Explained: Differences between the New Honda City and Old City.

Honda City has always been one of the best sedans that you can get in the market. It was known as the king of the C-segment sedan segment until the competition got stronger and Honda knew that they would have to do something. So, they launched the all-new 5th generation of the Honda City. What interesting is that Honda has decided to not discontinue the 4th generation of the City. So, now you can get the 2020 City or the 4th generation of City. But what are the differences between the two, today we explain.

Design

The 4th generation of the City started to show its age. Honda knew this so they have worked on the 5th generation extensively to make sure that the generation can take on the rivals that were just getting stronger. Honda decided to retain the elegant lines of the City for the 5th generation. However, now the City looks much more premium due to a new sleek LED headlamps that come with integrated LED Daytime Running Lamps.

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Honda has taken the design of the chrome grille and implemented it with the City also. At the rear, there is also a sleek set of wraparound LED taillamps. From the side profile, you can see the pronounced shoulder line and new 16-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels. So, the new City looks like a younger sibling to the Civic which is a good thing, it gives the City a much more premium look than the previous version.

Dimensions

The 2020 Honda City has grown in dimensions. So, it is a good 109mm longer and 55mm wider. However, the height of the new City has been reduced by 6mm to maintain the sleek side profile. Even though the wheelbase is the same as the 4th generation of the City, the new generation of the Honda City has more legroom for the occupants.

More features

4th-gen City was well-equipped for the time it was launched. However, the competition caught-up with the City. So, the new generation of the City offers even more equipment so that it can compete with its rivals. Honda is offering a part digital instrument cluster. So, now there is an analogue speedometer with a 7-inch Multi-information display shows various information like a tachometer, fuel-efficiency, G-meter and much more. The infotainment system has also been updated for a new 8-inch touchscreen unit that supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It also features connected car technology and Alexa remote capabilities so you can give voice commands and Alexa can answer various information about your car for you. Clearly, the new City is offering a lot more features than the previous one.

Interior

 

Honda has also worked on the interior and made sure that it also feels as new as the exterior. However, dashboard still has a simple layout but now it gets chrome surrounds, wood insert and soft-touch materials which really enhances the premium-ness of the cabin. Then there is the new leather steering wheel which is a bit thick than the previous one and feels good to hold. The switchgear quality is crisp and then there are some feel-good features such as an electric sunroof, ambient lighting, LED map lights and Red/Blue illumination in the AC dial. So, the interior of the new City is clearly a big step up from the 4th generation.

Engine and transmission

There is no change in the diesel engine of the City apart from it now being BS6 compliant. So, the 1.5-litre i-DTEC engine continues to produce 99bhp of max power and a peak torque output of 200Nm. It comes mated to only a 6-speed manual gearbox. Where a major change is the petrol engine. The new City comes with an all-new 1.5-litre i-VTEC DOHC petrol engine. The engine is slightly more powerful as it produces 121 bhp of max power and a peak torque output of 145Nm. As standard, it comes with a 6-speed manual gearbox. However, you can get a new 7-speed CVT gearbox which Honda has developed. The manufacturer claims that it reduces the rubber-band effect and it is one of the best CVTs that you can currently get in the Indian market.

Honda City has always been a strong performer in the C-segment sedans and with the new generation of the City, the Honda is making sure that the City stays a worthy rival to the competition. We think that not discontinuing the 4th-generation of the City is a very smart move because this helps Honda in capturing a much wider audience. Where the 2020 City starts from Rs. 10.89 lakhs ex-showroom, the 4th-generation City starts from just Rs. 9.29 lakhs ex-showroom. This means people who want to buy a Honda City but cannot afford it can opt for the 4th generation.

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