Honda City Hatchback Review

The B-segment hatchback market has always been a competitive space for families and young consumers, who seek economic efficiency for daily commuting, as well as sufficient practicality and safety features. The 2024 Honda City Hatchback 1.5 S, as the entry-level model of the series, is priced from RM 85,900 and comes standard with the Honda Sensing safety suite and six airbags. Such a configuration combination is uncommon among entry-level models in the same segment. In this test drive, we will focus on whether this entry-level model strikes a balance between price and experience to meet the core needs of most users.

From the exterior, the 2024 City Hatchback 1.5 S continues the family-style design of the series, featuring sleek overall lines and retaining the compact and agile feel of a hatchback. The chrome trim on the front connects the headlights on both sides, enhancing the visual width. The headlights adopt a combination of halogen and LED lights, with automatic headlamps and daytime running lights as standard, providing convenience for daily use. The side profile features a standard hatchback shape, a 2600mm wheelbase, and 185/60R15 tires, creating well-balanced proportions. The rear design is relatively simple, with horizontally arranged taillights and standard rear fog lamps. The overall look has good recognition and does not appear overly basic, despite being an entry-level model.

Stepping inside, the interior is functional, with a clearly structured dashboard and frequently used buttons conveniently positioned. The multifunction steering wheel is standard, integrating controls for volume, phone answering, and ACC cruise control, making operation straightforward. The instrument cluster is an analog electroluminescent display that is clear and directly shows information such as RPM, speed, and fuel consumption. The seats are manually adjustable fabric seats that offer good support, ensuring comfort even during long periods of use. The rear seats support a 60:40 split-folding and Tip-up Base design, making it convenient to expand the trunk space when needed. The trunk has a capacity of 289L, which is sufficient for everyday items like a few carry-on suitcases or shopping bags, and folding down the rear seats allows for larger items to fit as well.

In terms of space, the 2600mm wheelbase is standard for B-segment vehicles. After adjusting the front seats to a comfortable position, passengers with a height of 175cm will have about one fist of headroom. Rear legroom is also relatively spacious, and passengers of the same height seated in the rear will find about two fists of knee space from the front seatbacks, with one fist of headroom, so it does not feel cramped. The rear seats are equipped with ISO FIX child seat mounts, making it convenient for families with children. For storage space, the front door panels can hold two water bottles, and both the center armrest box and glove compartment provide ample room for small items, ensuring daily essentials can be easily stowed away.

As for performance, the 1.5 S is equipped with a 1.5L naturally aspirated engine that delivers a maximum power of 89kW (121PS) and a peak torque of 145N·m, paired with a CVT transmission. The power response during start is quite linear without noticeable lag, making city driving or starting from a stop very easy. During acceleration, the CVT transmission provides smooth performance without any noticeable jolts, and the engine's RPM increases steadily. Acceleration up to 60km/h is sufficient for city commuting. When stepping on the gas pedal more aggressively, the engine RPM rises above 6000, delivering more direct power output, but overtaking requires some advance preparation. The official 0-100km/h acceleration time is 10.7 seconds, which is average for naturally aspirated models with the same displacement, fully capable of meeting daily driving needs.

In terms of driving experience, the steering wheel is relatively light, so even women won't find it heavy. The steering precision is good, making it agile for daily lane changes or turns. The suspension system consists of a front MacPherson independent suspension and a rear torsion beam non-independent suspension, which is tuned for comfort. It effectively filters out most of the bumps when going over speed humps or uneven road surfaces, ensuring minimal vibrations are transmitted into the cabin. At high speeds, the vehicle's stability is commendable, maintaining a steady feel even at 120km/h. Regarding noise control, the cabin is relatively quiet during low-speed city driving, while at speeds over 80km/h, tire noise becomes slightly noticeable but remains within an acceptable range and does not affect normal conversations.

As for fuel consumption, during this test drive, which mainly involved city commuting with a small amount of highway driving, the overall fuel consumption was about 6.2L/100km, which is close to the manufacturer's claim of 5.6L/100km. Considering the traffic congestion in the city, this fuel efficiency can be considered quite economical. With a fuel tank capacity of 40 liters, a full tank can last for more than 600 kilometers, which means one refuel per week should suffice for daily commutes, avoiding frequent trips to the gas station.

Safety features are a major highlight of the 1.5 S. Although it is an entry-level model, it comes standard with the Honda Sensing safety suite, including Lane Departure Warning, Collision Mitigation Braking System, Forward Collision Warning, and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). These features are very practical during highway driving. The ACC can automatically follow the vehicle in front, reducing fatigue during long drives. The Collision Mitigation Braking System can promptly alert or even automatically brake when it detects the vehicle ahead slowing down or encountering an obstacle, enhancing driving safety. The 6 airbags configuration is also well-equipped, including front side airbags and front/rear curtain airbags, providing comprehensive protection in the event of a collision.

Compared to other entry-level models in the same class, such as the Toyota Yaris 1.5 E (RM 89,600), the City Hatchback 1.5 S comes at a lower price and includes standard Honda Sensing and 6 airbags, offering superior safety features. Compared to its own 2023 Honda City Hatchback 1.5 S, although the 2024 model's price has increased, the safety features and other details show improvements, making it a value-for-money choice.

Overall, the 2024 Honda City Hatchback 1.5 S is a very practical model. It may not have many fancy features, but it excels in core aspects like safety, space, and fuel efficiency. If you're a family user looking for a car for daily commuting and occasional family outings, or a young professional seeking an economical, practical, and safe vehicle, this car is a great option. It may not be the most dazzling choice, but it is definitely one of the most reliable choices.