Honda City Hatchback

Upgraded and improved, bringing with it a number of styling and equipment revisions, the new Honda City Hatchback, facelifted for the year 2024. 

Locally-assembled (CKD), the B-segment hot hatch is offered in five variants. Four petrol powertrains (S, E, V, RS) and one hybrid (e:HEV RS).

Priced (OTR, w/o insurance) at MYR 85,900, MYR 90,900, MYR 95,900, MYR 100,900, and MYR 112,900, respectively.

Included is a standard warranty (five years, unlimited mileage), a hybrid battery warranty (eight years, unlimited mileage) and a free labour service (five times - five years/100,000 KM).

Five exterior colours (petrol variants - Ignite Red Metallic, Platinum White Pearl, Lunar Silver Metallic, Meteoroid Gray Metallic).

Three exterior colours (hybrid variant - Ignite Red Metallic, Platinum White Pearl, Meteoroid Gray Metallic).

The new City Hatchback has a familiar cascading dashboard design. Tiered, simple and practical with premium build quality.

Outfitted in soft-/hard-touch panels, it sees single-tone (Black - S, E, V) and two-tone (Black, Red details - RS, e:HEV RS) colour schemes.

Centre-staged is the panel-integrated infotainment unit, underscored by the air-conditioning control panel, which sees Black-trimmed vents.

Accentuating the layout is a urethane/leather (S, E/V, RS, e:HEV RS) gear knob and normal-/sport-type (S, E, V/RS, e:HEV RS) pedal pads.

Overall, the accessibilities are purposefully-arranged with easy reachability. Non-cluttered, driver-oriented and user-friendly.

Fitted for the driver is a digital speedometer setup, featuring a 4.2-Inch (S, E, V) and a 7.0-Inch (RS, e:HEV RS) TFT Multi-Information Display (MID).

Variant-specific accentuations are the metre needles. White highlights (S, E, V) and Red highlights (RS, e:HEV RS).

Comfortably-premium, the interior of the five-seater hatchback features variant-specific upholsteries and colour schemes.

A single-tone fabric (Black - S, E), a single-tone leather (Black - V), and a two-tone leather (Black, Red details - RS, e:HEV RS).

Standard fitments are ULTRA seats (front, rear) with manual adjustments (front - multi-way, rear - recline/60:40 split-fold), and four modes (Utility, Long, Refresh, Tall).

Completing the layout are Grey/Black (S, E/V, RS, e:HEV RS) headliner, armrests (front - centre console, rear - centre fold-out) and adjustable headrests (front, rear).

Considering it to be a compact build, the cabin space is sufficient offering plenty of head, shoulder and leg rooms. Front and rear occupants get ample mobility.

Mounted is a three-spoke steering wheel. Urethane (S, E) and leather (V, RS, e:HEV RS), finished in Black with Silver trims and Red details (RS, e:HEV RS).

Features are multi-switches (Bluetooth, media, vehicle settings), column adjustments (tilt, telescopic), and paddle shifters (S, E, V, RS).

Drive is aided by an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system.

Plenty of storage compartments. E.g., a glove box, seat back/side door pockets, and centre console partitioned/caverned spaces.

Provided are four cup holders (front - centre console, rear - centre armrest) and four bottle holders (front, rear - side door pockets).

Installed are one (front) 12 V power socket (S, E, V, RS, e:HEV RS), one (front) USB port (S), and four (front, rear) USB ports (E, V, RS, e:HEV RS).

Accessing its electronic-powered tailgate (operation - remote control/key fob), opens up to 289-Litres (seats up) and 841-Litres (seats down) of load capacities.

The new City Hatchback weighs in at 1,149 KG (S), 1,151 KG (E), 1,161 KG (V), 1,163 KG (RS) and 1,260 KG (e:HEV RS).

Other dimensions measure at 4,350 MM (S, E, V) and 4,369 MM (RS, e:HEV RS) long, 1,784 MM wide, 1,488 MM tall, and with a wheelbase spanning 2,600 MM.

A compact silhouette, it parades a sleek and sporty exterior with angularly-refined elements and contours all around.

Upgraded, the front-end sees a new bumper, featuring a slim Chrome bar hovering over a Black mesh grille with a two-part-slated lower intake.

Separating the variants (RS, e:HEV RS) is a Black bar, a Black honeycomb grille, and a sharper-housed Diamond-patterned insert lower intake.

A typical hatch, it radiates a laid-back sporty appeal, boasting angularly rounded outlines with sleek cut-outs.

Upgraded, the rear-end sees a new bumper, featuring a simple Black lower valance with a body-coloured panel strip. Maintained is the boot-lid spoiler.

Separating the variants (RS, e:HEV RS) is an aerodynamic diffuser with three-hexagonal cut-outs, balanced-out by the sleek-looking boot-lid spoiler.

Framed aerodynamically sharp, the head lamps project a fairly focused and determined outlook.

Installed are projector halogen units (S, E) and full LED units (V, RS, e:HEV RS). Paired to the layout is a set of LED fog lamps (V, RS, e:HEV RS).

Standard features are LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), turn signals, automatic On/Off and Auto High Beam (AHB).

Angularly wrapped-around and borderline bulging, the tail lamps fit the rear well, compensating the overall outlook. 

Standard fitments are LED combination units.

The Black (S, E, V) and body-coloured (RS, e:HEV RS) side mirrors are electronic-powered (auto-fold, adjust).

