Welcome back to the on going road test of the New Honda City i-VTEC. Yesterday we spoke about the engine and gearbox, today we touch upon another section, the section that matters to Indians – interiors.
Interiors
The well designed exteriors seeps on to the inside too with a well sculpted dashboard. The steering feels good to grip though it is small. The instrument cluster is pleasing on the eyes – the orange backlit with the orange needles and aluminium bordering enhances the sporty feel.
Speedo is marked up to 220kph and we got a nice little MID in its centre, which carried in it the live time mileage meter that took some time to understand.
The centre console comprises of the stereo with a screen that can be folded outwards exposing the USB connection port and a storage place for iPods and other mobile players. Audio quality was nothing exceptional but the steering controls for the stereo is a big boon in the city.
The air conditioner is basic, and one would expect a climate control to be standard on this segment. The cooling on our car was not like the Civic we drive otherwise or its classmate Linea. It took a little while in sending some cold air our way.
What’s noteworthy is the abundant usage of the brushed aluminium here too. Nice cubby storage area under the driver side A.C vent and a couple more ahead of the gear stalk. Glove box doesn’t have a light inside nor does it have a cooling vent within, but space is more than enough to keep the regular documents and files.
The aluminium touch is carried forward to the gear lever and another storage box is available on the left side of the driver seat which also acts as a hand rest. Ample space to hold bottles in the door pads and very well crafted hand rest that suit the posture while driving add to the beauty for the doors from within.
Missing are door pockets/bottle holders for the rear doors and very surprisingly there’s just one map pocket behind the co-driver’s seat.
Seats
Printed fabric used on the seats is in beige color matching the door pads and the roof. The front seats are at a good height, the reason being under them lies the fuel tank. Height adjustment for the driver’s seat are also provided. Headrests are huge but don’t come in the way while reversing nor do they keep bombarding you in your head/neck while braking, which is a problem on the Civic.
The rear seat has a central armrest with integrated cup holders in them and one more on the rear of the front centre arm rest. Rear seats are also at a height but that is working in its favor, remember the 1st gen city had a very low seats and that helped no one.
Rear seats are not 60-40 split nor do they have a height adjustable headrests where the Linea scored. Ample headroom and shoulder room make things better at the rear and the tunnel that runs through the centre is not very high.
Tomorrow we get to know how similar the City is compared to the Civic.
Nice interiors but somehow i feel the Civics interior is class apart, could you guys confirm?
Overall how do you rate the Citys interiors to the Lineas?
@Sujeet – I don’t know, I felt the dashboard was not miserable quality or along those lines. Some people would not like they grey color, but else, its not unbearable or anything.
@Dr Sumedh – Sir, you should tell us! Being a Honda fan all your life and owning several Hondas in the past, I thought you would know the answer! I feel it has got to do with cost cutting and market surveys.
@TG Fan – We hope to drive the Jazz and bring out the merits and demerits.
@Lifegoeson – the lack of features is a bit of let down, but the engine and gearbox is hard to beat. The smoothness and refinement is at its peak.
Why isent there leather seats option on this one? Otherwise all looks fine and typical Honda quality.
I would be ready to pay extra for the leathers and also for a nice little Sunroof.
Dudes, are the front seat belts adjustable? that chokes me if its too high or low. Why are you not mentioning that?
Great review and pictures. That is a nice interior for Honda.
@Greg – thank you for your encouraging words. The interiors were not bad, though they could have been a touch better.
To me this is a big let down as compared to the Lineas which has Blue and Me and rear AC vents. The review is very very shallow.
We should be doing the Ford Fiesta S soon, let us judge the City against it then.
I feel this is well overpriced if there is no rear AC vent, no leather, no alloys, no fancy electronics. I’ll go for the Linea any day.
Good work, you kept it neat and simple. I’m waiting for the next part of the review. Hope you guys are gonna do the other Honda cars as well later on? I want to know how the Jazz fares against the City. Many would want to know that.
I feel this as a very nice and cosy looking interiors and dash. But why no bottle holders for the rear???
this one looked to me more like a brouchure than a review..!!!!
as u have recently driven linea
comparision between the two was expected.
quality of interiors was not up to mark on a million buck car and even fit and finish
fiesta is much better in this department and even jazz
This is much better than the earlier Dolphin Citys interior. I don’t know what people are complaining about. I’ve not heard much from my friends who also own this car. Its people who don’t own the car or don’t have the money that are complaining.