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Honda City VTi (2014)
by Barry Green,reviewed August 2014
When Honda rolled out its Light Car segment sedan offering, the City, it brought cries of ‘A Jazz with a boot’.
Well, Generation II is here and that aforesaid point of difference is now bigger, up from 506 litres capacity to an impressive 536 – larger than a Commodore or Falcon.
The interior has also grown, offering more head, leg and shoulder room. That said, adult passengers in the rear will be challenged for height.
There is a choice of two models – VTi with standard manual or optional $2000 CVT transmission (our test car came with the latter) or better equipped and, hence, dearer VTi-L, which comes with CVT only.
The new City is also big on connectivity, boasting features such as a touch-screen display audio system with hands-free bluetooth functionality (available with Apple or Android phones) as well as a mirror function for viewing navigation and approved apps straight from an Apple iPhone (5 or above).
At $500 less than the outgoing model, the new City undercuts equivalent-spec opposition such as the Hyundai Accent, Nissan Almera and Toyota Yaris.
The driving experience – comfort, performance, handling, ride – falls short of setting any new benchmark, though we suspect it would meet the expectations of most buyers in this segment.
For
Front seat and boot space, connectivity ‘smarts’, frugal fuel economy.
Against
Spacesaver spare, limited rear head space.
Key features
RC, alarm, cruise control, ECON drive mode, multi-info display, steering wheel-mounted controls, AC, remote keyless entry, tilt/reach steering, rear fold-down armrest, rear 60/40 split-fold seats, 7” touch-screen multimedia display, bluetooth with audio streaming, smartphone app integration, single-disc CD player with MP3/WMA.
Safety
DFSCA, ABS, EBD, BA, hill start assist, TC, ESC.
Car Details
| Vehicle make |
Honda |
| Vehicle model |
City VTi |
| Vehicle type |
Honda |
| Year |
2014 |
| Price when new |
$17,990 (with CVT) |
| Current price range |
$ - $
|
| ANCAP crash rating |
|
| Insurance |
Get a quote for car insurance |
| Technical advice |
For more information about your prospective purchase, contact our Motoring Advice Service. |
| Engine |
1.5-litre, SOHC, 4-cyl. |
| Max power |
88kW @ 6600rpm. |
| Max torque |
145Nm @ 4600rpm. |
| Acceleration to 100 km/h |
N/A |
| Braking from 80 km/h |
N/A |
| Driving wheels |
FWD |
| Economy ADR |
5.8 litres/100km. |
| Emissions rating |
|
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This review is based on road testing conducted by The Road Ahead. Further vehicle reviews, in-depth comparisons and coverage of consumer motoring issues can be found in the Club's magazine. Prices listed were current at the time of review and are manufacturers list prices and do not include statutory and delivery charges. Prices can vary from time to time and dealer to dealer.