Owner’s review: 2005 Honda City CVT

After I wrote about automatic cars, there have been requests for a review on the New Honda City CVT. So I am trying one. See this as owner’s review, stuff that may help you make up your mind. If you are looking for engine and body statistics in millimeters and kilowatts, try the auto magazines.

Let me start with the dealership. Sales person was very friendly. And she has been that way since, before I bought the car, after the sale, and even today when I need help with services or insurance. The only negative thing about the dealer – Whitefield Honda – is that they aren’t actually located in Whitefield! K R Puram Honda is more like it, but I guess they like this western touch to their name. I drove all the way to Whitefield and then back to K R Puram to find them. Wish I had called them up for precise directions.

Since I was set on buying an automatic, I had only two realistic options. Santro AT, and City CVT. Santro being a bit too small, my job was easy. Essentially, if you want an automatic, and want a boot, but want to stay around 8 lakhs, City CVT has a monopoly. There is an automatic Lancer, and Corolla and an Optra as well, only a bit expensive. I just dont understand why the car companies don’t make and market automatics. Even the recently announced models – Aveo and Fiesta – don’t come with automatic option.

Even with City CVT being the only choice, I looked around for some social support. I couldn’t find any CVT specific review around. Nor did I come across any owners, not even on team-bhp. No problem though, because rest of the car is same as other variants. All the mags said the same things about City – Underpowered and fuel efficient. One said suspension was a bit stiff. And another mag said the ground clearance is a bit low.

The good: Automatic transmission, interiors and fuel economy.

It’s not just Bangalore. Every other city I have been to recently – Pune, Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata – the traffic isn’t a lot better. Just that Bangalore folks crib more due to the pace of growth that caught everyone by surprise. Bumper to bumper traffic means neutral, then to first, second. And twenty meters later back to neutral again. Doing this again and again is a pain. Both your hands and both feet stay engaged all the time. The stress levels drop to a third when driving an automatic transmission. There is simply no comparison.

I have owned automatic cars when I was in US. The CVT – the transmission – is very contemporary, in the sense that I don’t feel any ‘jerks’ during the “supposedly hidden” gear changes that happen behind the scene. CVT doesn’t work that way I am told. I had driven an Esteem A/T once; there is just no comparison. I hear all the Maruti automatic transmissions are like that. That is the reason I didn’t even bother checking them (Esteem A/T, Zen A/T) out.

The car has an acceptably spacious cabin. Compared to other cars with similar dimensions (accent, Baleno, Aveo, Fiesta, Lancer, and even Corolla), City has good legroom both front and rear. I am 6’3″ and even with front seat set back all the way, I can fit myself in the rear seat. I can manage this only in a Corolla, and the new Lancer Cedia. Compared to other cars in same price range, the interiors feel better. Aveo is the only car that comes close with dual tone interiors.

I get about 11-12 kmpl (km per liter) in the city, and 14 on the highway, pretty good numbers for an automatic. I had expected the city figures to be 9-10, so this beat my expectations. Mind you though, I am not an aggressive driver at all. In fact, if I was the racing type, I would have considered another car.

Could be better: safety, suspension

I didn’t like the fact that car didn’t have two basic safety features – airbags and ABS. They don’t offer these even as options. Competition has ABS (Fiesta, Accent, Aveo), and you get airbags too for a lot less with Swift.

Compared to some other cars, the suspension seems a little stiff. Can’t do small humps or mid size potholes at speeds of 40 kmph or higher. I can do that with Baleno, or even the OHC.

So so: power, looks

Main complaint about NHC has been lack of power. 78 bhp plugged to automatic transmission would make it even worse. But so far, driving within the city, I haven’t felt any sluggishness. Only time you feel it is on the highway, at higher speeds, if you drive up a slope with A/c on and 3-4 people in the car. Conclusion on power: for the use typical city owner will put it to, its okay for the job 95% of the time. But, you cant race and overtake every other car on the road. Ikon 1.6, older model of City (OHC), Lancers – I have tried pulling ahead of them, and failed at times. But FYI, the only gas pedal worthy road in Bangalore is Outer ring road.

Arguably, the looks could be better. It does have a very odd shape that takes some getting used to. There are better looking cars around, even after the slight touch ups they have done with the 2006 model (ZX).

Rest is acceptable

Regular servicing hasn’t been any more expensive than my other car, which is a Maruti. Ground clearance is a bit low, but so far it has scraped a speed breaker only once. Have to be real slow when going over the big ones. Little annoying, but you can live with that. Air conditioning is good, not as good as Baleno, but does the job. CD/MP3 player isn’t standard, just a cassette with radio, but one can always upgrade.

So all in all, I have been one happy customer, with no major complaints.

So this is it! Took me over 5 days to finish this long review, my longest post, but I did it! Hope Honda India pays me some money for doing my bit for the CVT.