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Of course, as the product of an engineering-minded car company, the City 1.5V (yes, that’s the official designation) isn’t a ‘bolt-on bigger engine, go faster’ exercise. Without getting into the nitty-gritty, Honda told us that numerous changes were done to the shocks, springs and exhaust system to accommodate the extra weight, while delivering an even sportier experience from behind the wheel. The brakes too were beefed up, upgraded to four-wheel discs as standard. That’s not to say that the City 1.5V is pure boy racer. Despite riding on V-rated 185/55 R 15 tires, the City exhibited a well-sorted ride that’s neither too soft nor too harsh. I purposely tried to hit road ruts at full-speed to see if the City would get unsettled—it didn’t. I had Manila Bulletin’s Aris Ilagan and Jason Ang do the same exercise, and not once did I feel nauseated in my role as a backseat lab rat. Its behavior on the twisty stuff was nothing less than impressive with generous amounts of grip, coupled with a well-weighted steering courtesy of the Electric Power Steering system. The VTEC engine, larger wheels, better brakes and low-profile tires may make the Jenson Button-wannabes out there happy. But they aren’t the only things changed with the City. As modern as it is, it received exterior re-touches, albeit minor, for this year. Across the line, it features a darker rear lamp cluster as well as a new rear bumper. On the 1.5V, it gets side protector mouldings and a roof-mounted antenna as well. Honda has retained the two shade interior scheme: either beige or gray, depending on the exterior color. In the Purple Mica that I drove, it was a two-tone gray scheme. Though not as lively as the beige, I still found it an inviting and pleasant place to be. Plus it’s probably easier to clean and maintain in the long-run compared to the beige. |
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