Review: Honda CVT 2005

cutthecords · 13th June 2006, 04:10

I recently posted a review of CVT in my blog. I have had the car for an year now, hence the review qualifies as long term ownership report.

http://silkboard.wordpress.com/2006/...onda-city-cvt/

banirban72 · 13th June 2006, 13:44

Hi,
nice review. I also got the NHC ZX CVT. I like it a lot. Agree with you totally on the negatives. 2006 model came with CD/MP3 player, but no casette.
What pissed me off was the lack of ABS/EBD/air bags. For a car of this price range, I felt that should be included. Otherwise, I find it quite good.
Regarding lack of power, so far I have driven to Mysore and couple of times on ORR. Found the power to be quite good ----- on Mysore road, was driving at 90 and did not realise. Had to look at the speedo to know that I was at that speed.

Anirban

Wheeliej · 14th June 2006, 13:21

Good review; you are right, there are no other reviews anywhere about the CVT and the fact is that there is no competition; when i asked around in Feb/Mar 2006, the only cars with an automatic option (not SUV's) were WagonR, Santro, Honda City, Toyota Corolla and Chevrolet Optra. The 1st two were too small and the last two were too expensive; so really Honda City CVT is the only mid-priced car that is available in the market today.

I drive mostly on the ORR, so my FE has been good; 1st full tank i got 11+ (with accessories fitting in between and suspected petrol pilfering), 2nd fill i cannot calculate (since the car had gone for a 1st service yesterday and again I suspect petrol pilfering) yet; will have to get guess figures, but it looks good - around 13.

Anirban, i havent seen any of your car pics posted yet. let me know if i have missed your post.

banirban72 · 14th June 2006, 13:30

Hi Wheeliej,
hadn't had time to take a pic or post my review. Had been at the back of my mind for quite sometime, was a bit too tied. Will try to post pics and initial impression hopefully by this weekend.
Forgot to mention, I got a mileage of around 10.2kmpl for the first time ----- about 50% on Mysore Road and rest on bumper-to-bumper traffic and was driving (god knows for how long!!!) with a flat tyre. Will do a more accurate measurement this time.

Anirban

cutthecords · 14th June 2006, 21:52

Thanks Anirban, Wheeliej, Nimish. Looks like its hard to find an unhappy CVT owner. FE is indeed impressive.

BTW, I noticed that the 2005 NHC has slightly better suspension that the 2006 ZX. Did you guys notice that too? Anirban, that explains why you were more disappointed than myself with the suspension.

ZX does look a bit better than the prev NHC. I also think CVT is selling a bit better now, I have been seeing a few more of these around here these days.

One more positive I failed to mention in the review is its "taller" profile. Getting in and out of NHC is more comfortable than Baleno or Aveo or even the Fiesta . NHC stands around 6-7 inches taller (not measured - a guess) than my Baleno, even though NHC's ground clearance is smaller than Baleno.

Anirban - I agree 'power' is only an argubale negative. I feel the NHC power thing is overhyped. Its more than fine for city needs, and does it for the highway as well.

metallica · 15th June 2006, 00:09

Indeed , there is so less noise about the CVT that it makes prospective buyers like me to think again and again, but I think after reading the review and the comments thereafter , I am almost sure to go for a CVT.

prand · 16th June 2006, 11:26

Nice review, that. The time's coming when a lot of us will be thinking long and hard about auto options. After all, it's the same story everywhere: crawling traffic that takes a toll of your left foot and left hand, and finally, the entire nervous system! But the Honda CVT is beyond me at the moment. What gives me hope is the announcement that the Maruti Wagon MR CVT is round the corner. I wonder how smoth and responsive these budget autos are in crowded city streets (others being Satro AT and Wagon R AX). Are they absoulte sluggards or can they beat those red lights and brush aside a few taxis and autorickshaws? Any thoughts any one?

cutthecords · 23rd June 2006, 13:51

BTW, did you guys know that Tata's 1 lakh car is going to be a CVT? Or at least it will have an automatic option. From what I read, the aim is to make it easier for women to drive this car.

So come 2008, the cheapest automatic car will be just over Rs 1 lakh!

babe_on_wheels · 23rd June 2006, 14:17

considering the service tata gives to its BELOVED customers? wonder how the 1 lak segment automatic car would have an impact on its consumers?? supposedly easy for women to drive? lets leave some light to tata people.

cutthecords · 23rd June 2006, 14:27

Now that I search, I can't find that article where I got the CVT and women connection from. Though the CVT bit has been mentioned in many articles about this car. See this one for example.

I also recall reading that "the base model may not have doors at all and instead have some sort of curtains". Sounds so interesting. Luckily, I could search this article once again.

Back to the CVT topic, Tata is looking to do a Kinetic here. Gearless scooters made women buy them. This 1 lakh car could do the same, why not?

