In Bangkok, the acceptance of orders for the new generation Honda City sedan, which is officially considered the fifth, but in fact the seventh, has opened (see sidebar “History”). Official website Honda City
The model, as before, is closely related to the Jazz hatchback, but already of the fourth generation. And from City, we now know what powertrain Jazz got outside of Europe.
The atmospheric 1.5 (117 hp, 146 N • m) was retired, and the place under the hood was taken by a fresh 1.0 VTEC Turbo series gasoline turbo four, which, together with a variator, produces 122 hp. at 5500 rpm and 173 N • m from 2000–4500 rpm.
Paddle shifters are available for manual shifting between seven virtual steps. Cost in India
The Japanese point out that the Honda City is one of the most important models in Asia and Oceania, accounting for almost 70% of its sales. From January to September 2019, more than 100,000 vehicles were sold, while the total volume of the previous generation exceeded four million units in 60 countries. Thailand acts as a manufacturing base and a key market.
History
Long ago, in 1981, the Honda City began its history as a stylish compact hatchback that was sold in the developed markets of Japan, Europe (under the Jazz name) and Australia.
The length of the model during its debut did not exceed 3380 mm, the wheelbase was 2220 mm. The front-wheel drive car was equipped not only with an atmospheric 1.2 engine (61–67 hp), but also its turbocharged version (100–110 hp).
City was equipped with four- and five-speed “mechanics”, a three-band “automatic”, as well as an unusual manual transmission with four steps, which had an electronically controlled overdrive mode in second, third and fourth gears. In October 1986, the first generation model was discontinued.
The next City remained a three-door hatchback with front-wheel drive, but it was noticeably bigger in size (length – 3560 mm, base – 2400). Modifications with a turbo engine and an open top have disappeared from the range.
Until 1988, the car was equipped with a 1.2 engine (76 hp), and after that – a “four” 1.3 in the version with a carburetor and electronic injection (100 hp). Transmissions – five-speed manual and five-speed automatic. Restyling happened at City in 1989, and production ceased after five years. It was the last Honda City to be sold in the home market.
City of the third generation has been waiting for more than two years. Expected, given that Honda has started a reboot of the model. So, in 1996, City turned into a banal sedan with a dull design.
The release was launched in Japan, Thailand (localization – 70%), Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Pakistan and the Philippines, but from now on sales were only in emerging markets.
The novelty was based on the 1987 Civic chassis. The range included motors 1.3 and 1.5 with a capacity of 95 to 115 forces. In addition to them, one could take “mechanics” or “automatic” with five and four steps, respectively.
In November 2002, the fourth generation City was shown at a motor show in Bangkok. The car outwardly became even more awkward, but for the first time in its history it received an optional all-wheel drive.
Plus, production of the car in Japan ceased, although the City began to be sold in the Land of the Rising Sun under the name Fit Aria. Also, for the first time, instead of an automatic transmission, Asians used a variator.
The 1.3 and 1.5 motors of the new generation produced from 82 to 110 forces. By the way, in China, the Honda City sedan was sold under its own name, Everus S1.
The four-doors were produced at the joint venture Guangqi Honda Automobile Co Ltd. from 2011 to 2014, although the original model rolled off the assembly line in 2008.
The fifth generation City was released in November 2008. Turkey and Brazil were added to the list of production sites of the model.
The compact Honda’s design was decidedly angular, which was beneficial. In length, the sedan added 30 mm (up to 4420 mm), and the distance between the wheels increased at once by 100 mm (up to 2550).
The base engine in most markets was a 98-horsepower 1.3, followed by a four-cylinder 1.5 with 120 horsepower. However, for the Chinese market, a version with 1.8 to 140 forces was prepared, and for some European countries – 1.4 with a manual or robotic gearbox.
November 2013. Date of debut City of the sixth generation, which was built on the platform of the “third” Jazz.
From nose to tail, the Honda was 4442 mm, the wheelbase reached 2600 mm. The range has remained the same, but modernized gasoline and diesel engines (100-120 hp).
Transmissions were also familiar – manual and stepless. But the most striking impression was made by the equipment – a multimedia system with navigation, Bluetooth support, an audio system with eight speakers, a rear view camera.
Restyling was carried out in 2017. The exterior of the City was slightly changed (optics, radiator grille, bumpers), LED headlights and lanterns were added to the list of equipment.
And for Japan and Malaysia, they prepared a hybrid version (132 hp) with a 1.5 petrol engine and a preselective “robot”. The car was available in twelve markets, including Vietnam and Taiwan, and production ceased in 2019.