Honda Car India has postponed the launch of its new-gen City sedan due to corona virus
Just like multiple events, both personal and professional, the ongoing corona virus outbreak has delayed many introductions, launches and shows in the automotive industry as well. Just before the nationwide lockdown, Honda Car India postponed the official next-gen City Media Drive. If the media drive would have taken place as per schedule, we would have reviewed the car by now. As that didn’t happen, some details of the fifth-generation Honda City have been under wraps.
We have now received the list of features in the top-of-the-line City ZX trim. On the safety front, the 2020 Honda City packs six airbags, ESP (Electronic Stability Program), TCS (Traction Control System) and HAS (Hill Start Assist). Additionally, Honda Car India has included four new features: TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System), three-point seat belt for the second-row middle passenger, reverse parking camera and a segment-first ‘Lane-watch’ camera (blind-spot assist).
We have tried the Lane-watch camera feature in the CR-V and Civic (diesel variants of either Honda model were discontinued) and we must say it is very useful in Indian driving conditions. It comprises of a camera in the left ORVM that sends across real-time feed to the infotainment system. This helps the driver to be aware of vehicles trying to under-cut or carelessly overtake from the left side of the car.
In the entertainment department, the new Honda City gets an 8.0-inch touchscreen. While Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility are the new normal, Honda has gone a step ahead by introducing Alexa Remote compatibility. The City will be the first car in India to have this feature. Multiple telematics controls are also available via the next-generation Honda Connect.
While there is a growing trend to move towards fully-digital instrument clusters, the fifth-gen Honda City gets analogue meters. However, there is a 7.0-inch full-colour MID unit to show additional information. Still, the most interesting piece on the dashboard will be a G-Meter which is usually found only in high-end performance vehicles.
Honda has already announced that it will be moving away from touchscreen inputs for climate control. The new City gets good-old rotary knobs instead (current gen-City has a touchscreen unit). Honda additionally offers padded dashboard materials to improve the premium feel of the sedan. Features such as leather seats and sunroof will be borrowed from the outgoing model.
The brochure states that the 2020 Honda City is the longest and widest car in its segment. Once launched, the sedan will be offered with just a BS6 petrol motor while a BS6 diesel powertrain would be introduced later. Prices are expected to start at around Rs 10 lakh and hit Rs 15 lakh ex-showroom.
