda City manages to create a positive impression when you view it head-on, with the sleek front fascia comprising of a pronounced front grille with a thick chrome slab in between and a pair of all LED headlamps shaped in the form of pentagon and stretched horizontally. These headlamps also house sim looking L-shaped daytime running LEDs on their outer edges. The front bumper with angular housings for the all-LED fog lamps also makes it look substantial.

From the side, the Honda City impresses with its aerodynamic profile with a prominent curve above the front fender and a sharp crease flowing through the side door panels. The chrome finished door handles and stylish looking 16-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels certainly take the factor of premium appeal even higher. 

The Honda City has a good flair in its rear design, with the large and sweptback tail lamps covering the boot lid pretty effectively. The sleek chrome garnish in the middle of the boot lid between the tail lamps complete the rear profile.

The Honda City is known for providing a good low-speed comfortable ride quality and high-speed stability, courtesy the fine-tuned suspension setup of Macpherson struts at the front and torsion beam at the rear. The steering too also feels perfectly weighted for varying speeds and on-road conditions.

The Honda City has its heart in the tried and tested 1.5-litre four-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine, which is available in Singapore with a CVT gearbox paired to it as standard. The engine is good enough to produce a maximum power output of 120 PS and a peak torque output of 145 Nm.

The Honda City is decently kitted with ample safety features, such as dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, vehicle stability assist, hill start assist, emergency stop signal, and a multi-angle rearview camera.

The Honda City, despite its age and slightly dated appeal as compared to its potent direct rivals, still manages to look very upmarket and premium. The mildly sporty appeal is well carried to its powertrain and driving dynamics without compromising much om practicality and daily usability.