Honda City e:HEV: silent victory

Launched in 1998, the Honda City quickly became a favourite in India. Well-known for its reliability, affordable performance and unmatched class, the Honda City has been so successful that 26 years later, it is one of the longest-running models in the country. Having established itself as the reliable choice in the segment, one would expect Honda to continue selling the car as is, but it wouldn’t be Honda if they hadn’t tried to push the envelope even further. In this case, it’s a hybrid powertrain in the City e:HEV, a top-of-the-line model that comes with all the bells and whistles, Level 2 autonomous safety assist and a claimed fuel economy of 26.5 km/l. We take it for a spin to find out what makes it special in 2024.

There’s not much to differentiate between the standard petrol City and the petrol-hybrid City e:HEV in terms of looks. Aside from the e:HEV badge, you’ll notice the new 16-inch alloy wheels, Honda badges finished in blue and even a nice spoiler. The latest-generation City looks great and while it’s not the sportiest, it’s a nice combination of classic saloon styling and modern appeal. The interior isn’t much different from the cabin of a standard car, except you’ll find a few extra additions.

Features

Finished in classic ivory, the dashboard and seats complement the acres of space inside the cabin. The boot has been reduced (by around 200 litres) to accommodate the battery, while the most notable changes are a new ‘B’ lettering on the gear lever surround and a command center for the adaptive cruise control. The car is equipped with Level 2 autonomous safety technology as part of the Honda Sensing suite, and this includes everything from collision mitigation, lane keep assist, lane departure assist , up to autonomous braking functions. These will not take over driving duties from you, but rather help make traveling in the Honda City e:HEV a safe choice.

The City e:HEV has two electric motors with a maximum rated torque of 25.74 kg-m and 125 hp. In EV mode, the engine is not on and it is just the traction motor that sends the power to the wheels. It is quiet but fast, making city driving effortless. In hybrid mode, it is still the engine that sends the power to the wheels but the engine works as a generator and charges the battery. The third type of transmission is what Honda calls Engine Drive. In this, the electric motor works as usual, while the engine, instead of working as a generator, also sends power to the wheels.

When pushed, the engine doesn’t sound the most cheerful, which is also a reminder that its role is to complement the hybrid system and not take over completely. The setup is mated to an e-CVT gearbox, which not only adds to the smoothness of the ride, but also masks the rubber-band effect usually associated with CVTs. The City also surprises with its fuel economy, with the e:HEV returning a very impressive 17 km/l on our test drive. It’s also worth noting that the entire hybrid setup adds around 100 kg to the car’s weight, but it’s still quicker to get going than the standard petrol version with an automatic gearbox.

The other change is the inclusion of a full disc brake setup, which allows the City to stop with confidence. Shift paddles allow the driver to adjust the level of engine braking. The suspension has also been reworked, making the City e:HEV more entertaining, but without losing the suppleness the City is usually known for.

Priced at ₹20.55 lakh, ex-showroom, the City e:HEV is not for enthusiasts, but it makes for a great, no-nonsense product that is not only cleaner to use but also gives a glimpse of a sophisticated technology that few automakers have achieved.