Honda New City Detailed Review: Specifications, Features, Mileage, Hybrid Technology and Buying Guide

This detailed blog is based on the official Honda New City brochure. The purpose of this article is to explain the car in simple language, including its engine specifications, mileage, comfort features, safety technology, hybrid system, variant highlights and who should buy which version.

Honda New City Overview

The Honda City has always been a sedan for buyers who want comfort, premium feel and reliability. The New City adds a fresh visual identity with a sharper front design, LED lighting, stylish alloy wheels, a more premium cabin and modern connected features. The car is offered with petrol i-VTEC and e:HEV strong hybrid powertrain options.

The e:HEV hybrid version is aimed at buyers who want higher fuel efficiency, strong torque delivery and an advanced self-charging hybrid system without depending on external charging.

Exterior Design: Sharp and Premium Sedan Look

The New Honda City comes with a striking exterior design. The front profile gets a sharp design with Blade-Eye Signature LED Lighting System. The brochure also highlights Signature Bi-LED projector headlamps with integrated split LED DRL and turn signals. This gives the sedan a modern and premium road presence.

The lower section gets Signature Matrix-Mesh bumper garnish, which adds a sportier appearance. The side profile is enhanced by Aero-Blade Diamond Cut Alloy Wheels, while the rear section gets Signature Z-Edge wrap-around LED tail lamps with clear lens on selected variants. A sporty trunk lip spoiler is available on higher variants, giving the car a more dynamic rear look.

Overall, the New City looks elegant, mature and sporty at the same time. It is not designed like a compact car; it has a proper sedan stance with a long body, balanced proportions and premium detailing.

Colour Options

According to the brochure, the Honda New City is shown in multiple colour options. These include Crystal Black Pearl, Radiant Red Metallic, Obsidian Blue Pearl, Platinum White Pearl, Lunar Silver Metallic and Meteoroid Gray Metallic. Colour availability may depend on variant and dealership stock, so buyers should confirm the latest availability from an authorised Honda dealership.

Interior: Premium Ivory and Black Theme

The interior of the New Honda City focuses on comfort and premium feel. The brochure shows luxurious ivory and black two-tone interiors. Higher variants get perforated ivory leather seats and a dark iron 3D pattern garnish with welcome ambient light. This gives the cabin a more upmarket feel.

The layout is clean and driver-focused. The dashboard design looks wide and balanced, while the front seats are designed for comfort. The rear seat experience is also important in a sedan like the City because many buyers use it as a family car or chauffeur-driven car. Rear armrest with cupholders, rear AC vents and good cabin width make it comfortable for rear passengers.

Touchscreen, Infotainment and Sound System

The New Honda City offers different infotainment setups depending on the variant. Lower variants get a 20.3 cm or 8-inch advanced touchscreen display audio system. Higher variants get a larger 25.6 cm or 10.1-inch floating touchscreen display audio system.

The car supports smartphone connectivity including Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Depending on the variant, this connectivity can be wired or wireless. The brochure also mentions Weblink support, Bluetooth for handsfree telephony and audio streaming, AM/FM digital radio tuner, MP3/WAV support and steering-mounted audio and handsfree telephone controls.

Higher variants also get an 8-speaker premium surround sound system with 4 speakers and 4 tweeters. This is useful for buyers who enjoy music quality during long drives. Rear USB-C charging ports are also available, which makes the car practical for family users and rear passengers.

Honda City Petrol Engine Specifications

The Honda City petrol version uses a 1.5-litre i-VTEC DOHC engine with Variable Timing Control. The engine displacement is 1,498 cc and it has 16 valves. According to the official brochure, the petrol engine produces 89 kW or 121 PS at 6,600 rpm. The maximum torque is 145 Nm at 4,300 rpm.

The petrol version is available with a 6-speed manual transmission and a CVT automatic transmission. The manual version is suitable for buyers who enjoy traditional driving and want more control. The CVT automatic is better for city users who want convenience in traffic.

The certified fuel efficiency of the petrol version is 17.77 km/l for the manual transmission and 17.97 km/l for the CVT automatic. These figures are certified under Rule 115 of CMVR 1989 as mentioned in the brochure. Actual mileage can vary depending on driving style, road condition, traffic, load and AC usage.

Honda City e:HEV Strong Hybrid Specifications

The e:HEV version of the Honda City uses a self-charging strong hybrid system. It has a 1.5-litre Atkinson cycle DOHC i-VTEC engine with Variable Timing Control. The engine produces 74 kW or 100 PS between 5,600 and 6,400 rpm and 131 Nm of torque between 4,500 and 5,000 rpm.

The hybrid system combined maximum power is 93 kW or 126 PS. The electric traction motor produces 80 kW or 109 PS at 3,500 rpm and a strong 253 Nm torque from 0 to 3,000 rpm. This gives the e:HEV quick and smooth acceleration, especially at low speeds.

The e:HEV version uses an advanced lithium-ion high-voltage battery with a nominal voltage of 172.8 V. It is a self-charging hybrid system, which means the user does not need to plug the car into a charger. The system charges itself through engine operation and regenerative braking.

