2014-2015 Honda City Review: Design and Performance Excellence

2014-2015 Honda City Review: Design and Performance Excellence

The Honda City has gained popularity among those seeking an economical vehicle. We recently had the opportunity to test drive the new 2014-2015 Honda City. This model serves Honda much like the Yaris does for Toyota. Customers are always in search of the best, and we wanted to find out if the City lives up to its reputation.

Elegance

The first thing we noticed is that the car has a higher stance. This design helps make driving easier. As for elegance, there’s not much to say except that the City and Civic resemble each other quite a bit, almost as if the Civic is the older sibling. This doesn't imply that we disliked the design; however, we felt they could have used better wheels. Overall, we believe it is more attractive than the Nissan Sunny but not as appealing as the Toyota Yaris.

Interior Materials and Quality

In this category, the quality of the interior is as expected—plain and plastic. Therefore, we won’t complain. You will sit in a plastic cabin, but at this price point, that’s what you get. However, Honda has done well in terms of noise insulation. As long as you don't accelerate beyond 100 km/h, you’ll enjoy a quiet cabin. The fabric seats are soft and comfortable, especially in hot weather.

Space and Visibility

The first thing you will notice when seated in the back is the ample space. The vehicle comfortably accommodates five people. Great job, Honda! This is what customers of budget cars desire—space. Even if you recline the front seat, the space remains generous. This car is more spacious than many mid-size sedans, and the trunk space is impressive as well.

Features and Technology

The technology in this car is also commendable. Honda focused on this aspect by including a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. This screen displays vehicle information along with music and phone options. The buttons on the screen are large and user-friendly. It also features touch-sensitive controls for climate settings. While this is appealing, it can be distracting while driving, and fingerprints can be seen everywhere due to the glossy plastic. Other features include Bluetooth connectivity, CD/MP3 playback, AUX, USB ports, cup holders in the front and back, steering wheel controls for speed and sound, smart entry, and an HDMI port.

Power and Transmission

It is equipped with a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine that produces 118 horsepower and 146 Nm of torque. The only update is the automatic CVT, which is a positive change. The driving experience is very smooth, with a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 10.9 seconds. We drove the car in sport mode and recorded a fuel consumption rate of 8.5 L/100 km, which is impressive.

Handling, Brakes, and Suspension

The handling of the car is as we expected—good for city driving. Don’t expect to corner without losing control. We managed to brake from 100-0 km/h in 3.7 seconds, which is impressive. Overall, the driving experience exceeded our expectations, and the suspension performed better than anticipated. Great job, Honda!

Conclusion

The Honda City is more attractive than before, offers improved driving dynamics, and features a better interior than its predecessors. Clearly, they have made noticeable enhancements. But is it worth its price? Let's compare. The City starts at AED 57,000 and goes up to AED 63,000. The best variant of the Yaris is priced at AED 58,000, while the Corolla starts at AED 59,000. After looking at the prices, it stands alone in its category and will require substantial marketing efforts to convince consumers to purchase it.

Prices and Specifications of the 2014 Honda City

Compare: Honda City vs Toyota Yaris