Background :

This is one for those with a penchant for life in the fast lane. The City is one of the fastest on Indian roads today, second to only the Merc. And what drives it is the Honda tradition_ a gem of an engine.

Engine And Transmission :

Available with two powerplant options, the City can keep the competition at bay on any decent stretch of tar. Zero to 100 takes a mere 10.12 sec and hits 140 kph in just over 21 sec. Compare the latter to Escort Zetec and Astra?s 37-odd sec. The engine idles almost as silently as the Mercedes E230. With little throttle application the City pulls cleanly in any gear making it a delight to handle in traffic. But true to its name, the car is best suited for city roads. On a bad road, the City?s fidgety end makes it difficult to appreciate the full potential of the car. But with a power to weight ratio of 100bhp per tonne, the 1.5 litre City engine delivers a level of performance far greater than expected. Even the smaller engined 1.3 City dishes out a set of performance statistics that downright embarrasses the rest of the mid-size cars. The 1.3 may not have the same flexibility as the 1.5 but a lower final drive ratio ensures that driveability has not been greatly sacrificed but you need to give the 1.3 some stick and work the gearbox to extract its full potential.

Interiors and Convenience Features :

You know this is a driver?s car once behind the wheel. The huge low-set windscreen offers a fantastic view even for short drivers whilst the slender A-pillars minimise blind spots. The controls are well placed and weighted, specially gear lever and pedals which have tremendous feel. But the plus points end there. The City manages to seduce but only the driver. If the plaid-Jane exteriors of the City please all but excite none, the interiors fail to do even that. It lacks the class and quality of a car in this bracket and looks more like any run o the mill Japanese car of the 80s. Though spacious, passenger comfort is not worth mentioning. The only plus point is the air-conditioner which can give you the feel of the insides of an igloo.