The certified fuel efficiency of the e:HEV version is 27.26 km/l. This is one of the biggest advantages of the hybrid model. Buyers who drive more in the city and want better mileage should consider the e:HEV version.

Three Drive Modes in Honda City e:HEV

The Honda City e:HEV intelligently switches between three drive modes: EV Drive, Hybrid Drive and Engine Drive. In EV Drive, the car is driven only by the electric motor using battery power. This gives silent operation and zero tailpipe emission during that mode.

In Hybrid Drive, the petrol engine acts as a generator and the electric motor drives the wheels. This gives smooth acceleration and strong response. In Engine Drive, the engine runs efficiently to drive the wheels, while the motor can provide extra power when required.

This seamless switching is one of the most important features of the e:HEV system. The driver does not need to manually manage the system. The car automatically selects the most suitable mode based on driving condition.

Dimensions and Practicality

The New Honda City has an overall length of 4,594 mm, width of 1,748 mm and height of 1,489 mm. The wheelbase is 2,600 mm. These dimensions make it a proper mid-size sedan with a spacious cabin and good road presence.

The fuel tank capacity is 40 litres and seating capacity is 5 persons. The turning circle radius is 5.3 metres. The car uses collapsible electric power assisted steering, which helps in city driving and parking.

The petrol version offers an ultra-large boot space of 506 litres. This makes it highly practical for family trips, airport luggage, shopping bags and long-distance travel. The e:HEV version also gets a large boot space, but the petrol version has the larger 506-litre boot as mentioned in the brochure.

Suspension, Brakes, Tyres and Wheels

The Honda City uses McPherson Strut with coil spring at the front and torsion beam with coil spring at the rear. It also gets torsion bar type anti-roll bar and telescopic hydraulic nitrogen gas-filled shock absorbers. This setup is designed to offer a balance of comfort and stability.

In the braking system, the e:HEV version gets ventilated front discs and rear discs, while the petrol version gets ventilated front discs and rear drum brakes. The e:HEV also comes with electric parking brake and electric regenerative braking system through electric servo brake.

Wheel and tyre size depends on the variant. The e:HEV gets 16x6J alloy wheels with 185/55 R16 tyres. Petrol variants get 15x6J steel or alloy wheels and 16x6J alloy wheels depending on the variant. Tyre sizes include 185/60 R15 and 185/55 R16.

Honda SENSING ADAS

One of the biggest highlights of the New Honda City is Honda SENSING. It is Honda’s Advanced Driver Assistance System, designed to help reduce the risk of accidents. The brochure clearly mentions that Honda SENSING cannot replace human attention and vigilance, but it can support the driver in certain situations.

Honda SENSING includes Collision Mitigation Braking System, Adaptive Cruise Control, Auto High-Beam, Lane Keeping Assist System, Road Departure Mitigation System and Lead Car Departure Notification System. Low Speed Follow is available in the City e:HEV only.

Collision Mitigation Braking System gives audio and visual warnings and applies brakes when there is a risk of collision. Lane Keeping Assist System helps keep the vehicle in the middle of the lane while cruising on highways. Road Departure Mitigation System alerts the driver if the car appears to move away from road boundaries and can provide steering support.

Adaptive Cruise Control helps maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead while cruising. Auto High-Beam automatically switches between low and high beam to improve visibility. Lead Car Departure Notification alerts the driver when the car ahead starts moving.

Safety Features

Safety is a strong point of the New Honda City. The brochure mentions 6 airbags as standard across all variants. These include dual front i-SRS airbags, front seats i-Side airbags and side curtain airbags.

The car also gets Advanced Compatibility Engineering body structure, energy absorbing front pretensioner seatbelts with load limiter, all 5 seats with 3-point ELR seatbelts, all 5 seats head restraints and ISOFIX compatible rear side seats with lower anchorage and top tether.

Other safety features include ABS, Brake Assist, Electronic Brake-force Distribution, Vehicle Stability Assist with electronic stability and traction control, Agile Handling Assist, Hill Start Assist, Emergency Stop Signal, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System as a deflation warning system, rear parking sensors, rear windshield demister, speed alarm indicator and vehicle immobilizer with security alarm.

Higher variants also get LaneWatch camera, auto dimming inside rear view mirror, rain sensing wipers and 360-degree Surround-Vision Camera with multi-view camera system, guidelines and moving object detection.

Comfort and Convenience Features

The New Honda City is a comfort-focused sedan. It gets fully automatic climate control with MAX COOL mode, rear AC vents, PM2.5 dust and pollen cabin filter, telescopic and tilt steering adjustment, driver seat height adjuster, front centre armrest and rear centre foldable armrest with cupholder.

Higher variants get active ventilated front seats, which are very useful in hot Indian weather. The car also offers one-touch electric sunroof with slide and tilt function and pinch guard in selected variants.

The City also includes power adjustable and folding door mirrors, automatic door locking and unlocking, follow-me-home and lead-me-to-car headlights, keyless remote, one-push start/stop button, walk away auto lock and remote engine start for CVT and e:HEV variants depending on variant.

