If there is one thing for sure, Honda knows how to make good cars. This is why there are so many of them on the roads, irrespective of which country you are in.
The 2020 All-New Honda City, which is the 5th generation in this sedan series has recently been launched. With this in mind, we wanted to ask the question if this latest version is worth buying.
Honda City Evolution
Since its inception back in the early 1980s Honda has been raising the bar in terms of comfort and specification for their smaller sedan.
Other manufacturers seem to follow Hondas lead in this all-important sub-compact / compact sector of the marketplace.
Whats New For 2020?
As we are covering if we believe you should buy the latest version, we wont dwell too much on the older models. Perhaps better to focus on whats new for 2020 and why you should buy one.
Obviously, when a car manufacturer updates their model there are going to be changes in its looks and style. This is definitely the case with Honda.
Styling Changes
Many of its styling ideas come from the bigger brother Civic, with the new City being a lot sharper than the previous version. The sharp bumper creases lead on beautifully to the standardized Honda trademark chrome grille.
Improved LED headlamps along with good looking DRLs are a welcome addition.
A change to the way the roofline meets the B and C Pillar areas again are a testament to the design team at Honda. They really have made a good job on this car.
LED taillamps are used to good effect, which again gives the new City a real sporty effect.
Interior Design
Materials used in the dashboard design are an improvement from older versions. Honda has taken a modest approach when it comes to wood-effect trim too, which is for the benefit of the car. So many other manufacturers use far too much of this and it can spoil the cock-pit area.
As you might expect, connectivity to technology has featured high up on Hondas wishlist.
This new 5th gen version has Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard, with Amazons Alexa also supporting connectivity. Alexa is able to understand and respond to more regional dialects as well, which of course is an added bonus.
Tech-heads will love how Honda has addressed connectivity and this new version is now rated as #2 connect car in the segment.
Engines & Driving Experience
Honda has opted to stick with its tried and tested CVT for the automatic version, which revs freely and has little of the rubber band effect that other CVTs boxed suffer from.
Depending on what country you are in the Honda is also available as a diesel, which would then be combined with a six-speed manual gearbox.
For emission reasons, there are some countries that also benefit from getting the all-new 1.0 Turbo engine. This small unit helps to keep a tight rain on emissions, while at the same time delivering class-leading performance and economy.
The car is so good that many of the review experts are already suggesting that this new version brings back the DNA of the original model.
Ride & Comfort
Previous versions of the City offered good levels of ride quality and comfort. The latest 2020 version improves on the groundwork already laid down.
Handling is swift and there is a nice balance between that of performance and ride quality. There are lots of active safety features on-board to ensure that your car stays in the direction that you have pointed it.
There is a new feature for the segment, which is handling assistance. When you are entering a corner there is a slight amount braking that is automatically applied. You will notice this more when entering a series of twists and turns. Its a great feature and one Honda can be proud of.
Final Verdict
We believe the 2020 All-New Honda City 5th generation is an improvement on all aspects over that of the previous version.
Yes, there is stiff competition in this marketplace; however, if you like Honda then this should definitely be on your shopping list when it is time to change cars.