[Lobogris]

Originally Posted by aquavivarium

I guess Honda realized that " Middle path " is the way to go . Also lets hope long term reliability is not an issue for such a complicated car.

Even though it is a great vehicle that everyone should buy, it is hardly a “middle path”. Hybrid cars have been in the mainstream since the year 2000. I bought my Toyota Prius hybrid in 2004. Honda has had its City hybrid since early 2000s as well. So there is no need to worry about reliability or think that it is a complicated vehicle. This is a two decade old and mature technology. Honda itself had launched its City hybrids in India more than a decade ago. We also have had the Toyota Camry hybrid in India for a long while. These are basically petrol vehicles that can slowly drive a kms or so on the electric mode. This can help cut emissions and fuel costs in bumper to bumper traffic. I always got great mileage on my Prius.

[volkman10]

Official Press Release on its production release as the Hybrid receives good response:

We have received an overwhelming response to the City e: HEV since its unveil earlier this month.

[autobahnjpr]

A real road test would clear the doubts regarding the high-speed manners and performance of this hybrid. But we have east Asian reviews for reference.

I do not have any idea or data to suggest that x percentage of potential buyers will drive within city limits or on highways.

Originally Posted by Palio_2005

Most highways have speed cameras with a speed limit of 100 kmph

[ron178]

Originally Posted by volkman10

Attachment 2296944

Honda is wrong to advertise an ASEAN NCAP rating for India. ASEAN NCAP does not issue ratings for India, the test car was made in Thailand, it was an ICE and not a hybrid (variant policy calls for retest), the Thai car has obvious differences including shorter wheelbase and i-Size anchorages which improved the ASEAN NCAP star rating (which is determined by the lowest of adult protection, child protection and safety assist).

ASEAN NCAP child occupant protection assessment protocol

Thai City i-Size marking


Indian City ISOFIX marking


And yes this is a silly difference but if one small thing can make a difference in the score of the two cars, what's stopping the rest of the safety performance from being different? If Honda expects Indian consumers to just trust what they're saying then Maruti might as well have advertised ASEAN NCAP ratings for the Ertiga and Swift. Obviously it wouldn't make sense.

[M00M]

Originally Posted by ron178

Honda is wrong to advertise an ASEAN NCAP rating for India.

The previous gen City was 4 stars so I expect the current one to be 5 atleast with the ADAS and the 6 airbags. I wonder whats stopping them from providing a car and getting the test done. Its just laziness on their part I feel sometimes.

[ron178]

Originally Posted by M00M

The previous gen City was 4 stars so I expect the current one to be 5 atleast with the ADAS and the 6 airbags.

Yes in that sense I trust Honda too, but there's a big difference between a consumer speculating something and Honda actually claiming it.

The City is actually very well equipped for the upcoming protocols, even the ICE one. The Hybrid could possibly qualify for extra awards too (for optional AEB) but we'll have to wait for Global NCAP to announce them.

[Bimmer_Sage]

I suspect that Honda City hybrid would cost upwards of 22 lakhs on road. The sales rep at the dealership told me 23 lakhs. I don’t know what to say.

[dr.delete]

Update from Honda Car India:

[Palio_2005]

I feel that keeping this technology limited to the top end will be a mistake. The adoption of this technology needs to be widespread to reduce the costs and must be introduced in variants like V and VX which I am sure are bulk of the sales. In fact by offering in lowest trims you also attract the fleet operators who benefit from better technology

[MiKeMo]

I am in market for an upgrade for my Celerio ZXI. Reading about eHEV, enquired about it through Honda website and a call to a local dealer near my office is south Mumbai. Two unexpected news the person who called me gave: on road price premium of Rs. 5 to 7 lacs and waiting period of more than 4 months. I highly doubt both, but this is the “unofficial or unconfirmed “ feedback I have received, for info of fellow BHPians.
Needless to mention that my interest has gone down quite a bit.

[vencat]

Yesterday ( Sunday ) went to Whitefield Honda, Bangalore. Spoke to the sales rep. He rattled off the features and when I asked about the price cooly says 24-25 Lakhs. He added that this is the cheapest Hybrid in India. Camry costs 45 Lakhs. Some solace.

[TheWanderer]

Originally Posted by vencat

Yesterday ( Sunday ) went to Whitefield Honda, Bangalore. Spoke to the sales rep. He rattled off the features and when I asked about the price cooly says 24-25 Lakhs...

Yes, I too got a similar figure from Honda sales. A bit ambitious from my point of view and reminds me of initial Jazz pricing. If history repeats, they may need to relook at this pricing soon, but, if for whatever reason, they are able to get their target of approx 300 units per month, may be, they may just hold on to this price! Let us wait and see.

[84.monsoon]

Originally Posted by MiKeMo

I am in market for an upgrade for my Celerio ZXI. Reading about eHEV, enquired about it through Honda website and a call to a local dealer near my office is south Mumbai. Two unexpected news the person who called me gave: on road price premium of Rs. 5 to 7 lacs and waiting period of more than 4 months. I highly doubt both, but this is the “unofficial or unconfirmed “ feedback I have received, for info of fellow BHPians.
Needless to mention that my interest has gone down quite a bit.

The car will be of only academic interest if Honda attempts to charge such premiums. Features-wise, there is almost nothing one gets over and above the top end of the regular City, except electronic parking brake, and some ADAS features (which have very doubtful value in Indian driving conditions - Most XUV 700 owners report that they have switched off their ADAS as it is too dangerous to rely on with our crazy traffic). The driving pleasure is probably nowhere as good as the NA iVTEC. Only advantage is fuel efficiency and as previous posts on the thread show, a premium of around Rs. 2 Laks is all that can be justified overt he life of the car for average running, on this count alone.

[Shreyans_Jain]

Given that the current ZX CVT costs about 17.5L on road, the price of the hybrid has to kept under 20L on road. That seems the limit of what is reasonable. The 25L number being thrown around sounds hopelessly optimistic. It is a City, after all. People will prefer the ZS EV and the likes of Compass, Tucson, Safari etc at that price point. Honda better be realistic, lest it wants a repeat of the Civic hybrid fiasco.

[Mannu]

Originally Posted by Shreyans_Jain

Given that the current ZX CVT costs about 17.5L on road, the price of the hybrid has to kept under 20L on road. That seems the limit of what is reasonable. The 25L number being thrown around sounds hopelessly optimistic. It is a City, after all. People will prefer the ZS EV and the likes of Compass, Tucson, Safari etc at that price point. Honda better be realistic, lest it wants a repeat of the Civic hybrid fiasco.

Recently went to a Honda dealership and as per their guess, it's to have a premium of about 2 lacs to the pure ICE counterpart. And was told it's going to come in just one variant i.e. ZX.