Honda tweaks City light sedan range
BY ROBBIE WALLIS | 3rd Mar 2017
The City’s new face incorporates a redesigned front bumper, grille and headlights, which now feature LED daytime running lights. Its rear bumper has also been tweaked, and Honda says the changes give the City a lower, wider stance.
Inside, all variants now come with a seven-inch touchscreen multimedia system as well as silver accents around the gear lever and air vents, plus gunmetal grey tones on the instrument panel. The top-spec VTi-L adds standard satellite navigation and leather-appointed seats.
The base VTi variant gains new trims for its steel wheels, while VTi-L receives new multi-spoke 16-inch alloys. The City’s paint palette now includes a new Cosmic Blue colour, while the Brilliant Sporty Blue metallic and Crystal Black pearlescent have been scrapped.
Despite the additions, pricing for the VTi remains at $15,990 before on-road costs or $17,990 driveaway for the five-speed manual, while opting for the automatic continuously variable transmission (CVT) is still $17,990 before on-roads.
In return for what Honda values at more than $2000 of extras, the CVT-only VTi-L range-topper has attracted a $200 price hike to $21,590 plus on-roads.
Powertrains remain unchanged, with both variants still employing a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine that develops 88kW and 145Nm and sends power to the front wheels.
Although City sales fell 31.8 per cent to 1686 units in 2016 compared with the 2015 figure of 2471, Honda Australia director Stephen Collins said the model had benefited from a recent upward trend in light sedan sales.
“The Honda City has consistently been one of the preferred sedan models for private buyers in the light car segment during 2016,” he said.
“Although the overall Light under $25K segment was down by 16.1 per cent last year, Light sedans were actually up by more than four per cent, so their appeal to customers has strengthened over the past 12 months and is trending upwards.
“This latest update for the City range delivers a range of enhancements that improve the value proposition of Honda’s small sedan, as well as giving it a stronger stance and bolder appeal, picking up key design cues from the 10th generation Civic.”
| 2017 Honda City pricing* | |
| VTi | $15,990 |
| VTi (a) | $17,990 |
| VTi-L (a) | $21,590 |