13th June 2006, 04:10	#1
cutthecords BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 30 Thanked: 0 Times	Review: Honda CVT 2005 I recently posted a review of CVT in my blog. I have had the car for an year now, hence the review qualifies as long term ownership report. http://silkboard.wordpress.com/2006/...onda-city-cvt/
	() Thanks

13th June 2006, 13:44	#2
banirban72 Newbie Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 11 Thanked: Once	Hi, nice review. I also got the NHC ZX CVT. I like it a lot. Agree with you totally on the negatives. 2006 model came with CD/MP3 player, but no casette. What pissed me off was the lack of ABS/EBD/air bags. For a car of this price range, I felt that should be included. Otherwise, I find it quite good. Regarding lack of power, so far I have driven to Mysore and couple of times on ORR. Found the power to be quite good ----- on Mysore road, was driving at 90 and did not realise. Had to look at the speedo to know that I was at that speed. Anirban
	() Thanks

14th June 2006, 13:21	#3
Wheeliej BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 284 Thanked: 47 Times	Good review; you are right, there are no other reviews anywhere about the CVT and the fact is that there is no competition; when i asked around in Feb/Mar 2006, the only cars with an automatic option (not SUV's) were WagonR, Santro, Honda City, Toyota Corolla and Chevrolet Optra. The 1st two were too small and the last two were too expensive; so really Honda City CVT is the only mid-priced car that is available in the market today. I drive mostly on the ORR, so my FE has been good; 1st full tank i got 11+ (with accessories fitting in between and suspected petrol pilfering), 2nd fill i cannot calculate (since the car had gone for a 1st service yesterday and again I suspect petrol pilfering) yet; will have to get guess figures, but it looks good - around 13. Anirban, i havent seen any of your car pics posted yet. let me know if i have missed your post.
	() Thanks

14th June 2006, 13:30	#4
banirban72 Newbie Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 11 Thanked: Once	Hi Wheeliej, hadn't had time to take a pic or post my review. Had been at the back of my mind for quite sometime, was a bit too tied. Will try to post pics and initial impression hopefully by this weekend. Forgot to mention, I got a mileage of around 10.2kmpl for the first time ----- about 50% on Mysore Road and rest on bumper-to-bumper traffic and was driving (god knows for how long!!!) with a flat tyre. Will do a more accurate measurement this time. Anirban
	() Thanks

14th June 2006, 21:52	#5
cutthecords BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 30 Thanked: 0 Times	thanks guys Thanks Anirban, Wheeliej, Nimish. Looks like its hard to find an unhappy CVT owner. FE is indeed impressive. BTW, I noticed that the 2005 NHC has slightly better suspension that the 2006 ZX. Did you guys notice that too? Anirban, that explains why you were more disappointed than myself with the suspension. ZX does look a bit better than the prev NHC. I also think CVT is selling a bit better now, I have been seeing a few more of these around here these days. One more positive I failed to mention in the review is its "taller" profile. Getting in and out of NHC is more comfortable than Baleno or Aveo or even the Fiesta . NHC stands around 6-7 inches taller (not measured - a guess) than my Baleno, even though NHC's ground clearance is smaller than Baleno. Anirban - I agree 'power' is only an argubale negative. I feel the NHC power thing is overhyped. Its more than fine for city needs, and does it for the highway as well.
	() Thanks

15th June 2006, 00:09	#6
metallica BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Delhi Posts: 134 Thanked: 13 Times	Indeed , there is so less noise about the CVT that it makes prospective buyers like me to think again and again, but I think after reading the review and the comments thereafter , I am almost sure to go for a CVT.
	() Thanks

16th June 2006, 11:26	#7
prand Newbie Join Date: May 2006 Location: Guwahati Posts: 1 Thanked: 0 Times	CVT: stressbuster Nice review, that. The time's coming when a lot of us will be thinking long and hard about auto options. After all, it's the same story everywhere: crawling traffic that takes a toll of your left foot and left hand, and finally, the entire nervous system! But the Honda CVT is beyond me at the moment. What gives me hope is the announcement that the Maruti Wagon MR CVT is round the corner. I wonder how smoth and responsive these budget autos are in crowded city streets (others being Satro AT and Wagon R AX). Are they absoulte sluggards or can they beat those red lights and brush aside a few taxis and autorickshaws? Any thoughts any one?
	() Thanks

23rd June 2006, 13:51	#8
cutthecords BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 30 Thanked: 0 Times	btw BTW, did you guys know that Tata's 1 lakh car is going to be a CVT? Or at least it will have an automatic option. From what I read, the aim is to make it easier for women to drive this car. So come 2008, the cheapest automatic car will be just over Rs 1 lakh!
	() Thanks

23rd June 2006, 14:17	#9
babe_on_wheels BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Thane Posts: 127 Thanked: Once	tata cvt? considering the service tata gives to its BELOVED customers? wonder how the 1 lak segment automatic car would have an impact on its consumers?? supposedly easy for women to drive? lets leave some light to tata people.
	() Thanks

23rd June 2006, 14:27	#10
cutthecords BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 30 Thanked: 0 Times	CVT and women Now that I search, I can't find that article where I got the CVT and women connection from. Though the CVT bit has been mentioned in many articles about this car. See this one for example. I also recall reading that "the base model may not have doors at all and instead have some sort of curtains". Sounds so interesting. Luckily, I could search this article once again. Back to the CVT topic, Tata is looking to do a Kinetic here. Gearless scooters made women buy them. This 1 lakh car could do the same, why not?
	() Thanks