Practical storage features include front console cup holders, rear armrest with cup holders, 1-litre bottle holders in all doors, seat back pockets, front console lower pocket for smartphones, driver side coin pocket with lid and trunk light for cargo area illumination.

Honda Connect Features

The New Honda City also offers Honda Connect with 39 smart features and 24x7 connectivity. The brochure mentions a 3-year free subscription from the date of purchase, subject to terms and conditions.

Honda Connect offers features under categories like peace of mind, safety and security, and convenience. Features include car location, geo-fence alert, auto crash notification, stolen vehicle tracking, contextual speeding alert, unauthorized access alert, find my car, trip diary, remote operations, service scheduler, tow away alert, RSA request and tracking, payment gateway and more.

It also supports Alexa remote capability and smartwatch connectivity, depending on compatibility and selected model. Some features such as TPMS and DVR through Honda Connect may require additional accessories as mentioned in the brochure.

Warranty and Ownership Support

The New Honda City comes with a 3-year unlimited kilometre standard warranty. The brochure also mentions extended warranty up to 7 years with unlimited kilometres and anytime warranty up to 10 years or 1,20,000 kilometres, subject to terms and conditions.

For the e:HEV model, the hybrid system components get 5 years or 1,00,000 km warranty, and the lithium-ion battery gets 8 years or 1,60,000 km warranty, whichever is earlier as per the brochure.

Honda also mentions Roadside Assistance, Honda ProCare and Honda Auto Terrace support. These ownership benefits are important for buyers who want long-term peace of mind.

Variant Overview

The Honda City is shown with SV, V, ZX and ZX+ grades in the brochure. The SV variant includes important basics like LED lighting system, 8-inch touchscreen, wired smartphone connectivity, 6 airbags, rear camera, rear parking sensors, automatic climate control, rear AC vents and PM2.5 cabin filter.

The V variant adds Honda SENSING ADAS, Honda Connect with telematics, wireless smartphone connectivity, smartwatch connectivity, Alexa support, touch-sensor smart keyless access, remote engine start for CVT, walk away auto lock and paddle shifters for CVT.

The ZX variant adds more premium features such as one-touch electric sunroof, 10.1-inch floating touchscreen, 8-speaker sound system, leather upholstery, LaneWatch camera, auto dimming IRVM, rain sensing wipers, ambient lighting, wireless charger and rear sunshade.

The ZX+ variant adds top-end features like 360-degree Surround-Vision Camera, active ventilated front seats, all four power windows with auto open/close and pinch guard, auto-folding remote retractable door mirrors, 7-inch HD full colour TFT meter, digital speedometer and G-meter display. The ZX+ e:HEV further adds strong hybrid system, Low Speed Follow, all-wheel disc brakes, electric parking brake and automatic brake hold.

Honda City Petrol vs Honda City e:HEV: Which One Should You Buy?

The petrol Honda City is the right choice for buyers who want a refined sedan with good performance, reliable engine and lower purchase cost compared to the hybrid. It is available with both manual and CVT options, so it suits both driving enthusiasts and comfort-focused city users.

The Honda City e:HEV is better for buyers who drive more kilometres every month and want higher fuel efficiency. Its certified mileage of 27.26 km/l is much higher than the petrol version. It also offers strong low-speed torque from the electric motor, smooth acceleration and advanced hybrid technology.

Buyers who mostly drive within the city, face traffic regularly and want a premium high-tech sedan should consider the e:HEV. Buyers who want a balanced sedan with lower initial cost can choose the petrol CVT or manual version.

Why Should You Buy the Honda New City?

The Honda New City is worth considering because it offers a complete sedan package. It has premium design, a comfortable cabin, strong safety features, ADAS technology, good boot space, refined petrol engine and advanced hybrid option.

Its biggest strengths are space, reliability, smooth driving experience, premium feel and safety. The car is suitable for family buyers, professionals, highway users and people who prefer sedans over SUVs.

The e:HEV version is especially attractive for buyers who want hybrid technology without charging tension. The petrol version is practical for buyers who want a dependable and refined sedan for daily and long-term use.

Important Things to Check Before Buying

Before buying, customers should verify the latest price, variant availability, colour availability, features and accessory fitment from an authorised Honda dealership. The brochure clearly mentions that colours, features and specifications are grade specific and subject to change without prior notice.

Buyers should also confirm whether features like wireless charger, TPMS through Honda Connect, DVR and selected accessories are standard or dealer-fitted add-ons in their chosen variant.

Honda New City Key Specifications

Final Verdict

The Honda New City remains one of the most complete sedans in India. It offers premium styling, a spacious cabin, refined petrol performance, strong hybrid technology, advanced safety features and Honda’s trusted ownership experience.

The petrol version is best for buyers who want a reliable, comfortable and refined sedan at a more accessible price point. The e:HEV hybrid version is best for buyers who want excellent fuel efficiency, advanced technology and a smoother urban driving experience.

Overall, the Honda New City is a strong choice for anyone looking for a premium sedan with safety, comfort, practicality and long-term peace of mind.