Now on its third generation issue in the Philippines, the newly enhanced Honda City sports a bolder, yet more elegant look. Adorning the front fascia is a freshly designed grille, now chromed for that sharp, distinct appearance. A new bumper, wider and with a more masculine shape, lends an overall aggressiveness to the new model. At the rear, the famed taillights that extend to the edge of the body are redesigned, now looking more sophisticated and stylish. A more dynamic rear bumper, now with a diffuser, completes the car’s bold, new look. Meanwhile, 5-split spoke 15” alloy wheels enhance the side profile of the 1.5 variant.
The interior gets a fresh makeover, too, with new features that are designed to enhance the driving experience. Audio controls are now attached to the steering wheel, allowing the drivers’ hands to remain safely on the steering wheel even if the need to adjust the music arises.
The instrument cluster is freshened up with a blue and white color ambience, lending a more relaxed and serene feel inside the cabin. The center console is made to look more luxurious with chrome accents. A clever addition to the instrument cluster is the Eco Drive Indicator Lamp – a device that lights up whenever the driver is driving efficiently – which will serve as a reminder and a motivation for fuel-efficient driving.
With passenger safety paramount in Honda’s mind, all variants of the Honda City is now equipped with Dual (driver and passenger) SRS airbags, as well as Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD). The ABS and EBD systems prevent the wheels from locking during sudden braking, allowing the driver to control the car in dangerous situations.
Honda City variants are equipped with class-leading features such as powerful i-VTEC engines in 1.5L and 1.3L displacements, 5-speed Automatic Transmission, Integrated Audio with USB and Auxiliary Jack, Fuel Economy Meter (average and instantaneous readout) and the Paddle Shifters (1.5 E AT only). And for the discerning customer, a new color – Sparkling Brown – has been added to the line-up.
First launched in the Philippines in 1996, the Honda City pioneered the Sub-compact sedan or B-category in the country, and still remains at the forefront of the category until now. When the third generation Honda City was launched, it further reinvented the sub-compact segment with rule-changing looks and features not ordinarily found in other sub-compacts. Its slogan “Forever Change the Rules” perfectly captures the essence of the City – a car that is continuously challenging the norms and expectations of what a sub-compact sedan should be.
To date the Honda City has remained the best-selling model in the Honda line-up. It has sold approximately 68,000 units in the Philippines, attesting to the reliability and quality of the car. It has garnered numerous awards including the Auto Focus People’s Choice Sub-Compact Car of the Year and Sub-Compact Sedan of the Year from Car Awards Group Inc.