Sense and the City

MANILA, Philippines - You just had to feel for Honda last year. Ravaged by the tsunami and floods in Japan and the flooding in Thailand, production and the introduction of new models were expectedly set back. This arguably enabled other auto companies to make a lot of hay locally and elsewhere.

But Honda Cars Philippines Inc. isn’t going to whine about it. Rather, after a terse explanation of what happened last year, HCPI thanked us for our patience and understanding, and has promised to be back with a vengeance. That means buckling down to work again to deliver the vehicles we’ve been waiting for. They’ve certainly delivered via the all-new Civic (initial units will be directly sourced from Japan), and the City.

First sold in the Philippines in 1996, HCPI claims the City originated the sub-compact segment in the country. Today, the Honda bestseller is closing in on 70,000 sold units.

Launched last January, the third-generation Honda City has been refreshed with some changes, and is essentially back with much of what made it such a popular car to begin with.

We had a chance to test the top dog, 120ps 1.5 E, which came in a new “Sparkling Brown” color.

Not much has changed in the profile, save for redesigned bumpers and chrome grille, and a new set of taillights and diffuser. It remains sleek, slightly muscular, and angular as before. It might just be me, but I still have to get used to the front fascia, which reminds me of trilobites. Otherwise, the City is imbued with the brand equity that is distinctly Honda.

When you open the door and slide into the driver’s seat, you’ll find the cabin roomy and relaxing. The appointments aren’t luxurious but obviously class-leading and practical. The chrome accents on the center console knobs are a welcome enhancement, as is the height-adjustment lever for the driver’s seat.

Air-conditioning is especially crucial in local climes, and the City doesn’t disappoint. The “quick cooling” system features additional air ducts on the rear seat floor to ensure rear passenger comfort.

The legible instrument cluster has been refreshed with blue lighting, although I wish Honda had stuck with the amber lighting of the center console. The blue seems to clash with it. Meanwhile, for the 1.5 E only, an Eco Drive indicator lamp lights up to inform you that you are driving fuel-efficiently.

Paddle shifters behind the steering wheel give you a semblance of control over the gears of the five-speed automatic, should you desire. If you want a more robust drive, shift to S and the City rewards you with higher revs and more sprightly acceleration.

As for the sound system, the Honda brings the City up to speed with steering wheel controls, confined again to the 1.5 E variant. But people are sure to delight in the Flex Audio system that accommodates most formats and media. You can plug in your iPod, MP3 player or a USB drive chockfull of songs through either an audio auxiliary input and USB jack. You can go old school (old school!) and pop in a CD, too. Built-in sound processors can tailor your track that is pumped out through four speakers.

All told, this utilitarian cruiser (priced at P746,000 for the 1.3 S manual, P786,000 for the 1.3 S AT, and P836,000 for the 1.5 E AT) – proudly made in the Philippines – is a value-for-money investment for people who continue to believe in the Honda brand and the unique experience it promises.

Yup, Honda’s back.