The new Honda City and why Toyota should be worried

If you were thinking of putting your name down for Toyota Vios or Nissan Almera, hold on as the new Honda City might appeal more to you than the other two.

Picking up where we left off, the new Honda City isn't a minor facelift, as the Honda boffins have done some extensive work on the outside as well as the inside to make it better than the outgoing car. The low slung front end provides the car with a more grown-up and sportier look, the excessive use of chrome on the front grille has been dialled back but unfortunately not enough.

The front headlights are reminiscent of the current Honda Acccord while the tail lights have a hint of BMW 3-Series and the Euro spec Accord in them. Unlike the old car, the new City looks more European and all-round better looking than its current crop of rivals.

Because of Honda's philosophy of “Man maximum machine minimum” the new City's cabin space is significantly bigger than its predecessor, regardless of how tall you are, rear legroom is extremely generous but since the car hasn't been launched, Honda hasn't divulged any of the specific details about it.

The engine is the trusty 1.5-litre four pot mill, which pumps out 118bbhp and 145Nm of torque. Though 145Nm may seem good for a B-segment car, it isn't, not in the case of the City. Unfortunately, the new City will not come with a conventional automatic transmission but will be using a CVT unit. Honda has opted to take the sensible route as the CVT gearbox, especially in Malaysian traffic conditions, will not only help you save fuel but will allow for a more relaxed driving experience.

According to Honda, the new City will return far better fuel consumption figures than its predecessor, meaning urban commutes, which will probably be the new City's forte, will be a lot less taxing. The reduction of the number of visits needed to the petrol station will mean you have money to spend on more important things.

Unlike the old car, the new City will be launched in several variants from the ultra premium version to the barebones car which is said to be offered at a cut throat price. A recent chat with Honda personnel has revealed that the upcoming car will be offered at different price points to appeal to a larger demographic.

The old car's appeal was limited by its price tag. Unless you had about RM85,000 to Rm90,000 with you, there was no point in visiting a Honda dealership. But with the new car, Honda has said that prices will range from around RM70,000 to RM80,000 for the basic car while the more premium variants will cost significantly more.

As for the interior, the Japanese automaker has gone all-out and designed one that will definitely be a hit with the Malaysian public. The layout of the switchgear and instrument panels seem neatly arrangedand well thought out. However, my only gripe with it is that the meter cluster is a little too big for the dashboard. The City's main party piece has to be its 7-inch infotainment system and the touch screen buttons around it. This type of switchgear has never been seen before in car of this segment, and as such adds to the premium feel of the package.

We had the opportunity to test the upcoming Honda City in Thailand and got to experience its driving characteristics first hand. We will be covering its practicality and driving dynamics in the upcoming issue of Motor Trader. If you are interested to know more about the new car, the way it handles and whether you should wait for it instead of putting your name down for an Almera or Vios, pick up the latest issue of Motor trader, which should hit stands in the middle of next week.-news.yahoo.com