Features are turn signals, blind-spot monitor indicators (V, RS, e:HEV RS), and Honda LaneWatch Camera (LWC) (V, RS, e:HEV RS). 

Fitted standard are ventilated disc brakes (front). Variant-specific (rear) are drum (S, E) and solid disc (V, RS, e:HEV RS) brakes.

Drive is aided by a conventional handbrake system (S, E, V, RS) and an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold system (e:HEV RS).

Sportily-designed, mounted are 15-Inch two-tone (S, E) and 16-Inch Black (V, RS, e:HEV RS) multi-spoke alloy rims.

The sets are rubbered-up in 185/60 R15 Continental UltraContact UC6 (S, E) and 185/55 R16 Toyo Proxes R57 (V, RS, e:HEV RS) tyres.

The new City Hatchback gets the Honda Sensing suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

Grouped are Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Auto High Beam (AHB), Lead Car Departure Notification (LCDN), Honda LaneWatch Camera (LWC) (V, RS, e:HEV RS), Low Speed Follow (LSF) (e:HEV RS), and Honda Connect telematic system (safety, security, convenience) (RS, e:HEV RS).

Standard systems include Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Auto Brake Hold (ABH) (e:HEV RS), Hill Start Assist (HSA), Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), and parking cameras (360-degree, multi-angle reverse - E, V, RS, e:HEV RS).

Passive safety includes six airbags (driver-passenger, front side, front-rear curtain), seat belts (anchors, reminders, pre-tensioners), ISOFIX (two - outer-rear), parking cameras (360-degree, multi-angle reverse - E, V, RS, e:HEV RS), parking sensors (two - rear), auto-door-lock, and security alarm with immobiliser.

Drive mode (button - ECON).

Variant-specific, installed is a standard infotainment unit (S), and an 8.0-Inch Digital Audio touchscreen display (E, V, RS, e:HEV RS). 

The standard system (S) supports Bluetooth, Hands-Free Telephone (HFT) and USB. The touchscreen system (E, V, RS, e:HEV RS) supports navigation, Bluetooth, Hands-Free Telephone (HFT), USB and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto (wireless - RS, e:HEV RS).

Standard fitment is a four-speaker setup (S, E, V, RS, e:HEV RS), featuring a set of four tweeters (E, V, RS, e:HEV RS).

The new City Hatchback comes with two powertrain setups. A petrol (S, E, V, RS) and a hybrid (e:HEV RS). 

Petrol powertrain (1.5-Litre, in-line four-cylinder 16-valve, naturally-aspirated DOHC i-VTEC engine - 119 HP/89-KW at 6,600 RPM, 145 NM at 4,300 RPM).

Hybrid powertrain (Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) system - front-mounted electric motor - 107 HP/80-KW at 3,500 to 8,000 RPM, 253 NM at 0 to 3,000 RPM - 1.5-Litre Atkinson Cycle engine - 97 HP/72-KW at 5,600 to 6,400 RPM, 127 NM at 4,500 to 5,000 RPM).

Fused to the setups is a Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT) (S, E, V, RS), and an Electric Continuous Variable Transmission (e-CVT) (e:HEV RS).

Power is sent to the front wheels, Front-Wheel Drive (FWD).

Acceleration from 0 to 100 KM/H is done in 10.7 seconds (S, E, V, RS) and 9.7 seconds (e:HEV RS). 

Top speed is 195 KM/H (S, E), 194 KM/H (V), 193 KM/H (RS) and 177 KM/H (e:HEV RS).

Fuel tank is at a 40-Litre capacity, and the fuel consumption figures for every 100 KM/H reads at 5.6-Litres (S, E, V, RS) and 3.7-Litres (e:HEV RS).

The new City Hatchback comes with these conveniences.

E.g., Smart Entry system (keyless entry, engine Start/Stop button), remote engine start (engine start/cabin cooling - E, V, RS, e:HEV RS), walk-away auto-lock, electronic-powered tailgate (operation - remote control/key fob), single-zone automatic air-conditioning (E, V, RS, e:HEV RS), rear air-conditioning vents (V, RS, e:HEV RS), steering wheel (column adjustments, paddle shifters (S, E, V, RS), multi-function, EPS), ULTRA seats (four modes - Utility, Long, Refresh, Tall), armrests (front, rear), wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto (RS, e:HEV RS), parking cameras (360-degree, multi-angle reverse - E, V, RS, e:HEV RS), Honda LaneWatch Camera (LWC) (V, RS, e:HEV RS), parking sensors (rear-two), blind-spot monitors (V, RS, e:HEV RS), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold (e:HEV RS), Drive mode (button - ECON), Auto High Beam (AHB), and automatic headlamps.

Installed for the cabin is a manual air-conditioning system (S) and a single-zone automatic air-conditioning system (E, V, RS, e:HEV RS), featuring rear air-vents (V, RS, e:HEV RS).

The driving is agile and responsive, offering a sturdy handling. Interior-wise, it is comfortable and roomy, equipped with sufficient amenities.

Suspension-wise, fitted is a setup of MacPherson strut (front), and torsion beam (rear).

Sound insulation is adequate, accounting for all the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) aspects. 

The cabin is able to suppress wind, road and tyre noises well, and make them barely noticeable.

The new Honda City Hatchback is a well-equipped build. Notably, to its stylings, driving dynamics and safety systems.

Quality of the equipment and materials installed for the car impresses with the mature design and restrained detailing. 

Ultimately, it is a pretty decent vehicle that offers good fuel economy, advanced safety features, refined ride quality and a stylish body design altogether.