2024 Honda City 1.5 V CVT | Car Review | The Honda Difference

It has been four years since Honda Cars Philippines introduced the current seventh-generation of its City subcompact sedan. Despite stiff competition, it has remained a segment favorite with its sporty and premium looks, and class-leading powertrain.

Last year, the Japanese automaker gave it a small update which it really did not need. Still, it helps keep the City keep up with the times especially with its rivals having also received their own set of updates.

With that, Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) gave us the chance to take the mid-grade 1.5 V CVT variant out for a week to give our full thoughts on it, and I have to say that it still does not disappoint.

When I said the update was small, it really is small. On the outside, we still get the same overall look with a sleek front fascia that still wears Honda’s Solid Wing Face for the front grille, and large wraparound headlights.

This being the mid-spec V variant, it gets a more mature look, starting with its front grille which is slightly different, finished in chrome instead of the RS variant’s gloss black, plus the addition of horizontal accents to give it a little bit more flair. The 16-inch alloy wheels are the same as on the RS as well, but finished in silver instead of a two-tone silver and black.

I was surprised that this also loses out on the RS variant’s full LED headlights and instead gets halogen projectors and turn signals. It has surely been a while since I last tested a new car with halogen headlights. At least we still get LED strips for the daytime running lights, and the same BMW-inspired LED taillights. 

I also have to add that our tester’s Obsidian Blue Pearl exterior paint job is very eye-catching.

The fact that this is a small update is largely seen on the inside as it is basically the same as before. Most aren’t a fan of the design but I personally like its simplicity and use of mostly straight lines.

As before, materials are top-notch. Yes, hard touch plastics can be found almost everywhere but Honda was thoughtful enough to give us soft-touch leather surfaces where they count. I also love the climate controls which are still dials and buttons. Using each function comes with a satisfying click which just oozes of quality.

The changes? Nothing immediately visible. That is actually the 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system which now gets wireless Apple CarPlay connectivity instead of wired. If I’m not mistaken, Android Auto remains wired. I’ll have to say that a wireless phone charger would’ve been nice to make full use of the wireless phone connectivity and take out the need for a separate charging cable that you’ll plug into the USB-A ports.

A six-speaker audio system is also equipped on this variant which returns pretty decent sound quality, especially for a subcompact sedan. You won’t be looking for the RS’s eight-speaker system here.

Another change is the 4.2-inch display in the analog instrument cluster. This has been updated into a color TFT display with menus for the Honda SENSING suite which we’ll discuss later. No fully-digital instrument cluster here which is actually refreshing. The analog gauges are also very easy on the eyes and don’t look cheap at all.

Now when it comes to interior comfort, five adults will not find difficulty at all inside this given that this is one of the larger options in the segment. Taller front passengers will probably notice the higher floor when the seat is pulled back as the fuel tank is located below the front seats, at least it’s not bothersome. Rear leg and foot room is also very generous.

The seats themselves, even if they’ve been downgraded to having fabric upholstery, will remain very comfortable even during longer drives thanks to decent amounts of body support. 

As for cargo space, again this is one of the larger offerings in the segment and you’ll find good amounts of space in the trunk, 519 liters to be exact. That will surely fit most of what you’ll be trying to fit in here.

Now let’s talk about how this drives as I think this is still the best in its class.

Under the hood of the Honda City, regardless of variant, it remains powered by a 1.5-liter L15ZF Inline 4-cylinder DOHC  i-VTEC engine that produces 121 horsepower and 145 Nm of torque, mated to a CVT. 

And before you complain about that CVT, or even the output numbers, remember that this is the most powerful in its segment. Main rivals such as the Nissan Almera and the Toyota Vios both offer just 100 horsepower and lower. The same goes for the rest of the segment.

It won’t wow you with power, but the magic here is how it was tuned. The CVT has been tuned to be both comfortable and sporty. It won’t feel as sporty as on the RS (especially without the paddle shifters), it will still give you a little bit of enjoyment in typical Honda fashion. At least it keeps things smooth.

Steering and handling are also points that impress. Steering is slightly more weighted giving the impression of feedback (which is actually present), and the vehicle stays planted thanks to its low stance, making going through corners quite fun.

NVH insulation could be better as tire noise will get quite loud at highway speeds, but remember that this is a budget offering in Honda’s lineup.

It also helps that the engine’s sound will remind you of Hondas of old, giving a little bit of nostalgia from the Japanese automaker’s past. You’ll also hear that VTEC kick when you push this car hard at around 5,500 RPM.

One reason you’d buy a subcompact sedan is its fuel economy and the Honda City does not disappoint. A pure highway drive returned a really good 22 km/l at average speeds of above 90 kph. A nice Sunday drive from my home in Pasig City to Silang, Cavite and back returned an average of 19 km/l in mixed conditions.

On a normal day, you’ll find yourself doing around 8 to 9 km/l in a mix of light and heavy city traffic conditions which is not bad at all.

When it comes to safety, all variants of the Honda City are equipped with the Honda SENSING suite of advanced driver-assist systems. 

This gives them Adaptive Cruise Control, Collision Mitigation Braking System, Lane Keeping Assist System, Road Departure Mitigation, Lane Departure Warning, Auto High Beams, and Lead Car Departure Notification. 

All these work as we see in other Honda models and undoubtedly gives the City an ace up its sleeves compared to its competition.

This is also equipped with a multi-view reverse camera which allows you to select between narrow and wide views, and even a top-down view for easy parking. You won’t need to worry about the lack of parking sensors thanks to that.

The Honda City 1.5 V CVT is priced at Php 1,073,000 which puts it at the upper end of the segment, but certainly justified. Granted that it’s only Php 55,000 cheaper than the top-spec RS variant which I would probably upgrade to in a heartbeat, it still offers much to love.

This variant is aimed at a more mature audience with less of the racey or sporty looks of the more expensive version, while still offering pretty much everything that you can get there. There are a couple of things that it can still do better, but why complain when it already does everything well. 

The Honda City 1.5 V CVT makes itself known with its comprehensive standard feature list, class-leading driving dynamics, and attractive looks. You won’t be left wanting for more here, even if you can actually still get more. It has what I can only say is the Honda difference, something you’ll never find in any other rival.